New nightclub slated to open on Division

209 Group Inc. of Spokane, doing business as the Blind Buck, plans to open a speakeasy-style nightclub by the end of June in leased space next to the former Globe Bar & Grille, says co-owner Victoria Bates.

The 1,400-square-foot space at 204 N. Division, which used to be occupied by Infinity Fitness, will be remodeled, Bates says. Plans include installing bathrooms, building a bar and back office, and restoring the hardwood floors there.

Bates, who co-owns the business with her husband Ryan Bates, moved to Spokane from San Diego about six months ago with her sister Erica Mongeon, and brother-in-law James Fountain, who will work at Blind Buck as bartenders, she says.

"We wanted to bring that to Spokane because there really isn't anything like that here," she says.

Bates and her sister have worked as bartenders for about 10 years, she says, and her brother-in-law has been bartending for three years. Ryan Bates is a reserve Navy Seal based at Fairchild Air Force Base, but plans on working at the bar as security.

"We'd love to need more employees, but we're not there yet," Bates says.

The group was drawn to the speakeasy concept in San Diego, she says. Speakeasies were also known by the names blind pig or blind tiger, and Bates says the group decided to call the bar the Blind Buck as a nod to the speakeasy, and to tie it to the Inland Northwest with the reference to deer.

The Globe closed down January 2012.

—Jessica Valencia

Pizza maker to move, expand to full service

Matthew Howes and Steve Vesneske, owners of Adelo's Take-N-Bake Pizza on Spokane's North Side, plan to move the business within the Indian Trail neighborhood in which it's located and to convert the operation into a full-service pizza restaurant.

As part of the transition, they say they'll also change the name of the business to Adelo's Pizza, Pasta & Pints.

The restaurant, currently located at 9021 N. Indian Trail, is scheduled to open by July 1 in a remodeled space in the Sundance Plaza Shopping Center, at 8801 N. Indian Trail, that formerly housed a Taco Del Mar eatery. The 2,400-square-foot restaurant will serve traditional and gourmet-style pizzas and also will continue to offer take-and-bake pizzas.

Howes says the business is leasing the space from Vandervert Developments LLC, which is renovating the 60-seat restaurant. Roughly 40 seats also will be available in an outdoor patio area, he says. He expects that the restaurant will hire two to four new employees in addition to the four workers it has now.

—Treva Lind

Hartwell's furniture store to shut down

Spokane furniture store Hartwell's Wicker & Rattan plans to cease operations.

The store's owner, Susanne Hartwell, couldn't be reached by press time, but a sign displayed at the store and a voice mail message say the business is in the process of selling off its remaining inventory.

The furniture store occupies a 6,800-square-foot single story retail building at 2610 W. Northwest Blvd., on the corner of Alberta Street and Northwest Boulevard.

The state of Washington business licensing service says the furniture store began operating in the early 1990s under the name Wicker & Rattan Specialties.

Built in 1958, the store building was remodeled in 2004 shortly after being sold, city records show.

—Jessica Valencia

Vapor Lounge opens store on South Hill

Vapor LLC, a Spokane-based electronic cigarettes retailer doing business as Vapor Lounge, has opened a new outlet on the South Hill and has closed its downtown location, says Travis Lent, the company's owner.

The new outlet is located in 1,150 square feet of leased space at 2918 S. Regal.

Electronic cigarettes contain battery-powered heating elements that vaporize liquid nicotine solutions, which are available in a number of flavors.

Vapor Lounge specializes in selling the electronic cigarettes and supplies. Each outlet also is a place for people to use the devices in a relaxing atmosphere, Lent says.

The four-year-old company has nine employees who work in three Vapor Lounge outlets.

Other Vapor Lounge outlets are located at 2225 W. Wellesley, on the North Side, and at 1517 N. Pines Road, in Spokane Valley.

The company also has vending operations in bars and conducts sales through the Internet, Lent says.

Vapor Lounge is looking to open a fourth outlet in the west area of Spokane, he says.

Commercial real estate agents Sam Morse of Cantu Commercial Properties LLC, of Spokane Valley, and Marshall Clark, of Clark Pacific Real Estate Co., of Spokane, handled the South Hill lease.

Coinciding with the opening of the South Hill outlet, Vapor Lounge has closed its original outlet, formerly in the Crescent Court building, at 707 W. Main.

—Mike McLean

Drug treatment agency opens in Spokane Valley

Chemical dependency professionals Lisa Parker and Nikki Easterling have opened the Breakthrough Recovery Group substance-abuse treatment agency in Spokane Valley.

The two owners are offering outpatient drug and alcohol treatment services and programs out of 3,000 square feet of leased space at 11711 E. Sprague, in the Valley Redwood Plaza. The state-licensed agency initially will serve 35 patients per month, with a growth plan to add 15 patients a month. Parker and Easterling say they expect to hire five employees in the first year.

Breakthrough Recovery Group's services include a focus on medication-assisted treatment for opiate dependency.

One of the services the agency is offering is geared toward opiate-dependent pregnant women, which will pair substance abuse counseling with certified doula services.

—Treva Lind