A budding bar owner is giving the South Perry District a try: Jeff Nordvall would like to open a tavern at 1004 S. Perry St., where the Pop Shoppe used to be.

A medical career had taken Nordvall all over the country, before he bought a house in the South Perry District together with his business and life partner, Laura Paisley.

“It just looks like a good opportunity, I mean, there’s no competition at all,” said Nordvall on the phone from Indiana, where he said he’s working one more medical job to raise a bit more money.

“I’ve worked as a bartender before,” Nordvall said about his restaurant experience.

Nordvall and Paisley have applied for a liquor license for beer and wine.

It was challenged by the Spokane School District, Nordvall said, because Grant Elementary School is not far from his address.

“I was there when they measured it and there are more than 500 feet between the school’s main entrance and our front door,” Nordvall said. “We should be fine.”

If all goes as planned, The Lantern – the name of the establishment – would be an upscale bar with primarily high quality Northwest beer and local wines.

Nordvall and Paisley are keeping their fingers crossed for a March opening date, but will not move ahead until the liquor license is approved.

“We want to keep it classy, a good place for people to come and listen to acoustic music,” Nordvall said. “Once The Shop is closed, there’s nothing going on at all – we think this would be a good addition to the neighborhood.”