Spokane chef Jeremy Hansen says his new French-themed restaurant, the Ridpath Brasserie, is on schedule to open early this summer on the first floor of the Ridpath Club Apartments building, at 514 W. First in downtown Spokane.

The word brasserie is French for brewery, but also refers to a type of French restaurant with a relaxed setting.

In following that theme, Hansen says the restaurant will be open nearly 20 hours each day and feature a European style beer bar and a menu serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

He says the restaurant will occupy 5,900 square feet of space on the north side of the building, facing Sprague Avenue.

Part of the space will be used as a gin bar, which will focus on gin cocktails and be open five days a week.

Hansen says he’s remodeling most of the space himself, with help from local contractors on plumbing and electrical issues.

He says the restaurant and gin bar will need a staff of about 30 employees, but could potentially be ready to open as early as late May.

“We’re shooting for a June opening, but May would be great,” he says.

Hansen and his wife, Kate, own a handful of downtown establishments, including Santé Restaurant & Charcuterie, at 404 W. Main, and Inland Pacific Kitchen, at 304 W. Pacific.

He says the Ridpath Brasserie will be different from the couple’s other restaurants in that its style will be more relaxed.

“We’ll still be utilizing quality, local, and organic products, but it’s going to be more of a pub-style atmosphere rather than fine dining,” he says. “The menu will be a bit more approachable, with lots of classic food everyone loves.”