4 Seasons Coffee Co., which has been operating in Spokane for nearly 25 years, is planning to install a large roaster next month in a warehouse building its leasing east of downtown, at 10 S. Grant.


Leslie Hutchinson, president of 4 Seasons, says that the warehouse building, which currently is being remodeled, will house most of the coffee roasting and packaging operations for the companys wholesale business. She says that the roaster at the companys current location, at 222 N. Howard, will continue to be used to roast coffee for 4 Seasons store, which will remain downtown.


4 Seasons has decided to expand into the warehouse building because its wholesale business has outgrown the capacity of the roaster located at its downtown outlet on Howard, Hutchinson says. She says that the new roaster will be able to roast up to five times as many coffee beans as the stores current roaster.


Hutchinson says that the roasting and packaging operations also should run more efficiently in the new location because all of the coffee beans, as well as the extra products that the company sells, such as flavored syrups, paper cups, and plastic lids, all will be located on one floor rather than in the basement as they are at the downtown location now.


Hutchinson says that although 4 Seasons is leasing the about 5,800-square-foot warehouse, it has an option to buy it, but she doesnt know when or if the company will exercise that option.


The company currently employs about 16 people and expects to move about six of those employees to the warehouse location, she says. She adds that 4 Seasons likely will add three people.