Clinkerdagger Will Shift To Salty’s Site

Clinkerdagger Restaurant is upgrading its already spectacular view.

The 22-year Spokane dining institution will close its doors in January and re-open them one month later, in the former Salty’s at the Falls site.

Both spots overlook the Spokane River, but Salty’s is poised directly above the falls.

“We finally finished the deal. It’s going to happen very soon in 1997,” said Jim Welch, executive vice president of RUI, Clinkerdagger’s Seattle-based owner. “We’re really excited about having the great view at Salty’s.”

RUI will lease the site from Salty’s parent company, Happy Guest International, also based in Seattle. Salty’s, which opened in April 1994, closed on Friday.

“We’re hoping to have them up and running by Feb. 15,” said Scott Switzer, vice president of Happy Guest.

Clinkerdagger will move from the Flour Mill shopping center on West Mallon, where it anchors a group of specialty shops and restaurants.

The Flour Mill’s property manager said several regional and national restaurateurs are interested in moving into Clinkerdagger’s spot.

“We’re getting good responses,” said Lynn Davis, vice president of R.W. Robideaux and Co. “Our intention is to have another excellent restaurant there.”

Clinkerdagger’s menu and style will be upgraded in the new location, Welch said, but no dramatic changes will be made. About 25 more people will be hired to staff the larger restaurant, said Attila Szabo, Clinkerdagger’s manager. Clinkerdagger currently uses 6,000 square feet of space, while the Salty’s location has more than 10,000 square feet.

“We’re really excited about it,” Welch said. “We’ve been very happy in Spokane and this ensures we’ll be there forever.”

, DataTimes