Spokane Valley-based retailer The Quilting Bee Inc. has started construction of a $1.4 million building at 16002 E. Broadway.

The company plans to move to the new facility from its current location at 12117 E. Mission early next year.

The business, owned by Treasure and Scot Auble, sells sewing and quilting supplies, as well as offering sewing-related classes. 

While the store itself has been in business for more than 30 years, Scot Auble says he and his wife have owned it for just the past five. 

“This will be the third time the store has moved to a larger location,” he says. “The new space is about 40 percent larger, which means we’ll have about twice as much retail space and be able to operate more efficiently.” 

Auble says construction of the 11,000-square-foot building started during the last week of July and is expected to be completed by February.  

McCloskey Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor for the project, and Bernardo|Wills Architects PC, of Spokane, designed it.

“The store is designed to look like a Midwest, monitor-style barn with high ceilings above the retail area and a balcony for displaying quilts,” he says. “The exterior will also have a replaceable, vinyl painting on the front that can be changed to feature the work of visiting quilt designers.” 

Auble says the store also will include a 1,500-square-foot creative center, which is expected to accommodate 100 classes per month, as well as special events. 

He says the store also will have a larger machine service and repair area than the previous location, a kids’ play area, and a “man cave” beverage and snack lounge for spouses. 

Auble says the business has about 26 employees, a mixture of full- and part-time workers, and doesn’t anticipate needing to hire more for the new location. 

“Despite competition, our business has continued to grow,” he says. “Our goal is to use this new space to keep offering those personal services like classes, sample projects, and machine repair that have always made it such a fun place to shop.”