Roundys Kawasaki Sea-Doo Inc., a family-owned motor-sports dealership here, plans to move from its longtime location on North Division to a new, larger building that will be constructed along the Newport Highway north of Spokane.


Pete Roundy, who owns the business with his wife, Merline, says the new building will have about 15,000 square feet of floor space, about three times as large as the dealerships current building at 8029 N. Division.


It will occupy a two-acre site just north of Knopp Taxidermy School, at 10816 N. Newport Highway, across the road from where YMCA of the Inland Northwest has bought land for an envisioned new facility.


Roundy says the total cost of the project is expected to be about $1.5 million. Work is expected to begin shortly and the dealership should move by early January, he says. Ron Mackie, of Architectural Ventures, of Spokane Valley, designed the building, and Citadel Construction Inc., of Spokane, will be the general contractor.


The Roundys acquired the property for the new dealership building through a land swap with Prineville, Ore.-based Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc., which operates a store next to Roundys on Division and plans to expand into the Roundys building after the motor-sports dealership vacates it. The Roundys founded the dealership there in 1976.


Roundys is Spokanes oldest Kawasaki dealer. It sells new and used Kawasaki motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Bombardier ATVs, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and Sea-Doo personal watercraft, and offers parts, accessories, and service. The business employs nine people, including the Roundys daughter, Michelle Stout, and son, Peter Roundy Jr., who has worked there for 28 years. Stout is general manager.


Roundy, who describes himself and his wife as semi-retired, says he expects the business to add a few more employees at the new location.