Thompson’s Orthotics prepares for bigger digs

Thompson’s Custom Orthotics and Prosthetics has hit a growth spurt. After 25 years in the same East Spokane location, the Spokane medical equipment firm gets ready to take over a much larger building next spring.

First owner Jan Thompson started the business at its present location, 502 E. Fifth, making custom orthotic and prosthetic attachments for customers across the region. That space is a cramped 5,000 square feet.

The company, which has grown from five to 22 workers since 2000, will now take over a new building, around the corner at 401 S. Sherman. It will provide 12,000 square feet over two levels.

The move should take place in April, said co-owner Jim Cahill.

In 2000, Cahill and another company manager, Henry Bennett, bought the company and revved up the business. They’ve been able to see that growth continue ever since. The staff now includes six clinical prosthetics designers and six technicians.

Smart Spaces by Design designed the building, and CSHQA in Boise was the architect. Meridian Construction of Spokane is the general contractor.

Empyrean moves across town

Popular youth music club and hangout Empyrean Coffee has closed its doors and will move across downtown Spokane to 171 S. Howard, formerly the Big Dipper.

The Empyrean will reopen in its new digs on or about Jan. 8, said owner Michelle Riddle.

Driving the move was an announced rent hike, Riddle said. Another factor was the impact of a new fire sprinkler law imposed statewide.

Spokane-based Rencorp owns the Empyrean building.

Bakery, coffee shop team up

Gina Garcia and Chris Harris, former operators of South Hill business Bitter Sweet Bakery and Bistro, have joined forces with the owner of Chaps Coffee Company, along the Pullman highway south of Spokane.

Bitter Sweet, on Spokane’s South Hill, was in business about a year and a half before closing this past summer.

Chaps owner Celeste Shaw said she has been a friend of Garcia and suggested Garcia and Harris bring their bakery to her cafe and coffee shop, parked in the retail mall at 4237 S. Cheney Spokane Road.

The bakery to be added to Chaps will be called “Cake.”

Garcia and Harris will give the Chaps menu a full lineup of pastry items and other options, Shaw said.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday. It’s closed today but resumes with farm breakfasts Friday through Sunday.