Churchill’s Steakhouse reopening ushers in new look

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 St., had to be thrown out after a July 2008 fire, which started in a business next door.

The only prominent restaurant fixture to survive the fire was the scarlet outdoor awning. It needed extensive cleaning, but it’s back in place.

After dealing with insurance companies and overcoming numerous construction speed bumps, Alles started rebuilding the business last winter.

He says Churchill’s should be ready for prime-rib time in about three weeks.

Despite the losses and the struggles, he’s confident the restored Churchill’s will be friendlier and more comfortable for customers than its earlier version. The net cost of rebuilding and restoring comes to about $1.2 million, he said.

The grand piano that formerly sat on the main floor is gone, a victim of water damage. Alles said he won’t replace it.

His goal, he said, was making the restaurant less stuffy.

“Our waiters will no longer wear tuxes,” he said. He’s leaning toward white butcher coats.

Alles also asked ALSC Architects and its designers to remake the interior space “more Northwestern” and less formal.

A step in that direction was adding rock pieces to walls and walkways.

The redesign also added a sound system that can be programmed with different music for separate restaurant rooms.

A lot of the credit, Alles said, goes to Walker Construction for “rebuilding it better than it was before.” In the private dining area, for example, a wooden ceiling beam had warped over time, curving and bending across a span of about 30 feet.

Walker’s crew straightened the 12-inch-wide beam from edge to edge.

In other areas Alles has upgraded fixtures and added extra seating.

The main floor dining area will seat about 80, while the old room sat 63.

The downstairs wood bar is all maple instead of poplar, he said.

Churchill’s private dining area, in a room off the bar, doubles as the conference area. Alles is adding three wall-mounted HD monitors and audio-visual technology there for business customers.

The restaurant will serve lunch Monday through Friday and dinner seven evenings a week, from 4 to 11 p.m.

‘Green’ home show

Spokane Home Builders Association is holding a groundbreaking Thursday at 10 a.m. in the River District of Liberty Lake to call attention to this summer’s Certified Built Green Home Show.

The association and several area builders will construct six “Built Green” residences that will be on display in June, said spokeswoman Katherine Morgan.

Anyone can come to the groundbreaking at 1980 Holl Blvd., near Half Moon Park.

Builders involved in the show include George White Homes, Brent Peterson Homes, Greenstone Homes, and the Spokane Home Builders Association.

The show will run June 18-27.

Some homes being built are custom-designed, while others are on spec, Morgan said.

New store carries vintage, modern mix

Fringe and Fray, a downtown Spokane reseller of vintage and modern men’s and women’s clothes and accessories, has opened on the main floor of the Eldridge Building, 1325 W. First Ave.

The clothing business took over the space formerly occupied by Petrucelly’s Violins and Guitars.

The store’s owners are Grace and Ryan Johnson.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The store does not sell on consignment, but it will accept clothes for 30 percent credit, said Grace Johnson.

The store’s Web site is http://fringeandfray.net.