New restaurant, animal adoption facility planned for former Blackbird Tavern & Kitchen space

Nectar Wine and Beer owner Josh Wade is embarking on a new project in the building that was formerly home to The Blackbird Tavern & Kitchen.

Wade filed a preliminary application with the city to renovate existing basement storage space at 905 N. Washington St. into Bark, A Rescue Pub, which will be an animal adoption facility with a visiting area, kennels and retail space.

The application also indicates plans for a restaurant in the 10,200-square-foot space.

Wade was not immediately available for comment, but a recently created Yelp page for Bark, A Rescue Pub indicates the restaurant will offer “elevated pub food and 38 taps that feature craft beer, cider, wine and seltzer.”

Patrons will be able to interact with shelter dogs and cats, which will have a team of caretakers in a space separate from the restaurant, according to the Yelp page.

Wade also owns Nectar Catering and Events and Nectar Media.

Spokane-based Copeland Architecture & Construction is designing the project. The project contractor is Spokane-based Industrial Wood & Steel LLC.

The project valuation is $100,000, according to the application.

Blackbird Tavern & Kitchen closed in 2019. Owner Patrick McPherson cited a lack of business as a reason for closure.

This article was updated June 7 to reflect businesses owned by Josh Wade. A previous version indicated Wade was owner of Nectar Tasting Room, which has since changed names.