Not So Sweet, a new diabetic-friendly grocery store, will debut this winter in Spokane Valley, says Michael Hall, the store owner.

Hall has leased a 3,100-square-foot, single-story building at 302 S. Pines Road that formerly was occupied by Labor Ready and plans to open the store in February.

Hall, a former Albertson’s supermarket manager, is working with four distribution centers that he claims supply a greater variety of low-sugar and sugar-free items than are available at conventional grocery stores.

“One in three people are diabetic, prediabetic, or on low-sugar diets,” he says. “I feel there’s enough need for a diabetic grocery store.”

Diabetes is a disease that inhibits the body’s ability to metabolize sugar. Without medical, dietary, and physical intervention, complications of the disease can lead to blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, and hardening of the arteries.

Hall, who is diabetic, says Not So Sweet will carry mostly nonperishable items rather than meat and produce, although it will have a limited frozen-food section and a variety of specialty juices and beverages.

“A lot of items will be organic, low in salt, or gluten free,” he says. “The store will cater to more than just diabetics.”

The store will open with five employees, most of whom are family members, Hall says.

Commercial real estate agent Ryan Towner, of Spokane-based brokerage NAI Black, negotiated the lease.

Medical & Health

Sean and Christina Sipe, owners of Olympia-based Sipe Therapy Group, have bought the assets of Spokane Occupational & Hand Therapy Inc., which has offices at 601 W. Fifth, downtown; at 111 E. Central, on the North Side; and at 12121 E. Broadway, in Spokane Valley. The Sipes plan, to take over the office leases and to operate the Spokane-area practice under its current name. Scott Martin, of NAI Black, handled the transaction.

Jason Keefe DDS has bought the assets of the Andrew T. Biggs DMD PLLC dentistry practice, including a single-story, 3,200-square-foot medical office building at 1625 W. Francis, where he now does business as 5 Mile Smiles. Chris Siemens, of Windermere Real Estate/City Group LLC, handled the transaction.

Inland Northwest Anesthesia LLC, a Post Falls provider of pain-management and anesthesia services, has bought a 4,100-square foot office building at 1002 N. Spokane Street in Post Falls and plans to move there in March or April from smaller, leased quarters at 1296 Polston. Craig Hunter and Rob Kannapien, both of Coldwell Banker Commercial Schneidmiller Realty, handled the transaction.

Hearts N’ Hands Home Health, a Spokane Valley home health education and care provider, has leased 2,500 square feet of space in the 606 Office Building, at 606 N. Pines, and has moved there from smaller quarters in the University Professional Building, at 205 N. University Road. Marc Mowrer, of Kiemle & Hagood Co., handled the transaction.

Siler Chiropractic & Rehab-ilitation LLC, has leased 850 square feet of office space in the South Sullivan Office Building, at 502 S. Sullivan Road, and plans to move the Spokane Valley practice there from smaller quarters at 100 N. Mullan Road. Marc Mowrer, of Kiemle & Hagood Co., handled the transaction.