Shogun owner starts self-storage business

Shogun Inc., which owns and operates the Shogun Restaurant at 821 E. Third, has remodeled a 23,000-square-foot building neighboring the eatery and converted it into Shogun Plaza Self Storage, which opened earlier this month.

Spokane restaurateur Joseph Lee, who has owned the Shogun restaurant since 2004, says the company bought the adjacent property, at 905 E. Third, for $650,000 about three years ago, and spent $300,000 on renovations.

Lee says the two-story facility currently has about 70 units that range in size from 50 square feet of space to 260 square feet of space. It includes some drive-up accessible units and some that are temperature controlled, he says.

The facility, which employs one full-time manager and two part-time workers, also offers outside fenced storage for boats, trailers, and RVs. Pricing for the units ranges from $40 to $150 per month, depending on the location, size, and accessibility.

He says he is building a 4,500-square-foot, $100,000 building next to the current storage building that will have 30 additional units. He hopes to have that structure completed by next April. Aztec Electric Inc. is the general contractor on the project, and Martin J. Hill Architecture Inc., of Spokane, is the architect.

The building that he has converted for self-storage use previously had been owned by the Sam and Anne Thoen Trust and housed the American Indian Community Center.

-Audrey Danals

Hard cider shop eyed in downtown market

Spokane resident Deborah Swayne has formed a company here, Swayne's World Cidery LLC, with plans to sell a variety of hard cider beverages crafted by Northwest companies, as soon as she can clear a remaining hurdle and begin operating.

Swayne, the business's sole owner and employee, is awaiting liquor-license approval before she can sell or serve the hard cider. Once the permit is granted, she says she plans to open a Swayne's World Cidery booth inside Spokane Public Market, at 24 W. Second, and to sell the beverages bottled and from a tap.

Swayne also plans to partner with restaurants and to work with a private chef for offering specialty meals paired with hard cider to customers in their homes.

While waiting for the liquor permit, she says she plans to sell poinsettias in the public market on Second beginning Nov. 29, and then some craft gifts.

Spokane Public Market operates year-round Thursday through Sunday with a number of food and art vendors.

Hard ciders are made with a fermentation process using fruits, typically apples, but also pears, cherries, or apricots, as a base. They have low alcohol content, typically about 5 percent to 7 percent, and are gaining in popularity for pairing with foods, she says.

"Hard cider is something new to this area, but they're really popular in France and on the western side of the state and in Oregon," she says.

-Treva Lind

Leo Tracy joins Spokane Clock

Leo Tracy, former owner of Tracy Jewelers, a longtime Spokane Valley business, has joined Spokane Clock, a North Spokane clock repair and restoration shop owned by Nat and Marjorie Williams, to do clock repair work.

Tracy joins the clock shop at its one-year anniversary, says Nat Williams. Tracy and Williams formerly repaired and restored clocks together at Larsen's Clock Center on Third Avenue east of downtown Spokane. Larsen's closed in 2009 after owner Dave Larsen died, and Tracy continued to repair clocks there under the name L&M Clock Repair.

"Leo is arguably the most accomplished clock repair person in the entire Inland Northwest," Williams says.

Spokane Clock specializes in the repair and restoration of vintage, mechanical, antique, and street clocks. The shop, located at 3140 N. Division, occupies 800 square feet of leased space, and was damaged by a passing vehicle in late February, requiring a number of renovations.

-Audrey Danals

Wine bar for women opens on South Hill

The Calm, a wine bar geared toward women, has opened at 1303 S. Grand Blvd., on Spokane's South Hill.

Jennifer Miley, sole proprietor of the wine bar, says The Calm is leasing a 7,000-square-foot building, but currently is only using about 2,200 square feet on the ground floor. She says the top floor is undergoing a remodel to bring it up to fire code, including adding a second staircase, and she plans on using that space once it is available.

An optional $500 annual membership to The Calm comes with services such as a complimentary beverage with each visit and a free massage every three months.

Miley, formerly the chief operating officer for Rockwood Clinic PS, says the wine bar is geared toward the working woman, but that it fits any demographic. Miley says the wine bar does offer guy nights occasionally.

Miley says the atmosphere of the place is more relaxed than a bar, with furniture situated to accommodate pairs and groups of four to six. The business also offers a conference room, which can be booked for small gatherings or business meetings. Miley says The Calm employs 10 people part time.

The Calm offers events and guest speakers throughout the year free to members and it sells tickets to the general public if space permits. The Calm is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

-Jessica Valencia

New law firm opens in Fidelity Building

New law firm Piskel, Yahne, Kovarik PLLC has moved into office space in the Fidelity Building, at 522 W. Riverside, in downtown Spokane.

Jason Piskel, Ryan Yahne, and Nicholas Kovarik are partners and the only lawyers at the firm, which opened at the beginning of September.

Yahne says the law firm works primarily in construction, real estate, and business litigation and has about 70 clients.

The firm operates out of a 2,000-square-foot office space that includes a reception area, three offices, and two conference rooms, he says. The firm employs two other support staff members. Yahne says the firm leased two suites and combined them prior to moving in.

"We've all been practicing law in town here for almost 10 years," Yahne says. Previously, he was a partner at Winston & Cashatt Lawyers PS, in Spokane, and Piskel and Kovarik worked at Dunn & Black PS, also of Spokane.

Yahne says the firm doesn't have any immediate plans to expand, but expects to growp over the next three to five years by hiring associates as business increases.

-Jessica Valencia

Art website here aims to connect artists, fans

Dean Cameron, owner of Spokane-based American Fine Art Co., has launched a website at flootie.com that's geared toward matching up artists with buyers and galleries.

Cameron says his vision for the website is to combine the networking power of Facebook, the marketing ability of eBay, and the freedom to buy and sell of Craigslist.

"We're a website with a referral business," Cameron says of the site that launched on Oct. 19.

The subscription-based website works by enabling users, artists, and galleries to upload pieces of art for sale. Users have the ability to "like" and "follow" artists and to receive notifications when that artist is selling pieces. Cameron says it charges for the amount of bandwidth used.

Subscription prices range from $5.95 a month to $24.95 a month, depending on the number of art pieces uploaded and bandwidth used. Users who don't upload art for sale, including art buyers, don't have to pay for service.

Cameron says he believes flootie.com can help artists and galleries connect with art fans and potential buyers more easily.

He says that as of Nov. 5, the site had 90 registered users and about 400 pieces of art uploaded.

-Jessica Valencia