South Hill runs out of Paprika

One of Spokane’s finest restaurants, Paprika, has closed.

Larry and Karla Graves decided for now that 14 years in the Spokane restaurant business is enough. The intimate café at 1228 W. Grand Blvd. was known for its elegant dinners — especially the perfectly seared peppercorn-crusted ahi.

The space is being renovated to welcome the city’s newest restaurant, Just Jerry’s, owned by Jerry Schrader and Robin Riemcke. The couple is best known for their former business, the popular Cannon Street Grill.

That restaurant, a longtime Browne’s Addition fixture, built a reputation for serving breakfast and lunch.

Schrader and Riemcke closed the Cannon Street Grill earlier this year and it has since been remodeled and reopened as Café Marron.

“We knew our retirement would be temporary,” Riemcke said.

Just Jerry’s will not be a reincarnation of the Cannon Street Grill. It will be open for lunch and dinner. In a move to satisfy former customers, Sunday brunch will be offered.

Lunches will feature burgers, Reubens and other sandwiches, soups, salads and an entrée such as salmon filet.

The dinner menu will feature rich, simple offerings. Prices will likely be in the $10 to $20 range, Riemcke said.

“We want to create a space that’s warm and inviting,” she said.

The couple will do some remodeling and painting in the Paprika space, including a larger entry space with seating and wine service, and plan to open by the end of January.

Though the Graveses could not be reached Friday for comment, they left a detailed greeting on an answering machine saying that Just Jerry’s would honor Paprika gift certificates.

“We’ve had a great time and we thank you,” the Graveses said.