Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the giant Bentonville, Ark.-based retail chain, is looking to expand its store in the Spokane Valley into a supercenter store that would carry groceries, in addition to its typical mix of general merchandise.Wal-Mart has an

Barnes & Noble Inc., the big New York-based bookselling chain that also owns the B. Dalton Bookseller chain, plans to close the only B. Dalton store remaining in Spokane.That store, which is located downtown, at 702 W. Main, is expected to close

Vaughn Bay Construction Inc., of Tacoma, is hoping to buy and upgrades three Spokane-area properties, including the American Legion Building, a downtown landmark at 108 N. Washington.The Tacoma construction company has formed a partnership, DPS

Marsh Advantage America, a division of the insurance giant Marsh Inc., has put its West regional headquarterswith oversight responsibility for 11 states in Spokane and now plans to add as many as 75 people to its staff of about 100 here.The

Techni Force Coatings LLC, a Shoreline, Wash.-based developer of specialty paints, coatings, and finishes, is moving to Spokane, says Tim Brummett, the companys sales manager and co-owner.The company, which was formed nine months ago in that a

Appleway Automotive Group, of Spokane, has demolished its Mazda dealership building, at 10006 E. Sprague, and plans to build a new sales and service center there for its Audi and Volkswagen lines, county records show.Appleway currently sells and

What-A-Melon Bomb Pops, Firecracker Jrs., and Strawberry Burst Big Dippers are among the wares of Spokane-based Rainbow Ice Cream Novelties.Its tools of the trade include 10 small, three-wheeled vehicles, each equipped with a freezer chest and a

Five years ago, waist-high weeds dominated cracked sidewalks along South Perry Street, drug deals went down in the middle of the day, and graffiti-covered commercial buildings sat boarded up and vacant, some residents there say.This area was &

World Wide Packets Inc., a Spokane start-up company thats developing and plans to manufacture gigabit networking equipment, is planning to open an engineering office in Portland, Ore., and also expects to double its employment here within the six

Futuristic-looking chairs and unconventionally shaped walls painted in purple, bright blue, goldenrod, and pale green characterize the temporary administrative offices at Spokane-based Visiontec Inc.Beyond the maze of colorful walls is a secured