Wenspoke Resources LLC, the Spokane-based franchisee for Wendy’s restaurants throughout the Inland Northwest, is undertaking a major remodel of its restaurant at 830 N. Division, says Jennifer Robson, Wenspoke’s vice president of marketing.

The project, which Robson says will be the first Wendy’s “image activation” remodel in Eastern Washington, could lead to remodel jobs at Wenspoke’s other stores, Robson says.

She declines to disclose the total investment in the remodel, although she indicates it’s much higher than the $135,000 construction cost listed on the building permit recently issued by the city of Spokane.

“It’s a sleek, modern, complete interior and exterior remodel,” Robson says.

The project will include replacing flooring, installing lighting, and applying new wall finishes in the interior. The exterior work also will include refinishing outside surfaces and constructing a new cornice.

“The remodel will include a lot of glass, red surfaces, wood accents, a fireplace, large-screen TV, and Wi-Fi,” she says. “It’s also going to enhance the speed of service with new electronics.”

Citadel Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor on the project, and Bernardo|Wills Architects PC, of Spokane, is designing it to meet Wendy’s corporate specifications.

Barring the need to take any safety precautions, Wenspoke hopes to keep the store open during construction.

“It will be a six- to eight-week process,” she says, adding that Wenspoke’s goal is to complete the project before Labor Day.

If the remodel of the Division Street store spurs sales growth as expected, the image-activation design will be applied to other stores within the franchise, Robson says.

“This will be our test. It’s one of strongest stores,” she says of the Division Street store. “We’ll see how well it’s received, and we plan to do one or two more within the next 12 to 24 months.”

Wenspoke operates 13 restaurants throughout the Inland Northwest, having bought the franchise rights from longtime franchisee Bar NZ Inc., of Spokane, in 2012.

The Division Street store has 39 employees, and Wenspoke plans to hire a few additional employees as a result of the remodel project, Robson says. Wenspoke has more than 425 employees companywide.