Architectural firm, wine tasting room owner dispute work costs

Hissong Design Group is suing Nectar Wine and Beer for unpaid design work related to the local wine bar’s abandoned plans to open a location on South Perry Street.

The Spokane-based design firm, also known as HDG Architecture, claims in a Spokane County Superior Court lawsuit filed last week that Nectar hired the firm to design a 3,100-square-foot wine and beer bar at 907 S. Perry St.

The suit claims HDG did 170 hours of design work at a cost of $11,400 and sent an invoice for the work to Nectar owner Josh Wade in October. The bill has yet to be paid, HDG says, leading to the lawsuit.

HDG is seeking $22,390 for the unpaid work, interest and legal fees. Lawyer Steven Andersson with Stamper Rubens, which is representing the company in the suit, did not respond to a request for comment.

Wade, who opened Nectar’s first location downtown in 2011, said he was unaware of the lawsuit when reached by phone Tuesday, but disputed the claim. He said the design firm could never “validate” the amount of work it did for him.

“They performed some work,” said Wade, estimating that 30 to 40 hours of work had been done. “I’ve tried to talk with them in regards to an equitable and fair amount.”

Wade, who dropped his plans for a wine bar on Perry because he said the building isn’t yet suitable for a tenant, said he never signed an agreement with HDG, even though it designed his Kendall Yards location.

“There was never a contract signed between the two of us,” Wade said. “Just a handshake agreement.”