A local bartender and server are joining forces to open a restaurant, Jewel of the North Neighborhood Gastropub, in a recently vacated, historic home in the Browne’s Addition neighborhood west of downtown.

Co-owners Brooks Thomas and AJ Hansen, along with chef Zach Hutlyer, have worked together for years and say they couldn’t pass over the opportunity when it presented itself.

“The initial concept we had for a business plan was a sports bar,” says Thomas. “And then this (location) popped up. We saw this building, fell in love with the patio, and did a full reversal.”

The property, located at 1924 W. Pacific and across the street from The Elk Public House, was briefly occupied by Café Buenos Aires, which opened last October. Thomas and Hansen took over the lease in February when the owners relocated to California, Thomas says.

The 5,280-square-foot dining area will seat 16 guests on the main floor, 30 in the bar upstairs, 10 on the deck, and 48 guests on the expansive patio. 

Jewel of the North, opening May 3, will employ 10 to 15 people and will serve a variety of pub-style food, including chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches, salads, a charcuterie board, pasta, and fresh-cut fries.

“We will be the only spot on the block that has French fries,” Brooks says.

The potatoes for the fries, to include sweet potatoes, will be sourced locally from Duncan Produce. Spangle-based Browning Beef will supply the restaurant's ground beef, and the sirloin will be sourced from Angus Meats, of Spokane.

“We are focusing on trying to keep the meat locally sourced,” Thomas says. “We’re just trying to keep money in the Spokane economy as much as we can before we really have to outsource anything.” 

All menu items are a mutual collaboration between Thomas, Hansen, and Hutlyer.

“We just figured between the three of us, we could put our heads together and mix something special,” Hansen said.

Signature items will include a special blue and pear salad with a blue cheese and gorgonzola dressing, and a pasta primavera dish with plant-based sausage, says Thomas.

“Meat eaters alike are really going to like this dish,” Thomas says. “It’s going to become really popular.”

The sauces for the wings, including Asian barbecue, buffalo, and lemon pepper, will be made from scratch by Hutlyer.

One of the mutually most popular items between the three coworkers is the banana pudding, says Hutlyer.

“My mom gave us the recipe,” Thomas adds. 

Jewel of the North plans to allow pets on the patio and provide a pet-friendly menu.

“Maybe a little biscuit, a little meat, some steak, and maybe a little rice,” Hansen says.

While they are still ironing out the details of the pet menu, some of the proceeds will be donated to a local pet association, adds Thomas.

Thomas and Hansen, who’ve been working together for years at Cascadia Public House, say they’ve been brainstorming a business idea for a long time.

“We’ve talked business around each other for years,” Thomas says. “We’ve been in the industry for a long time now. We want to see a restaurant run the way servers and bartenders think it should be run.”

Starting their own business seemed like a natural move.

“We’ve been around the block a little bit,” says Thomas. “We have built quite a big network and people believe in us … and we believe in ourselves.”

While the focus is currently on lunch and dinner items, Thomas and Hansen say they hope to add brunch soon.

“The goal is to be really aggressive about switching over to breakfast,” Brooks says. “But the first month is going to be crazy. First things first.”

Small Bites

*Ruins, a downtown eatery that originally opened its doors in 2014 on North Monroe Street, has moved to a new location. The restaurant has relocated from 225 W. Riverside to 411 N. Nettleton in Kendall Yards, next to Hello Sugar.

*Thai Bamboo will not be completing renovations on its Spokane Valley location, according to a statement on the restaurant’s social media pages.

 “The rising inflation over the past four years has caused construction costs to soar,” the company writes on its Facebook page. “As a result, the land and building will be sold.”

Thai Bamboo’s three other locations will remain open, including one on the North side, 5406 N. Division; one on the South side, 2215 E. 29th; and one in Coeur d’Alene, 2010 N. Fourth.