Drink Nectar blogger to open tasting room
Online wine blogger Josh Wade says he plans this month to open the Nectar Tasting Room, which will serve wine from five Washington state wineries, later this month.

Wade has been writing an online blog at DrinkNectar.com for about one year. He says he started the blog "with the intention of reaching out to wine lovers in the Spokane area for an eventual business opening," his blog says.

Nectar Tasting Room has leased 1,800 square feet of space at 120 N. Stevens, formerly occupied by Bridal Collections, Wade says. He also has leased the basement, and will use about 600 square feet of it for storage, he says.

Spokane restaurant designer Josh Hissong designed the tasting room. Amron Corp., of Spokane, the owner of the building, has been remodeling the space, at an estimated cost of $40,000 to $50,000, Wade says.

The five Washington wineries represented at the tasting room will be Northwest Cellars, of Kirkland; Anelare Winery, of Kennewick; Hard Row To Hoe Vineyards, of Lake Chelan; Terra Blanca Winery, near Benton City; and Skylight Cellars, of Walla Walla.

Nectar Tasting Room will provide seating for customers who want to order wine by the glass, and also will sell about 30 different varietals, at $14 to $50 per bottle, Wade says. It initially will employ two people in addition to Wade, he says.

Gaia Law practice moves, expands
Gaia Law Firm PLLC is moving its offices and expanding this month, says its owner, attorney Terri Sloyer.

The firm is moving to a 2,800-square-foot renovated house, at 1408 W. Broadway, from a 900-square-foot renovated house at 1414 W. Broadway. Teri Nolan, an associate attorney with the firm, will become a full partner, and another associate attorney will be added, Sloyer says. Drug and alcohol counselor Anne Currier and massage therapist Sean Tremayne plan to sublease office spaces from the firm, she says.

Gaia Law spent about $20,000 making upgrades to the building. It hopes to open there by mid-November, Sloyer says.

The firm focuses on family law and criminal defense in domestic violence cases.

Sloyer says she chose the firm's name because in Greek mythology, Gaia was the goddess who took the primordial chaos of earth and created order. Sloyer's aim in her law practice is to help people in chaotic situations restructure their family relationships, she says.

Before opening her own practice 15 months ago, Sloyer says she worked for the Center for Justice here for about six years. In addition to her and Nolan, Gaia Law has three full-time employees.

Valley eatery adds Cinnabons to menu
Bruce Brown, co-owner of a Schlotzsky's Deli franchise eatery at 901 N. Sullivan, says the business, Sullivan Road Deli LLC, has added a Cinnabon Express franchise at that location and now serves cinnamon rolls and coffee through its drive-up window beginning at 7 a.m.

The Schlotzsky's and Cinnabon Inc. chains both are owned by Focus Brands Inc., of Atlanta. The company decided to offer cinnamon roll franchises to locations other than shopping malls earlier this year, its Web site says.

The Schlotzky's Deli outlet serves salads, sandwiches, pizza, and soup, and previously opened at 10 a.m. daily.

Brown says he has been part-owner of the eatery, at 901 N. Sullivan, in Spokane Valley, for 12 years. He bought out one partner four years ago, and now owns the business with partner John Payne.

If the earlier opening of the drive-through is successful, Brown says he also will begin to open the dining room at 7 a.m., and may look into serving other breakfast items.

The restaurant has 2,800 square feet of floor space and seats 32 patrons. It has eight full-time and five part-time employees, Brown says.

Massage Therapist opens two locations
A massage therapy business, Aloha Therapeutic Massage, has opened its doors with two locations, one at 110 W. Crawford, in Deer Park, and the other at 9507 N. Division, on Spokane's North Side, owner Joan Haney says. The new venture also offers mobile massage at clients' homes or businesses.

Aloha Therapeutic Massage offers Hawaiian lomilomi massage, Swedish massage, sea salt foot soaks, and warm hand paraffin dips, Haney says. For office visits, it charges $50 for a 50-minute massage, or $90 for a 90-minute massage, and bills medical insurers if massage is prescribed for a client, she says. Mobile massage rates are higher.

Haney says she decided to learn massage therapy after she was injured and visited a massage therapist. She says that while studying for her license, she became interested in Hawaiian culture and massage techniques, and eventually visited lomilomi practitioners in Hawaii to learn more about it. Lomilomi involves rhythmic, water-like movements.

"It's similar to Swedish massage, but more relaxing," Haney says. Swedish massage is conventional massage.

Haney says she previously owned a horse-boarding and riding business, called Farwest Farms, in Deer Park, which she had for 31 years. She says she plans eventually to add a naturopath, two or three more massage therapists, an acupuncturist, and a spa to her new business.

Mexican restaurant opens on Monroe
Patricia and Julio Martinez have opened La Esquina Mexican Cafe at 825 N. Monroe. That space previously was occupied by the Top Notch Cafe.

The new restaurant serves specialty Mexican dishes, such as mole, chiles rellenos, and chilaquiles—a dish of tortilla strips, salsa, cheese, and eggs or meat—as well as more familiar dishes. A lunch buffet, available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers meat dishes, rice, beans, taco salads, and a salsa bar, says Patricia Martinez.

"We make everything from scratch, except the tortillas," she says.

The space had been renovated recently, so paint, Mexican decorations, and a buffet table were the only changes needed, Martinez says.

The restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Two family members are helping the couple get started, but the restaurant has no paid employees, she says.

The Martinezes owned the El Gallo Giro restaurant, at 3207 E. Sprague, from 2004 to January 2010, Martinez says.