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Tom Sowa

Tom Sowa is a reporter for The Spokesman-Review in the Business department. He covers area businesses and technology stories.

How to contact Tom

Email: toms@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-459-5492
Fax: 509-459-5482

Recent stories by Tom

Shenanigan’s restaurant sold

March 16, 2010 in Business on Page A7 Downtown Spokane eatery C.I. Shenanigan’s has been purchased by the Spokane Public Facilities District. But loyal customers can take a breath – Shenanigan’s will remain where it is for the … 3
Facilities district buys Spokane restaurant Shenanigan’s

March 15, 2010 in Business Downtown Spokane eatery C.I. Shenanigan’s has been purchased by the Spokane Public Facilities District. But loyal customers can take a breath — Shenanigan’s will remain where it is for the … 9
Plowing retirement savings into a new venture can be a scary adventure

March 14, 2010 in Business on Page E1 Business partners Don Poffenroth and Kent Fleischmann felt a bit shaky taking their 401(k) money to start their Spokane business, Dry Fly Distilling. They knew the statistic: Half of new … 1
Walmart plans Valley store near Costco

March 12, 2010 in Business, SatValley on Page A12 Walmart says it will square off with Costco Wholesale Corp. in the Spokane Valley. The Bentonville, Ark., retail behemoth announced Thursday it will build a 151,000-square-foot retail center on a … 3
Northeast community center expanding

March 12, 2010 in Business on Page A12 Spokane’s Northeast Community Center, at 4001 N. Cook St., has started work on a $3 million addition that will create 30,000 square feet of meeting and office space and a …
Sale looms for Spokane Harley dealership

March 10, 2010 in Business on Page A10 A bankruptcy judge in Spokane next week is expected to set a date for selling Spokane’s only Harley Davidson dealership, plus two more stores in Walla Walla and Lewiston. John …
Grants help rural networks

March 6, 2010 in Business on Page A6 The Port of Whitman County and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe are each getting federal stimulus money to provide fiber optic networks to businesses and residents. The port’s $9.8 million award …
Company offers deal on wheels to its workers

March 5, 2010 in City on Page A7 Mountain Gear President Paul Fish made 22 people happy this week; each of them now has a shiny Trek bike purchased through the company. As he did last year, Fish …
Intellectual property Web site planned

March 5, 2010 in Business on Page A12 Former Washington congressman Rick White and former Red Lion Hotels CEO Art Coffey have joined forces to launch a Web company, IP Street, with offices in Seattle and Spokane. The …
Churchill’s Steakhouse reopening ushers in new look

February 26, 2010 in Business on Page A10 Churchill’s Steakhouse owner Bill Alles doesn’t say it, but he seems almost glad he had to rebuild his restaurant. Nearly everything inside his downtown Spokane restaurant, at 165 S. Post …
Apple mum on store in Spokane

February 23, 2010 in Business on Page A8 If Apple intends to open one of its stylish and cool retail stores in Spokane, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company is saying little to confirm that rumor. For the past four … 5
Lowe’s gets OK to relocate North Side store

February 20, 2010 in Business on Page A6 The remodeling and construction market may be soft, but national retailer Lowe’s is going forward with plans to relocate its north Spokane store to a bigger spot three blocks away. …
Rite Aid relocating to busy intersection

February 12, 2010 in Business on Page A16 Why would Rite Aid cross the street to move into a new building at the corner of Sprague Avenue and Pines Road in Spokane Valley? The move – scheduled to … 1
Former anchor sues KREM over job loss

February 10, 2010 in City on Page A5 Former TV anchor Nadine Woodward has sued KREM-TV, alleging age and sex discrimination when station management cut her salary and failed to give her a new contract last fall. The … 4
Spokane firm’s ads just super

February 6, 2010 in Business, City on Page B1 Spokane ad agency Magner Sanborn is geared up for its two minutes of fame. The Spokane ad agency has produced three TV ads running during Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV. Dennis …
Toyota repairs begin

February 6, 2010 in City on Page A1 Spokane County resident Jon Livingston brought in his 2008 Toyota Tundra truck for an accelerator fix Friday afternoon. Like potentially several thousand Toyota owners in the area, Livingston owns a …
Army’s virtual recruiter will add versatility

February 4, 2010 in Business on Page A6 The U.S. Army’s virtual online recruiter, Sergeant Star, is being prepped for more advanced missions, his Spokane creators announced Wednesday. First launched by Spokane tech firm Next IT Corp. in …
Virtual tours provide new opportunities for businesses

January 31, 2010 in Business on Page E1 A small Sandpoint tech company has ignited a buzz of interest in its 3-D visualization tool, getting calls daily from state tourism agencies eager to use the tool to promote …
New playing field for Emtman

January 29, 2010 in Business on Page A12 Former University of Washington and NFL football player Steve Emtman is relying on perseverance, a trait that made him a dominant lineman, to complete his first residential development project, taking …
Itron inks $15 million deal with Mumbai

January 26, 2010 in Business on Page A7 Liberty Lake-based Itron Inc. announced it has sold 150,000 automated water meters to the Indian city of Mumbai. The deal, worth about $15 million, is the first sale of Itron’s …