New eye clinic opens in Indian Trail community
Dr. Thomas A. Meyers, a Spokane optometrist, has opened Pacific EyeCare & Optical, at 5011 W. Lowell, in the Indian Trail neighborhood.

Meyers says he opened his own practice, located in a 1,500-square-foot leased space, because he wanted to have more control in his life by running his own business.

"Out here in Indian Trail, it serves a need because there is not an eye doctor in close proximity," he says.

Myers, a graduate of the Pacific University College of Optometry, in Forest Grove, Ore., offers full-service optometry, which includes comprehensive vision exams and medical health checks for degenerative eye diseases, as well as pre- and post-surgical cataract exams, he says. The clinic also sells eyeglass lenses, frames, and contact lenses.

Myers says he has worked at other eye care clinics in the Spokane area. This is the first practice he has owned, and he is the only optometrist there.

He says that almost all of his patients live in the Indian Trail area and other nearby North Spokane neighborhoods.

The clinic employs two other people.

Frozen yogurt shop opens on Division
Stephen and Karen Kraft, of Spokane, have opened a frozen yogurt shop here, called Froyo Earth, in an 1,100-square-foot leased space at 172 S. Division downtown.

The shop will sell a variety of flavors of frozen yogurt and toppings, which will be sold by the ounce, says Stephen Kraft.

Frozen yogurt is similar in consistency to soft-serve ice cream, but has 10 percent less fat than ice cream and contains pro-biotics, bacteria that aids in healthy digestion, he says.

"Under the general heading of healthier eating is healthier treating, having a frozen yogurt that tastes good and is every bit like an ice cream helps people treat well," Kraft says.

Froyo Earth will offer several different flavors of frozen yogurt, including vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, original tart, sweet coconut, pineapple, Georgia peach, wide berry, red velvet, and a sorbet, Kraft says.

It also will serve swirled yogurts that combine two flavors.

Kraft says he and his wife got the idea for the shop during a trip to Hawaii, and thought that even in a four-season location such as Spokane, it could be successful.

This is the couple's first business, and if it's successful, they plan to open more frozen yogurt shops in the area, says Kraft.

The business will employ between five and nine people, he says.

Local vintage clothing collector buys business
Jenny Stabile, of Spokane, recently bought a vintage clothing business here from Deena Caruso and plans to operate the business under a new name, although she hasn't reopened it yet.

The business, located in a 1,200-square-foot leased space at 110 S. Cedar, formerly was named Finders Keepers Fashion Flashback, but she will rename it Carousel, Stabile says.

When water damaged the Finders Keepers Jewelry Galore store space next door last month after a pipe burst, Caruso contacted Stabile about selling the vintage clothing portion of her business because she wanted to move the jewelry shop downtown, Stabile says.

"When this happened, she thought of me and knew I had a lot of passion. I loved the clothes and she was trying to think of a way to sell the clothing part of the business," she says.

The vintage clothing shop wasn't damaged when the jewelry store was flooded, she says.

Stabile says she is trying to get the used clothing shop up and running by early August, but has no other employees at this time.

Stabile says she has been collecting for the past four years vintage clothing, which she previously sold at local shows. She says she has about 600 pieces of clothing, 200 handbags, and 50 pairs of shoes dating from the 1980s or earlier, in addition to Caruso's inventory, which she acquired along with the business.

Stabile says she finds most of her items at thrift stores and yard sales here, and that many people who see her collection are surprised she is able to find her unique items locally.

"I have always loved fashion. I know what works. If I can't picture someone else wanting it or loving it, I pass it up," she says.

Caruso continues to own and operate Finders Keepers Jewelry Galore, which she has moved to 309 W. Second, and Finders Keepers Designer Dress Boutique, which is located at 18 W. Main.

Spokane couples open mobile hot dog business
Two Spokane couples have started a business here, called Over the Top Hotdogs, that takes a gourmet hot dog vending cart around the region to events and also does street vending.

Lorraine and William Mazurek and Samuel and Alexis Baker decided to start the business to get involved in community events and to meet new people, says Lorraine Mazurek.

"We want to let people see that even though you are over 50, you can still have fun," she says.

Mazurek says that so far they have been to Dover Days and Hayden Days, both in North Idaho, and the Hillyard Rodeo Days here, and plan to sell at several other community events this summer.

All four co-owners work at the cart during events and sell a variety of what they call 'gourmet hot dogs,' including a Seattle Dog, with cream cheese, sauer- kraut, and mustard; and a Cob Dog, with lettuce, bacon, and bleu cheese dressing, she says.

Mazurek says the four get most of their recipe ideas from the Food Network, but alter them for the business.

"We wanted to be different than your normal hot dog vendor. It gives people ideas of how to serve hot dogs to their own family," she says.

The business sells all-beef hot dogs in several sizes, and is looking at offering a veggie dog in the future, she says. The price of the hot dogs range from $2 to $5, including any condiments, she says.

Mazurek says she and the other three owners are trying to establish a schedule during the week to have the cart stationed at several different locations in Spokane on different days.

Currently, the co-owners are the business's only employees.