Bath Planet opens in Spokane Valley

Baths by Beldon, an affiliate of San Antonio-based Beldon Home Solutions that does business as Bath Planet, has opened an office and showroom in Spokane Valley.

The office is in 3,000 square feet of leased space at 15320 E. Marietta. Bath Planet offers contract remodeling and in-home consultations for bath and shower systems, accessibility products, accessories, shower rods, and doors.

Alan Hansen, Spokane-based national sales manager for Bath Planet who oversees sales and operations at the new location, says this is the only Bath Planet office in Washington. The business will market its remodeling services and products to customers in the Spokane area, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, and Moses Lake. Four workers - including Hansen, who will be on-site part time - will be employed at Bath Planet, Hansen says.

Bath Planet has other branches in Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Massachusetts.

Title Nine to open store on South Hill

Title Nine, a San Francisco-based women's athletic clothing retailer, is opening a store at 928 S. Perry on the South Hill.

The store will occupy half of a building owned by local partnership Dark Enterprises LLC, says Matthew Byrd, a leasing agent with Cornerstone Properties Advisors LLC. The building owners and store representatives couldn't be reached for comment.

However, Byrd says Inland Contractor Services, of Spokane Valley, was responsible for the remodel of the 2,150-square-foot space, installing new windows, storefront, restrooms, lighting, ceiling, and flooring. He estimates the total remodeling cost was around $100,000.

Byrd says Title Nine's corporate office wanted to open a retail store in an area of Spokane that promoted an active lifestyle. The company chose the South Hill because of the variety of casual shopping stores and eateries located around the intersection of Perry and 10th Avenue, Byrd says.

The Title Nine retail chain currently includes a total of 18 stores and 170 employees, its website says. The store features women's clothing for sports and recreational activities.

Kootenai Prosthetics buys Valley operation

Kootenai Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc., of Coeur d'Alene, has bought the assets of Valley Orthopedic Orthotic Services, in Spokane Valley, and says it will reopen the clinic next month under a new name in a 2,700-square-foot leased space at 1424 N. McDonald.

Robert and Linda Miller, co-owners of Kootenai Prosthetics, decline to disclose the terms of the transaction, but Robert Miller says the relocated clinic, formerly at 11412 E. Sprague Ave., will do business as Kootenai Prosthetics & Orthotics Valley Orthopedic.

Miller estimates the new branch of Kootenai Prosthetics initially will employ three people. The company as a whole employs 13 people, including Miller and three amputees, he says.

Kootenai Prosthetics manufactures and fits custom prosthetics for amputees and specialized devices for activities such as running, cycling, swimming, and skiing. It also makes custom orthotic devices and provides mastectomy services.

Spokane Valley Ear, Nose, & Throat PS is a tenant in the same building along McDonald.

Rainmaker moves its office here downtown

Rainmaker Creative Inc., a Spokane-based marketing company that also has an office in Coeur d'Alene, has moved its Spokane office to a 2,500-square-foot leased space at 107 S. Cedar, at the west end of downtown. It formerly was leasing 1,600 square feet at 8606 N. Wall.

The new space was remodeled by HDG Hissong Hurtado Design Group, of Spokane, says Billie Gaura, who owns Rainmaker with her husband, Kevin Gaura. She declines to disclose remodeling costs.

Rainmaker will use part of the space as a classroom to teach marketing classes for small business owners.
"We needed a larger space to accommodate more clients and staff, and we really liked the feel of downtown," Gaura says.

Nine employees work at the Rainmaker's Spokane office, including the Gauras Rainmaker also has part-time employees at its Coeur d'Alene satellite office, located in the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce Building, at 105 N. First.

The company focuses on helping small businesses with visual communication, Web development, graphic design, business plans, strategic planning, advertising, and social media consulting, Gaura says.

Runners Soul opens store near Whitworth

Runners Soul Spokane Inc., which does business as Runners Soul, has opened a second retail store here, in Whitworth Square, at 10208 N. Division.

The company's original store is at 221 N. Wall, in River Park Square.

Curt Kinghorn has owned Runners Soul since 1999 and plans to spend time at both locations on a regular basis. His son, Nate Kinghorn, will manage the new outlet, which is located in a 2,700-square-foot leased space. Yost, Mooney & Pugh Contractors Inc., of Spokane, remodeled the space, which cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to update, Curt Kinghorn says. The work included building a dressing room, a custom check stand, and repainting.

Runners Soul sells running shoes, clothing, and accessories to the running community in Spokane and focuses on marketing to high school runners, Kinghorn says. It also has sponsorships with Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Community Colleges of Spokane.

Two full-time and three part-time employees work at the new store, and the Kinghorns plan to hire a couple more people in the near future.

Metcalf Golf, a locally owned shop, previously occupied the space.