After years of growing by building its own hotels or acquiring others facilities, WestCoast Hospitality Corp. expects that the biggest share of its growth now will come through franchising.By growing that way, the Spokane-based company can a a

Already slowed by high fuel prices and a sluggish national economy, trucking companies say surging insurance rates have slapped a jake brake on their profit margins.Some Spokane-area trucking companies report that their liability-insurance have

Skippers Inc., the Edmonds, Wash.-based quick-service seafood restaurant chain, has leased sites for two new outlets in Spokane and is negotiating to have a structure built for a third new store here.The three new Skippers Seafood & Chowder

Bartons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., a 13-year-old Spokane company that at one time employed about 40 people, has closed its doors. However, two of its managers say they plan to launch a successor company, called The Barton Boys Inc., as soon a

Eller Corp., of Newman Lake, is the apparent low bidder on an about $1.1 million project to reconstruct Washington Street from Spokane Falls Boulevard north to Boone Avenue.Assuming Eller is awarded a contract for the job, construction should at

Spokane-based Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co., which has a long history of involvement in Hawaiian property development, is pursuing a new multimillion-dollar project on the island of Oahu. The company, through its Summit Property plans a

A hardware retailer from Phoenix plans this summer to open an Ace Hardware store in a former Albertsons Inc. supermarket space on Spokanes South Hill.The retailer, The Jant Group Inc., of Phoenix, has subleased Albertsons former store in a

As Focus 21 leaders discuss the future of the private economic-development organization, its two beneficiaries here are adjusting their operations to reflect current or potential reductions in the contributions they receive from the group. For

A Colfax, Wash., businessman is heading a new company that hopes to bring a $90 million strawboard and ethanol plant to the farming community 60 miles south of Spokane. The businessman, Gary Young, says the new company, Colfax-based Columbia Ag

The pleasantly mixed smells that permeate Michlitch Co.s building near downtown Spokane are difficult to distinguish, but leave little doubt as to what the business does.Theres a teasing hint of garlic, perhaps a bit of nutmeg and basil, and