Here’s the dirt: Red Lobster, other stores near completion

Northtown Square, the retail conversion of the former Wendle at Northtown auto dealership, is completing interior work and waiting for the ground to thaw to tackle surface parking. The project’s two retail buildings have reached 80 percent occupancy, developer Chud Wendle said. Red Lobster will be part of that project on its own site at Wellesley and Division. The North Division Red Lobster will be Spokane’s first restaurant from that national chain. The only other Red Lobster nearby is in Coeur d’Alene. The seafood restaurant will open in May. The other retail stores in the two buildings that make up Northtown Square will open at different points starting in mid-May, said Wendle, who is developing the site with John Stejer. The anchor tenants in a larger, 51,706-square-foot building are DSW Shoes, Ulta Beauty, Spokane Teachers Credit Union and the Dress Barn. The second, 12,800-square-foot building will have a Starbucks, a Bajio Mexican Grill, Tuxedo Gallery, Honeybaked Hams, Venus Nails, Desert Sun tanning gallery and SportsClips salon. Track the progress of shops at northtownsquare.com. Another 8,600-square-feet of space is still available, Wendle said.

Berg moves staffers

Berg Companies, the Spokane-based manufacturer of containers and large containment units, has moved its marketing and sales staffs into leased space at 1100 E. Lakeshore Dr., Coeur d’Alene. The company’s administrative office and production site are in Spokane. Marketing Director Lindsey McDonough said the Coeur d’Alene suite, measuring 1,400 square feet, brings together Berg’s six sales and marketing workers. Total company headcount is about 75, she said.

Famous Footwear adds store

Spokane’s newest Famous Footwear store opened this week at Northpointe Plaza, 9704 N. Newport Highway. The 7,000-square-foot store has about 12,000 pairs of shoes, a company release noted. It will be the fifth Famous Footwear in Spokane. Saturday marks the store’s grand opening, with prizes and shopping sprees offered. Another twist: the company’s national office said Spokane shoppers can have shoes delivered to their home if the right size isn’t on store shelves.