Preparations under way for downtown food hall

Demolition has started on downtown Spokane’s old Sterling Savings Bank building in preparation for the a modern food hall.

Permits for the $175,000 interior demolition were issued last week and cyclone fencing was erected last week, blocking pedestrian access to the sidewalk on the south side of the building along Riverside Avenue.

The restaurant space at the corner of Riverside and Wall Street will be called the Market Hall Eatery, and is based on a similar development in Portland.

Plans filed with the city show a shared, open hall with up to 14 spaces for tenants. Unlike food courts, which generally cater to shoppers with fast-food chains, food halls house local boutique, artisan sellers.

Alexander Goods Depot bought the building in September for $6.5 million and is doing the renovation work. The company is owned by Colorado-based Confluent Development, a real estate company, and InterUrban Development, which is partly owned by Rob Brewster, a Seattle-based developer who has done a number of projects in Spokane.

Spokane-based Bouten Construction is the general contractor.