Kevin Blocker

ZAGANOMICS: Gonzaga basketball becomes economic engine

Businesses, school benefit from program's success

April 8, 2021

A near-perfect, capstone season by Gonzaga University's men's basketball team has generated far more W's than just those on the court. And while the season didn't end with perfection or a national championship after a Monday night defeat

New North 40 outlet rises along U.S. 2 on West Plains

Store near Airway Heights to be retailer's fifth in INW

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Construction is well underway for a North 40 Outfitters farm and ranch store on the western edge of Spokane, near the border of Airway Heights. The $6.5-million retail chain store is being built at 9656 W. U.S 2, at the northeast of corner of the highway

North Spokane Corridor continues southward march

Crews wait for thaw to resume work fully

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

The long-awaited North Spokane Corridor project will reach an important milestone with the completion of a railway realignment this summer. In 2019, Spokane-based Halme Construction Inc. began work on the $77.5-million realignment project of a BNSF

Kalispel Tribe to start Northern Quest expansion

Project set to be finished by 2023

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Despite the battering the hospitality industry is taking due to COVID-19-related social distancing and business restrictions, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians plans to start work soon on a hotel expansion at its Northern Quest Resort & Casino

Spokane Tribe expands casino, restaurant space

Project slated to be completed late this year

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

The Spokane Tribe of Indians is well underway with a construction project that will nearly double the size of the current three-year-old, 26,000-square-foot casino, just west of Airway Heights. The expansion will have more than 20,000 square feet of

$53 million Podium project to open in fall

First high-profile event set for February 2022

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Stacked atop a basalt outcropping in the North Bank area overlooking downtown Spokane, The Podium was built on ground that had to be blasted away

Angela's Family Service works to provide safety net for at-risk families

Company helps coordinate court-ordered visitations

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Angela Kraemer decided if she was going to leave the home to help generate income for her family, she would do something fulfilling. At the suggestion of a friend 13 years ago, Kraemer founded Angela's Family Services LLC, a business that helps

Uprise Brewing mulled in Kendall Yards

Restaurants & Retail

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Jonathan Sweatt, operator and owner of Downriver Grill, Flying Goat, and Republic Pi restaurants, along with a two of his employees, brothers Brandon and Ryan Hare, have submitted an initial permit application to the city of Spokane for Uprise Brewing Co.

Cozzetto's Coin-Op moves to North Side

Commercial laundry machine service provider vacates downtown site

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Due to an increase in homeless activity around the business premises, a lack of parking, and traffic growth on Third Avenue, Steve Cozzetto says he recently moved his 44-year-old laundry machine servicing business out of downtown Spokane to a larger

Botzon's Automotive to expand import repair shop

Owner anticipates adding five work bays this year at Botzon's Automotive

March 25, 2021

Kevin Blocker

Bud Botzon started repairing the bicycles of friends as a child growing up in California. A near lifetime of service continues today as he's now a Spokane Valley-based mechanic.