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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Here’s the Dirt: Williams Seafood makes a big move

A former shop building at the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Ruby Street in Spokane stands open to the weather as workers undertake a full remodeling, including ripping up pavement, for Williams Seafood. (Jesse Tinsley)
By Bert Caldwell bertc@spokesman.com(509) 459-5450

Williams Seafood soon will be fishing in a bigger pond.

Owner Mike Offield said the 30-year-old business will move from its longtime location at 10627 E. Sprague Ave. to 2116 N. Ruby St., where he will have double the space and co-tenants also selling food.

“We need to be more centrally located,” Offield said. “We don’t have the traffic we used to have.”

The Ruby location, at the intersection with Montgomery Avenue, will put Williams on the going-home route of commuters. Spokane International Airport, where his fish is delivered, will also be a much shorter drive, he said.

Williams will occupy 4,000 square feet of new space under construction next to an existing structure of equal size that site owner Mike Schmitz said could accommodate a bakery, butcher or other specialty food vendors.

Offield said he plans to add new display cases and other food items, and expand the selection of beer and wine. Despite the additional space, he said the business will retain its mom-and-pop store feel.

He said he expects to add to his staff of three.

Schmitz said Yost Mooney and Pugh Contractors Inc. is the builder for the project, which was designed by Wolfe Architectural Group.

Sports apparel store to open

Vans, a nationwide active sports footwear and apparel shop, is opening its first Spokane store in NorthTown Mall.

It will take over a 3,000-square-foot store near J.C. Penney on the main floor of the mall. That space was last occupied by Eddie Bauer.

Vans carries men’s and women’s apparel, as well as infant shoes. A news release said it will open its doors in late spring.

Vivo expands to North Side

Shawnda and Dale Rainey will open their third area Vivo store later this month in NorthTown Mall.

The couple have two other Vivo stores, in Coeur d’Alene and in the Spokane Valley Mall.

The stores sell women’s apparel and accessories.

Dale Rainey said the NorthTown location is on the first floor and will take about 1,800 square feet formerly occupied by Pure Medspa.

The couple expect to open April 29, he said.

Reporter Tom Sowa contributed to this report. Here’s the Dirt is a weekly report on development and business changes in the Inland Northwest. Email business@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5528.