Fencing contractor to expand into retail
Curb Appeal Co., a Spokane fencing contractor and wholesale supplier, says it has leased shop space on Spokane's North Side and plans to expand into retail sales there, after having operated out of one of its owners' homes.

The company will occupy 2,400 square feet of space at 6421 N. Nevada, about a block north of Francis Avenue, says Dylan Orr, who co-owns the five-year-old business with Allen Frint, a 15-year veteran in the fencing business. The company plans to open the store this month.

Curb Appeal specializes in providing and installing various types of fencing and related supplies for commercial and residential customers and also fabricates, sells, and installs railings for sidewalks, porches, and patios. The company also installs outdoor sprinkler systems and sells some parts for them, Orr says.

Curb Appeal has eight employees and expects to hire several installers if bids it has pending for commercial jobs are accepted, he says.

Joe Ward, and Raleigh Johnston, both of Pinnacle Realty Inc., handled the lease.

Urbanna salon, spa to open downtown
Linda and Rick Biel, of Spokane, say they plan to open a new business named Urbanna Natural Spa & Salon at 168 S. Division here in October.

Linda Biel is a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician. She plans to run the salon, employing another 17 people at first, including hairstylists, massage therapists, estheticians, and nail technicians.

The Biels have leased about 4,000 square feet of space for the spa, in the historic Pine Creek Dairy building. The Biels are spending altogether about $250,000 to renovate the space and launch the business, Biel says. Gamble Construction Services, of Spokane, is doing the renovations, and Mark McLees, of NAI Black, handled the lease of the space, she says.

Linda Biel worked as a steelworker for Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. before becoming an esthetician. She says the spa will use organic products and sustainable practices she's learned in her travels to spas in other countries.

In addition to hair care, Urbanna will offer facials, body waxes, massages, manicures, and pedicures, Biel says. Urbanna will be equipped with a women's locker room with a steam room and a men's locker room, as well as a lounge where clients can relax before or after their spa treatments.

New company plans guide for golf courses
Kevin Oliver, of Spokane, says he has started Pro Card Marketing Inc., a company that will produce a 16-page, full-color guide called The Caddy Card for Inland Northwest golf courses.

The Caddy Card provides a detailed layout of each hole with yardage to specific areas and hazards, Oliver says. Golfers can use the card to record scores, clubs used, and putts made.

Sun Dance Golf Course, at Nine Mile Falls, will begin using The Caddy Card by early next season, and will be the first course here to do so, Oliver says.

The publication will be produced at no cost to golf courses or golfers, and will be paid for totally through advertising, which Pro Card Marketing will sell.

Oliver, an avid golfer, has 24 years experience in local media, at KREM-TV, KREM.com, and Target Media Northwest, which produces Wheel Deals, Nickel Nik, Driveline, and Home Buyer's Guide.

Garlic Jim's franchise opens in Coeur d'Alene
Jeff Houghten, a former helicopter mechanic from California, has opened a Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza franchise in a leased 2200-square-foot space at 405 W. Neider, in Coeur d'Alene.

Houghten's sister, Stephanie Sciarrillo, who moved from California to attend the University of Idaho four years ago, is managing the business. She said it has about 18 part-time employees.

Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet Pizza offers delivery, carry-out, and dine-in service. The franchise operation has applied for a license to serve beer and wine.

Garlic Jim's is headquartered in Everett, and has franchise outlets in seven states.

Podiatrist, partner open store in Valley
Bryan Thompson, a podiatrist in Post Falls, and Camron Cutler, former owner of an extreme sports equipment online store, have opened a shoe store named Sole Solutions in a leased 2,000-square-foot space at 15319 E. Indiana, next to the Spokane Valley Mall.

The store carries Dansko, MBT, NAOT, Ecco, Brooks, New Balance, Fit Flops, Ariat, Keen, Geox, and Finn Comfort brands, Thompson says.

Sole Solutions' three employees use a digital scanner to determine a customer's shoe size and foot type. Also, an on-site treadmill camera system allows for foot and gait evaluation.

"Our staff has been trained to recognize specific foot problems and what shoes go best with certain foot types," says Thompson.

Cutler will manage the store. He says he and Thompson put "a lot of investment into remodeling" the former Oreck Vacuums retail space. "We put in nice cabinetry and well-lit displays," Cutler says.