MetroSpokane

STOREFRONT: The Monterey Cafe-Something's stirring at the old Mootsy's Pizza

[...and Mootsy's Pizza begat The Dough Shack, and The Dough Shack begat The Monterey Cafe...]

Admittedly we were bummed with the passing of Mootsy's Pizza awhile back.  With The Dough Shack, we blinked and didn't even have a chance to sample.  But now with the storefront plastered in newsprint and signs, the arrival of a pizza joint downtown is imminent. 

Enter The Monterey Cafe whose first and foremost focus will be on wholewheat pizza followed by wraps and salads.  The Monterey plans on being open for the lunchtime and dinner crowd, but the kicker will be the late night offerings, staying open until 3AM-4AM providing a nice compliment to the Satellite. Outdoor seating will be encouraged and plans are for a spiffy new bike rack for two-wheeled customers.  If all goes well, expect to see them opening the new garage door May 1st.

• STOREFRONT: Rock the Casbah  [MetroSpokane]
• The Monterey Cafe [Website]

Storefront: Town & Country floral grows on 2nd

It seems that with each passing week there's another shop opening its doors over on 2nd Ave.  The latest is A Town and Country Floral.  Occupying a space that for years played host to some odd architectural pillars and empty fireplace mantels, their new space is colorful, roomy, and strategically located directly across from a bridal shop.  Co-owners Sabrina Bosch and Deanna Bunch opened their doors on March 1st of this year after a few years at a location on North Division.

Storefront: Rock the Casbah

2008 is turning out to be the year of the BAR in Downtown Spokane.  Yesterday we mentioned The RIFF which will open in early summer.  Today it's The Casbah.  The Casbah, a music and dance club, is taking up residence in the former ballet studio above Chicken-n-More.  An old VFW hall this place has loads of vintage elements but will be undergoing a complete renovation.  A single street-level door marks the entry, and once you wind your way up the narrow and long stairs to the second floor entry hall you have a straight shot view of the old art-deco bar.

Storefront: The RIFF-another new bar on Main

A new bar/lounge is in the planning stages at the wee-small building located at 215 W. Main [GMAP].  Officially known as The RIFF, the bar will be the first for bartender Nick Squires and a friend, and as such the size seems just about right.  In what is quite possibly the smallest habitable building in downtown Spokane, the place measures a bountiful 308 square feet according to assessor records which translates into a capacity of only around 18 people.

STOREFRONT: Monroe St. Bridge Antiques out-Metro Furniture In

On North Monroe the decades long battle between antique stores and bail bond shops rages on.  But in what may represent the changing face of the corridor an old antique business is being overhauled and retrofitted.  Monroe St. Bridge Antiques closed for good recently after about 16 years in business.  Now the owners Chris and Tery Garras are ramping up the for the opening of Metro Home Furniture On Consignment.

Sneak Peek: New Melting Pot means ample cheese just around the corner

The sign is up and the finishing touches are being applied on the inside at the new Melting Pot on Main and Post.  According to their website the Florida-based chain is shooting for a grand opening on March 5th and by the look of the place this afternoon they'll likely make it.  Speaking of the interior space think dark, rich colors all sparsely lit.  We have to wonder what effect the smell of warm Wisconsin Cheddar will have on people working out across the skywalk at OZ Fitness.

• link - Melting Pot Restaurant [Company Site]
• map - Melting Pot-707 West Main Avenue [GMAP]
  

More interior pics below...

STOREFRONT-Uptown 410

LOWER EAST END - Washington and 2nd has proven that the boutique approach to retail has legs.  We dropped by Uptown 410 recently and found a great little place.  It's absolutely packed with custom footwear, shirts, DVDs, jackets, and a smattering of Japanese pop culture paraphernalia.  And if you can't find it they'll order it.  The place was small but comfy - more like hanging out at a friend's place than shopping. 

For what it's worth, shopping in Spokane is usually associated with one of the big malls and the big national chains that anchor them.  The climate-controlled goodness is comfortable, but blocks and blocks of skywalkin' just sucks the life out of you.  What we're looking for is streetlife and small boutique shops that spill out on the street.  This emerging district makes us believe that's on the upswing.

• Uptown 410 official site [myspace]
• WHERE: 307 W. 2nd Ave [GMAP]

STOREFRONT: ZOLA expanding food & liqs offerings in the East End

When we last dropped by Main and Division, Cafe Dolce was hours away from opening its doors for business, and the Magic Lantern had been running things running smoothly for well over a month.  However yesterday on a stroll we spotted the above public notice on 22 W. Main [GMAP] across from Isabella's.

Having just seen one of these on a post at The Back Kitchen, we took a closer look.  The name reads ZOLA and ZOLA wants to serve wine, beer, and liqs as a restaurant/lounge format.  The lights were off, but the daylighting was enough to give a glimpse of the interior which looked somewhat eclectic.  A bar near the front entry was all we could see, with perhaps room for dining just beyond towards the back...Oh...Hell...Yeah. The East Side just gets better and better.  It's amazing what a movie theater can do for a place.

Sneak Peek: D&B Trading Company Interior

Following up on Friday's post, Quizno's is certainly down for the count as figured.  A quick glance inside by a MetroSpokane operative spotted multiple mirrors, soothing red walls and loads of oak barrels strewn about.  Just what the 'and more' in the 'wine tasting and more' tag line refers to, we're not sure, but at the rate they're moving on the interior, a day-after-Thanksgiving opening has to be the plan.

• STOREFRONT: Quizno's, no?  D & B Trading Company, yes?

STOREFRONT: Quizno's, no? D & B Trading Company, yes?

DOWNTOWN - Above the papered front of what used to be a Quizno's on Wall St.  The sign on the door says Quizno's is "closing for remodel."  However the sign sitting on the sidewalk says otherwise - "D & B Trading Company, Inc.-Wine Tastings and More."  A quick peak inside saw multiple oak barrels and a work crew.  Either Quizno's is expanding their product line, Pita Pit ground them out, or they're subletting their space.  Converting the space to a wine purveyor could mean another shot in the arm for life after 5PM downtown. 

Better informed people encouraged to leave your knowledge in the comments section below.

STOREFRONT: Cafe Dolce servin' up coffee after dark

EAST END - As if having the greenest commercial building in Spokane wasn't enough, securing that late night coffee fix will get a little easier down on the East End.  The remodeling is done, the menu is up, and if all goes well, Cafe Dolce will be opening it's doors this week.  South of Fast Eddies in the Bell Franklin Building, the cafe   will be open until 2AM Wed-Sat; a full 8 hours later than The Rocket on Main.  Late hours are a bold move, but if it works it could mean a shift in the evening scene down there and an effort to tap into the students/employees over at the Riverpoint Campus [they even have a couple meeting rooms].  As it stands now, options for after 6 activity is confined to one of four bars/lounges.  Coffee before a movie at the Magic Lantern?  Why yes!  We like options.

Cafe Dolce
221 N Division St. [GMAP]
747-5364

STOREFRONT: The Scoop alive and well

SOUTH HILL - With autumn upon us like a full-frontal assault, you might think a place like The Scoop has all but closed up shop for the year.  Not so.  That's the beauty of diversification; coffee, sandwiches, and salads offset any drop in sales from their mainstay - ice cream via the local Brain Freeze Creamery.  And it appears to be working.  After their sad departure from South Perry, The Scoop found a new home smack dab at 25th and Monroe.  Like other fine neighborhood establishments around town (Rockwood Bakery, the Rocket, City Yoga) this place too is embedded in the neighborhood, and imagine our surprise to discover that the surrounding residential doesn't appear any worse off. Given the size of the crowd there on a fantastic fall afternoon, things look to be going well.  [1001 W. 25th Ave.]

STOREFRONT: Dryfly's 1st run

Be sure and GET FLASH...

Even though you've probably heard about Dryfly Distillery setting up shop recently in the University District, are you aware of the significance of this?  Operating out of the former Craven's Coffee spot in the old Bayou Building, the still has been functioning for sometime now.  This weekend they started bottling their first run of Vodka, with Gin soon to follow, and according to the owners, they expect an annual output of about 3,500 cases.

Since prohibition ended in 1933 there has not been a micro distillery in the State of Washington - Dryfly is at the front of what we hope is the birth of a new distilling culture here in Spokane.  One that is heavily niched, uses local ingredients, and set's Spokane apart.  In about two weeks, start harping your nearest liquor stores for the Dryfly Vodka.  "Drinking Local" has a whole new meaning.

STOREFRONT: Cat's Meow moving into former Junebugs location

SOUTH PERRY DISTRICT - It took awhile, but the former Junebugs building in has a new tenant...almost.  The Cat's Meow a new veterinary clinic has hung up a temporary sign indicating their opening is imminent.  As the name suggests this is a felines-only shop, so all you dog people will have to find love somewhere else.  Although, given the large number of dogs we see getting toted along to The Shop on a Saturday morn, it makes us think they've effectively cut their market in half.  Still, we think it's a perfect fit for a neighborhood business district.

STOREFRONT: Rick's Grocery now on Monroe

The old 4,000 holes storefront on North Monroe has a new tenant.  After a long vacancy in the prime location Rick's Grocery has set up shop.  Now into their third week in operation, we ducked inside and found the usual convenience store offerings along with some staples like fruit, vegetables, and eggs in the cooler. The 'grab-n-go' has settled in to a great high-profile, high-traffic location on the corner of Monroe and Maxwell.  Combine that with an ample supply of multi-family and single-family housing in the surrounding blocks and we might have a win-win for everyone in the nabe.

STOREFRONT: City Yoga...is on the Hill

Continuing with our South Hill theme this week after a stint downtown, City Yoga, an ashtanga yoga school, completed it's move to the Hill this July.  Two things struck us about the two month old location.  The first was that this place is embedded in the neighborhood just like the "olden days".  There's something we like about a successful business operating in the midst of single family housing in a non-imposing kind of way.  We're not sure what the neighbors think, but it gave the nabe a hip yet restful vibe.  The church pew and bike rack out front were nice added amenities.

The second was the tastefully done interior.  From what we could see of the inside (a class was in session so we opted out of blundering in on them) a nice entry area for greeting customers, a glass door with the symbol "aum" in green, and spanking new wood floors.  For those intimidated by the thought of doing yoga a few nice brochures were available outside the main entry providing an overview of yoga, classes offered, workshops and prices.

City Yoga
505 E. 24th Ave.
Spokane, WA 99203
509-869-4121
Website

STOREFRONT: Happenings at First and Wash-Tin Roof takes shape

As if dominating the East Sprague furniture scene isn't enough, Tin Roof is expanding downtown.  On the right, the entry into Tin Roof's new downtown digs is coming together.  To the left, blue plywood covers another potential retail spot.  Called Concept :: Home, the sign points to an inventory chock full of casual contemporary.  A local slugging it out with the big guns over on the west side of downtown?  We like options.  First and Washington is going to look significantly different in a few months.

Northbowl goes techno...color

Years ago when bowling was king and Earl Anthony absolutely dominated the PBA, Spokane had lanes-a-plenty.  In the case of Colonial Bowl and Northbowl, either Spokane was nutty for bowling or someone didn't pay for decent site location services as they were literally just a few blocks from each other.  Colonial Bowl fell to the wrecking ball and became the new Kennedy Apartments we profiled the other day.  Northbowl, on the other hand is still alive and kicking.

STOREFRONT: Metropole Apartments getting freshened up

When you step back for a moment and look at the Metropole Building on 2nd and Howard it isn't overwhelming.  A three story brick with residential up and commercial below.  A simple formula that has worked for this building for probably the past 100 years.  On a tip from a reader, we dropped by the other evening to see what had been happening.  Apparently lots. 

STOREFRONT: Life after Rings of Fire - Nystrom|Olson|Collins sets up shop

There's a new tenant in the Arts District.  The modest two story brick building located at 912 W Sprague Ave. across from the Bing Theater looks to be the new home of the architecture firm Nystrom | Olson | Collins.  Our readers will most certainly recognize the building as the former home of Rings of Fire tattoo and piercing.  The brick archway is no more and in fact the entire facade on the first floor has been nicely rebuilt and opened way, way up.  Man, if those walls could talk...

Nystrom? Olson? Collins?  If any of you are out there, and you have a web address drop us a line and we'll add it.

UPDATE- Here's their website - Thanks JR - www.nocarch.com/