Fred’s Appliance opening Valley store

After doing business for years on Spokane’s North Side, Fred’s Appliance is coming to the Valley.

The new location, in the old Walker’s Furniture building at 10169 E. Sprague Ave., will be the company’s fifth, said general manager Troy Varness. The family-owned company has been in business since 1962.

“The company has grown phenomenally the last four of five years,” Varness said. “Our growth has really allowed us to go after new markets. We do a lot of business in the Valley already. A lot of people come north to shop with us.”

Varness believes that Spokane Valley is finally coming into its own, a switch from earlier years when Valley shoppers went to the North Side to do business. “We feel shopping patterns in Spokane have changed,” he said.

Fred’s Appliance sells 28 different brands of household appliances. The store promises same-day delivery and keeps a fully stocked 33,000-square-foot warehouse. “We carry everything from a $159 dishwasher to a $12,000 range,” he said.

Varness said the East Sprague location is ideal because it’s situated where the Sprague/Appleway couplet joins together. “Hopefully, no matter which way someone is traveling, they’ll see us.”

Even more expansion is in the company’s future. “We’ve actually got a verbal agreement on another property further east,” Varness said. “It’s a vacant lot now.”

Varness declined to say where the property is until after the agreement is signed. The company plans to build a new building on the site.

The location on East Sprague is expected to open this week.

Modern Electric

The Modern Electric Water Co. plans to host its annual shareholder’s meeting from noon to 3 p.m. next Saturday. Refreshments will be served and there will be door prizes.

The meeting will be held at 904 N. Pines Road. Call 928-4540 for more information.