The Dirt

Club reopening as Swaxx

Three Spokane partners have taken over the former Swackhammer’s nightclub and will reopen it under the name Swaxx.

The new entertainment venue, at 25 E. Lincoln Road just off Division Street, will have a grand opening June 15.

Launching the business are Lenny Volpe, Jeffrey Hedspeth and Colin Smith. None has operated a nightclub business before.

Volpe said the club will have music theme nights covering different genres and will hire DJs to provide tunes. Swaxx will have a nightclub license, Volpe said, meaning it will sell liquor, beer and wine.

They chose the name Swaxx to recognize the history of the previous popular hangout that provided live music for more than 12 years until it closed several years ago.

Indian eatery opens in Valley

Swagat Indian Cuisine, a new Indian restaurant and lounge, has opened in Eagle Plaza, at 14415 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Owners are Pargat and Manjinder Kahlon. The couple will offer a range of Indian cuisine, including Tandoori cooking. Offerings will include Tandoori breads, chicken and lamb curry, vegetarian specialties and Indian desserts.

The space was last used by the Staggering Ox lounge. Eagle Engle and Mike King of NAI Black represented the landlord; Pete Thompson of Stonemark represented the Kahlons.

Cheney insurer opens in July

Denise Bennett will open a Cheney office representing American Family Insurance. Bennett, 52, just left a career in elementary education, where she worked for 20 years. This is her first insurance agency.

Her business will open at 2416 First in July. She arranged a four-year lease with the help of Alison Bantz and Erik Nelson, both of Kiemle & Hagood.