Thai eatery taking over Shack site

Fresh coats of brown-gray paint revitalize the building. Large planter barrels full of blue and purple flowers decorate the sidewalks. A metal chimney shines atop a new black roof.

It’s the new look for the former home of The Shack restaurant, a Spokane favorite that closed in March 2003 after more than 70 years in business.

It’s also the soon-to-be home of Linnie’s Thai Cuisine, which will open there on July 6, said Linnie’s co-owner Amphonesy Muongkhoth.

Muongkhoth and her husband, who goes by E., will close their restaurant at 1325 S. Grand Blvd. on July 3, she said. Another restaurant owned by the couple, Linnie’s II Thai Cuisine, at 2526 E. 29th Ave., will remain in its current location.

The Muongkhoths bought the Shack property, at 1301 W. Third Ave., in May for $300,000. The two have since spent more than $200,000 on renovations that include new kitchen appliances and plumbing and electrical work, Amphonesy Muongkhoth said.

The new location will allow Linnie’s to expand to 275 seats from its current 49, E. Muongkhoth said. The move will also provide three times as much parking as the restaurant’s current location, which the Muongkhoths have leased for the past 14 years.

Robert Gilles, the real estate broker for the property, said he received “dozens and dozens” of inquiries about the property, which was on the market for about a year.

“We’ve never had a property have that much interest,” he said. “Sometimes I’d show it two or three times a day.”

Inquiries came from other restaurants, auto-sales businesses and people who wanted to raze the restaurant to build offices, he said. However, Linnie’s seemed to be the best fit, Gilles said.

“Linnie has an excellent reputation of a strong track record,” Gilles said. “Though the owner was extremely picky who he sold it to, he thought they could succeed there.”

Ed Shaw, the former owner of The Shack, could not be reached for comment.

E. Muongkhoth said that despite his excitement at managing a much larger restaurant, he’s also worried that his regular customers won’t travel downtown for their favorite phad thai and curry.

“I’m pretty nervous, but I’ve got to move forward,” he said. “If I can do as well as they did before they left, I’d be a happy man.”