Shakey’s back on firm footing

Longtime Spokane residents will remember Shakey’s Pizza. Two of the restaurants operated here for years, closing in the early 1980s.

Now Shakey’s is back, with a modern look but also embracing some nostalgia.

Steve Hersey, whose 36-year career with the brand ranged from busboy to director of information technology, has opened a new Shakey’s Pizza Parlor at 9602 N. Newport Highway. His son Nick, a recent business management graduate, is general manager.

The 5,900-square-foot restaurant seats 182 inside and another 60 on a patio. It has about 50 employees.

It’s open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Herseys moved up from the Los Angeles area last year. They hope to open four more of the restaurants in the region. Possible locations include the South Hill, Spokane Valley and the Tri-Cities, Steve Hersey said.

Since the North Side store opened a month ago, many customers have shared tales of the old eateries, he said. “Talking with the guests, everybody remembers the Shakey’s here.”

The first Shakey’s opened in Sacramento, Calif., in 1954 with pizza, cold beer and singalong ragtime music. The Spokane store embraces that heritage but adds modern amenities such as a game room and big-screen TVs.

The chain peaked with more than 550 restaurants in the 1970s. Today there are just 50 to 60, but the franchise is starting to take off again around the West, Hersey said.

Hersey most recently worked for Jacmar Cos., a California corporation that operates the Shakey’s Pizza chain through subsidiary Shakey’s USA.

Coffee bar to open in West Central

Indaba Coffee Bar is set to open Nov. 9 in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood.

Owners Bobby Enslow, Ben Doornink and Jimmy Addington of Spokane will offer Italian-style espresso, French-press coffee and pastries.

The coffee bar is in the newly constructed Walnut Corners housing development, 1425 West Broadway. Indaba will be sharing a commercial space with The Book Parlor, a nonprofit bookstore, and Katie’s Table, a nonprofit deli and grocery store. The Book Parlor is open now and Katie’s Table plans to open soon.

“Indaba” is a South African word that refers to a gathering of tribal leaders.

A portion of Indaba’s proceeds will go toward supporting the community through organizations such as Project HOPE, an at-risk youth and gang- prevention initiative in West Central.

Fabric, crafts store moving to mall

The Spokane Valley Jo-Ann Stores will relocate from its current retail spot, at 12205 E. Sprague, to a portion of the former Circuit City building at the Spokane Valley Mall. The move is likely to happen in the spring of 2010, said Erik Nelson, a commercial broker with Kiemle & Hagood Co.

The fabric and crafts chain operates three other locations in Spokane and North Idaho.

Based in Ohio, Jo-Ann Stores has more than 700 retail locations across the nation. The relocated Valley store address will be 15110 E. Indiana, northeast of the Valley Mall.

Yoga studios come together

Two Spokane yoga studios have joined forces and will reopen in a remodeled location on the South Hill next month.

Spokane Yoga Shala, at 505 E. 24th, will merge with Twist Yoga Studio, at 176 S. Howard.

Katie Gehn, a Spokane mother and business woman, has operated Spokane Yoga Shala for several years.

Shelley Alkier, also a mother and business owner, runs Twist Yoga Studio.

They will close the Twist Yoga location and reopen, as Spokane Yoga Shala, at Gehn’s location on East 24th. That building is currently closed during remodeling.

A tentative opening is early November. For more information call (509) 869-4121.