A Spokane events business has leased part of the shuttered Bayou Brewing Co. premises, and two other businesses, an Airway Heights microbrewery and a Spokane Thai restaurant, expect to sign leases there soon and move their respective operations into the Bayous former restaurant and bar areas.


Bayou, the former restaurant, brewery, and nightclub, closed its doors last fall, leaving an about 22,000-square-foot vacancy in the RiverWalk complex, located near the northeast corner of Trent Avenue and Hamilton Street.


Now, however, Ken and Margie Dupree, of Spokane, have leased a 9,000-square-foot banquet room, which previously was called the Rendezvous Banquet Room, and have started Rendezvous Events, which hosts business and social functions.


The Duprees also operate Carnegie Square Bistro & Catering Co. at another site, and that company will provide catering services for events at the Rendezvous banquet facility.


Ken Dupree says that since the Duprees opened Rendezvous Events earlier this month, theyve hosted a Gonzaga University Leadership Program and a couple of weddings. The banquet room can accommodate up to 500 people and has been reserved for a couple of small concerts as well, Dupree says.


Meanwhile, Mark Irvin, owner of Northern Lights Brewing Co., says the brewing company plans to lease about 8,000 square feet of floor space that includes the Bayous brewery area, a bar and dining space near the brewing area, and some kitchen space. The company also plans to buy the Bayous old brewing equipment from Tom Vincent, managing partner of RiverWalk LLC, which owns the RiverWalk complex.


Irvin expects this week both to complete the acquisition of the brewing equipment and to sign a lease for the space Northern Lights needs. The company plans to move Northern Lights current brewing operations there from Airway Heights and open a restaurant and bar, which also will do business under the Northern Lights Brewing Co. name, by May.


The restaurant-bar area that Northern Lights will occupy includes seating for up to 100 patrons, and Irvin says he has an option to lease a dining area that would provide seating for an additional 60 people. He expects to increase Northern Lights work force to 11 people from its current staff of six people.


Carl Wilson, president of Meechei Inc., of Spokane, says the company is scheduled to sign a lease this week for about 3,500 square feet of floor space at the old Bayou and plans to move its restaurant, Riverview Thai Restaurant, there from its current location in the Flour Mill shopping mall, at 621 W. Mallon.


The restaurants new quarters will include about 110 seats, all of which will have views of the Spokane River, he says. He expects the company will close the restaurants Flour Mill location March 20 and reopen in its new digs April 1.