CrossFit gym opens on the South Hill

Laughlin West LLC, of Spokane, has opened a new gym, called CrossFit Expedition, in the Regal Center shopping complex, at 2718 E. 57th on Spokane’s South Hill. 

The gym, which is owned by Andrew and Emily Laughlin and Gabe West, is located in about 1,600 square feet of leased space formerly occupied by Total Fit Spokane. 

CrossFit Expedition offers workout classes that combine fitness methods such as strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and conditioning, West says. 

“Basically, we try to make people as well-rounded as they can be,” he says. “Instead of emphasizing one area of fitness, we try to emphasize multiple areas.” 

The gym offers seven classes a day on Mondays and Wednesdays, six on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10 on Fridays, all taught by West. 

He says the gym plans workouts around his class schedule at Eastern Washington University, where he’s an undergraduate studying exercise science. He currently is the company’s only employee, he says.

Classes at the gym began on April 1, West says. He says the partners decided to open the business because they were already involved in CrossFit and felt there was a gap in the market. 

“We just saw an opportunity,” he says. “There was nothing on the South Hill for CrossFit.”

West says he and the other owners did some remodeling to the space themselves, including spackling and repainting the walls, some drywall work, and installing rubber mats for the floor.

In the future, West says he and his partners hope to expand to a bigger space and add more staff. 

“We’d definitely like to get more trainers on board,” he says. 

Jeff Ottmar, of Cornerstone Property Advisors LLC, handled the Crossfit lease.

—Katie Ross

 

Geocache retailer buys online shop

Cache Advance Inc., a geocache-equipment retailer here doing business as the Cache Cave, has bought the assets of Cache Addict LLC, a Colorado-based online retailer of geocache “trackable” products, says Lisa Breitenfeldt, CEO of Cache Advance. 

The assets that Cache Advance purchased included a variety of GPS trackable items, as well as existing relationships with Cache Advances distributors and manufacturers, Breitenfeldt says. He said Cache Addict’s website will be shut, and its merchandise will be sold on Cache Advance’s website and at Cache Advance’s physical location at 2324 E. Euclid in East Spokane.

Geocaching is a treasure-hunting hobby in which containers, called caches, are tagged with GPS coordinates. Geocaching hobbyists track down these items using GPS technology. When a hobbyist finds a cache, it’s common for the person to leave an item, take an item, or sign a logbook inside of the cache and record the find at geocaching.com, a website commonly used by hobbyists.

Cache Addict started making personalized trackable coins, called geocoins, in 2006. It later expanded into the production of Technology Tags, which are trackable tags with engraved Quick Response (QR) codes that direct the hobbyist to the tag’s unique webpage when scanned. Cache Addict also claims to have made some of the first Cachekinz, which are decorative trackables shaped like animals. Both Cachekinz and Technology Tags are now trademarks of Cache Advance.

Cache Advance offers equipment for the geocaching enthusiast, including hiking gear, GPS tracking devices, caches, trackables, and beginner’s kits, says Breitenfeldt. Cache Advance began in 2005 as a manufacturer and distributor of geocaching kits, and moved to its current 1,800-square-foot space last September.

 

—Lucas Thayer

 

Uniform shop moves to east Third Avenue

Spokane Uniform House has left its longtime downtown location and has reopened at 502 E. Third, says Mike McClarty, the uniform outlet’s general manager.

The retail supplier of uniforms for businesses, restaurants, schools, and individuals has leased 2,900 square feet of space in the multitenant building also occupied by Storhaug Engineering Inc.

Spokane Uniform had been located downtown, at 526 W. Main, in the Bennett Block for 46 years, but was displaced by a renovation project there that aims to attract a new mix of tenants.

McClarty says business has been steady in recent years.

“Through the recession, we held our own by branching out into more group sales, like entire offices or restaurants,” he says. 

McClarty has been with Spokane Uniform for 34 years, and his ex-wife Freda, the store’s retail manager, has been with the company seven years.

The space in the Third Avenue building is similar in size to Spokane Uniform’s former downtown location, Freda McClarty says, adding that the new location has free parking, something Spokane Uniform hadn’t been able to offer before.

The store currently has five employees and expects to hire two or three seasonal employees this summer, she says.

 

—Mike McLean

 

Restaurateurs plan North Side pizzeria

Nelson & Phelps Inc., of Spokane, plans later this month to open Selkirk Pizza & Tap House in spaces formerly occupied by Fat Daddy’s and the Ultimate Bagel in the Wandermere Mall shopping center, at 12424 N. Division, on Spokane’s North Side. 

Nelson & Phelps is renovating the 5,000-square-foot space, which will have a new fireplace and an updated kitchen, says Liz Nelson, one of the company’s principals. The Selkirk will seat 220 people in all, 170 people in the restaurant and 50 in the bar. The pizzeria will employ about 25 people, half of them part time, Nelson says.

 Nelson is handling the designs for the Selkirk, with Robert Sevilla-Naudon and his partner, Bart Templeman, providing design consultation. Russell C. Page Architects PS., of Spokane, is the architect on the project. Cost of the renovations is expected to be between $300,000 and $400,000, with Pat Cozza as the contractor.

Nelson & Phelps, which is owned by Curt and Liz Nelson and Todd Phelps, also operates the Steelhead Bar & Grille, in downtown Spokane, and Fieldhouse Pizza & Pub, on the North Side. Phelps was part owner of Fat Daddy’s until he and the Nelsons bought out his former partner in  that establishment. Phelps also independently owns the Screaming Yak on West Francis. 

 

—Lucas Thayer