Bomb squad vet plans brewery in Hayden

Retired U.S. Army bomb squad veteran Tom Applegate plans to open a microbrewery in Hayden this fall.

Applegate, who has registered the business with the state of Idaho under the name Mad Bomber Brewing Co., currently is going through the federal and state licensing process, and plans to open the brewery in September or October.

Meantime, Mad Bomber Brewing has leased 2,200 square feet of floor space formerly occupied by The Copa restaurant in a two-tenant retail building at 9265 N. Government Way, in Hayden.

"It has a really nice bar," which will be the brewery's tap room, Applegate says.

Mad Bomber beers will be available only at the brewery, he says.

"Everything will come out of the taps," he says. "We won't be distributing."

Applegate had been an Army explosive ordnance disposal expert for eight years.

"Outside of the military, it's not a marketable skill," he says of his bomb-squad experience. "It's overspecialized."

Applegate says he picked up his brewing skills from his parents who are longtime home brewers, and he's getting help and advice from a few established microbrewers, including Selkirk Abbey Brewing Co., in Post Falls.

"We have a great community of brewers," he says.

In addition to Applegate, Mad Bomber Brewing owners include his wife, Stephanie, and "a couple of poor Army guys," who are active-duty explosive ordinance disposal personnel recently returned from Afghanistan, he says.

He says Mad Bomber Brewing plans to produce six "well-brewed American ales," including a seasonal brew from which a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project to assist injured armed services personnel.

—Mike McLean

Kids apparel shop to move in Valley

Bundle Bean Boutique LLC, a Spokane Valley-based children and maternity clothing store, is moving its store in early August to a retail shopping strip along Pines Road.

Bundle Bean co-owner Joann Waite says the company has leased a 900-square-foot space at 1519 N. Pines and is scheduled to open there on Aug. 2. It's moving from 606 N. Sullivan.

The retailer buys gently-used kids apparel, maternity clothing, and related products that it sells in the store. It stocks clothing for newborns, babies, toddlers, and children up to size 10.

Bundle Bean also carries some new merchandise, including Boba Inc.-brand front-carriers and backpacks to hold babies and toddlers, Waite says.

Waite first opened the store two years ago in partnership with two adult daughters, Rose and Sarah Williamson. The store employs the three owners and one family member on a part-time basis.

The leasing transaction was handled by Colin Conway, of Kiemle & Hagood Co.

—Treva Lind

Hard cider business takes root downtown

Cider Architects LLC, doing business as Liberty Ciderworks, plans to open a tasting room and production facility at 164 S. Washington, with plans to sell hard cider commercially starting this fall, says co-owner Rick Hastings.

Hastings co-owns the company with business partner Austin Dickey. Hastings and Dickey are both architects, and currently are Cider Architects' only employees.

Liberty Ciderworks will operate out of a 1,300-square-foot leased storefront space, Hastings says, with about 300 square feet dedicated to the tasting room.

The rest of the space will be used to process and make cider, he says. Work on the store included stripping and applying an epoxy coating to the floor, and the pair are in the process of finishing the tasting room. Hastings says they're working on installing a glycol system, which is a chiller used in the fermentation process.

The pair will offer two products, a pub cider, available in kegs and 500-milliliter bottles, and an English-style cider that Hastings describes as similar to white wine that will be sold in 750-milliliter bottles. He expects sales will be split evenly between kegs and bottles.

Hastings works as a planning consultant with Studio Cascade Inc., and Dickey is a principal at Copeland Architecture & Construction Inc., both of Spokane.

Hastings says Seattle-based Avidex, an audio-visual product provider next to Liberty Ciderworks, previously occupied the shop.

—Jessica Valencia

Latah Creek winery unveils new product

Latah Creek Wine Cellars, of Spokane Valley, says it's unveiling new products and a new label.

The winery recently introduced a sweet Riesling, and it increased by nearly double its Moscato production, says co-owner Mike Conway. It plans to release a new red wine, a malbec, this fall.

Additionally, Latah Creek also will be selling an additional cookbook, the third in a series, that's due to be published later this summer.

Conway owns the winery along with his wife, Ellena Conway. Latah Creek currently produces 12 different wines, although 60 percent of their production is toward two wines—Riesling and Huckleberry d'Latah.

The winery and its gift shop are located at 13030 E. Indiana, in a 6,200-square-foot building it owns.

Founded in 1982, Latah Creek's wine products also include a merlot, a chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Sangiovese, Monarch Red, pinot gris, and Maywine.

Latah Creek produces about 13,000 cases of wine a year, and has six employees in addition to the owners.

—Treva Lind

Dentist opens new office on South Hill

Bates Dental PS, a new dental practice formed by Dr. S. Brady Bates, plans to open this week, Bates says.

The practice has leased a 2,200-square-foot space that's located in a dental office building at 2700 S. Southeast Blvd., on the South Hill. Four other dental practices also are located in that building, he says.

Two full-time and three part-time employees will work at the office, he says, adding that he has no immediate plans to hire additional employees.

The office received minor upgrades prior to his practice moving in, Bates says, although he declines to disclose the cost of the remodel.

Bates owns the business with his father, Dr. Steven L. Bates, who also is a dentist and co-owns The Center for Oral Health PLLC, in Deer Park.

The Bateses both attended college at Washington State University, in Pullman, and went to dental school at the University of Washington, Brady Bates says.

—Jessica Valencia