Briefcase

One World cafe closing

One World Spokane Cafe, 1804. E. Sprague Ave., will be closed at least a month to allow owners Keith and Janice Raschko to focus on “reorganization and refocusing.”

For the past two years the nonprofit restaurant in the East Sprague business district has offered free or low-price meals for volunteers and low-income patrons. Its focus was to build a community of food-conscious, socially progressive customers who supported similar goals, Janice Raschko said.

Patrons were free to pay whatever they felt appropriate. The restaurant posted suggested prices.

She said the hope is to reopen in February in the same location.

“We got a little off that focus” by trying to do too much, she added.

Support and enthusiasm are not lacking, she said. “It’s a social experiment. We’ve changed so many people’s lives,” Raschko said.

Tom Sowa

Empyrean shutting down

Downtown Spokane music venue Empyrean Coffee House will shut its doors Jan. 15, manager and owner Michelle Riddle said.

Riddle and her sister, Chrisy Riddle, ran the shop first at 154 S. Madison. After building owners raised the rent they moved to 171 S. Washington.

They moved in Jan. 13, 2010. They’ll hold their final music show Jan. 15, Michelle Riddle said.

“I think the music scene has been changing in Spokane. And when we moved, I guess this building had a different vibe. Which meant we didn’t get as many people dropping in,” Michelle Riddle said.

Tom Sowa

UI gets bioenergy grant

University of Idaho received a $25,000 donation from a Texas entrepreneur to finance research on converting woody biomass to energy.

The gift came from Randy Hill, who developed trailers that dry and transport peanuts and other crops. Last year, he approached UI about stepping up its bioenergy research.

The $25,000 allowed the university to install a pilot-scale pyrolysis unit at its steam plant. Pyrolysis is a type of incineration that uses almost no oxygen. When applied to wood and other organic materials, it produces biofuel and a small amount of charcoal that can be used as a soil additive.

“The goal is no waste, only energy and value-added products,” said Darin Saul, UI’s sustainability director.

Becky Kramer

Gee buys Kia dealership

Gee Automotive has purchased Spokane Kia and transferred its sales and service operations to the nearby Gee campus.

Terms of the purchase from Sid and Arlene Kane were not disclosed. They continue to own the former dealership’s premises at 21326 E. Mission in Liberty Lake, Gee Chief Executive Officer Ryan Gee said.

Gee already owns the Coeur d’Alene Kia dealership, and Gee said the new vehicles the South Korean company has in the pipeline was one of the reasons Gee bought the Spokane franchise.

Kia U.S. sales jumped 43 percent in November compared with November 2009.

Gee said the company has been looking for a brand that could replace Pontiac, which General Motors stopped making in 2009. Kia gives Gee an entry-level, family lineup of vehicles to complement its Buick, GMC and Cadillac models, he said.

About half of Spokane Kia’s 21 employees were hired by Gee, he said.

Bert Caldwell

GHS agrees to refunds, fines

A Florida company operating without a license in Idaho has agreed to refund $303,218 in fees to consumers, and pay $15,000 in fees and penalties, Department of Finance Director Gavin Gee said Tuesday.

GHS Solutions LLC will deposit the funds with the department by June 1 for distribution to at least 143 clients who purchased its debt-management and credit-counseling services.

Anthony Polidori, supervising examiner for the department’s Consumer Finance Bureau, said there were no allegations GHS was not providing services. But the company did require customers to open a savings account from which funds could be distributed to creditors, and payment of a fee.

“That type of business activity requires a license under the Idaho Collection Agency Act,” Gee said.

GHS clients who want more information about the settlement can call (800) 346-3378. The names of licensed debt and credit counselors is available at the department’s website: http://finance.idaho.gov

Bert Caldwell