A company led by longtime Spokane businessman Cyrus Vaughn is developing a retail strip on Spokanes South Hill.


The company, Vaughns 57th Avenue LLC, has started work on a 10,000-square-foot multitenant retail center on a three-acre site along 57th Avenue, across 57th from the Cedar Canyon Shopping Center. The development also will include two retail pads, one on each end of the strip building, that will be able to accommodate 4,000-square-foot structures.


Vaughn says the main retail building will cost roughly $1 million to construct, and should be completed in October.


Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the general contractor on the project, and Russell C. Page Architects PS, of Spokane, designed it.


Vaughn says discussions are under way with several prospective tenants. No users have signed on for the retail pads, but he expects to attract a bank and a fast-food restaurant. Byrd Real Estate Group LLC, of Spokane, is handling leasing activity for the retail center.


MV Investments LLC, a company headed by Vandervert Construction President Dick Vandervert, built a similar-sized retail center last year just down the block from Vaughns project. That earlier center now is home to a Washington Mutual Bank branch, a Starbucks coffee shop, and a few additional tenants.


Vaughn is best known here as a restaurateur and pie maker. He involved Cyrus OLearys Wholesale Pies and owns with a partner a number of Spokane-area Arbys Roast Beef restaurants. He also started Cyrus OLearys restaurant here.