The Dirt

Walker’s Furniture expands facilities

Walker’s Furniture & Mattress is completing a 35,000-square-foot expansion of its distribution center and warehouse at the Spokane Business & Industrial Park in Spokane Valley.

The Spokane-based retailer is expanding because of fast growth in sales of its mattress line, said co-owner Gary Absalonson.

The company moved its then-120,000- square-foot warehouse into the business park in 2013. Continuing growth led to the expansion into a vacant building next door.

The company has more than 160 employees, with 54 of them at the distribution center, Absalonson said.

Started in 1980, the privately owned company now has 12 locations in the Inland Northwest, the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Eastern Oregon.

The original founders, Pam and Mark Walker, are also co-owners along with Absalonson and Adam McDaniel.

Best Western Plus renovated

The downtown Best Western Plus City Center has completed a renovation and rebranded itself, changing its name from the Travelodge at the Convention Center.

The Spokane hotel has been operating at 33 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. since 1996.

Financed by a loan of nearly $1 million from Wheatland Bank, the work overhauled the hotel’s lobby and common areas, expanded the breakfast and dining areas, built out the fitness center and remodeled 81 rooms.

New room TVs and granite countertops were also added during the project, said Meredith Rainville, the hotel general manager. Rainville is co-owner of the franchise with her parents Wayne and Mary Paupst.

Financial services office relocated

Douglas Piehl has relocated his financial services and consulting office to 505 N. Argonne Road, in the Boulder Creek Professional Center.

Piehl is affiliated with Thrivent Financial Services.

His lease was brokered by Earl Engle of NAI Black.