Here’s the Dirt: South Hill Zip Trip reopens after makeover

A remodeled and renamed Cenex Zip Trip No. 2 has reopened at 1523 W. 10th Ave.

Ian Johnstone, area general manager for Cenex, said workers removed a wall that had separated the store from a kitchen area once used by a tenant, adding 1,200 square feet of sales space.

Two new coolers were installed, he said, as well as a reach-in freezer.

Two new bathrooms were constructed, and an office was added, Johnstone said.

“The store’s just getting more and more busy,” he said, adding that sales have increased as gasoline sales have diminished.

Workers also cleaned up the exterior and erected a new sign, Johnstone said.

Baker Construction was the contractor, Wolfe Architecture Group the designer.

Johnstone said the remodeling will be a template for another Zip Trip remake, the No. 23 store at 302 S. Altamont St.

Construction there should get under way the first week in April, he said.

Baker Construction wrapped up the project in two weeks while the store and pumps were closed.

Cardinal Health relocating

Cardinal Health, a national provider of health care products and pharmaceuticals, will move later this year from its current location to a new office in Spokane Valley.

The company’s current offices are at 413 E. Pacific Ave. The new office, at 9922 E. Montgomery Ave., will be a much larger 4,700 square feet to allow for expansion.

Cardinal Health company officials have not set a date for the move.

Mark Mowrer of Kiemle & Hagood represented Cardinal Health; Carlos Hererra, of SDS Realty, represented the property owner, Jackson LLC.

Apricot Lane coming to RPS

Apricot Lane Boutique, a fashion and accessories retailer, is moving into River Park Square, taking the space last used by Artisans’ Wares, on the second floor of the downtown mall.

That space is roughly 1,800 square feet. Artisans’ Wares has moved to another downtown location.

River Park Square is an affiliate of Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.

Apricot Lane franchisees Jen and Bill Ackerman, who opened their first store in the Tri-Cities, say they expect to open in May.

The Ackermans will sell a variety of branded and original items, including jewelry, handbags and accessories.

Hagadone plans Resort Plaza bar

Hagadone Hospitality will open a new entertainment bar in the Resort Plaza Shops along Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Due to open in June, the new bar’s name hasn’t been chosen, according to a news release. It will be open seven nights a week and include indoor and outdoor seating.

The business next door, Tito Macaroni restaurant, 210 E. Sherman, will have a remodeled interior as part of the total project, the release said.

Once the new facility opens, the Shore Lounge, inside The Coeur d’Alene Resort, will close. It will be converted into meeting, reception and banquet space.

Spokane company wins dam contract

Graham Construction & Management of Spokane has been awarded a $5 million contract for a material storage building at Grand Coulee Dam.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation will use the 22,000-square-foot structure to store generator and turbine components during a 10-year, $1 billion overhaul of the dam’s Third Powerplant.

The powerplant’s six generating units are almost 40 years old, a bureau release said, and wear and tear has compromised their reliability.

The Bonneville Power Administration, which sells the power generated at the dam, will pay for the overhaul.

Staff writer Tom Sowa contributed to this report. Here’s the Dirt is a weekly report on new developments and business openings, closings or movement in the Inland Northwest. E-mail business@ spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5528.