Siding replacement work uncovers structure’s history

What started as a simple re-siding job at 510 E. Third has got Jerry Storhaug considering whether he should be doing some historic preservation.

As workers tore down the weathered siding on the west side of the building, they discovered a well-preserved blue, white, and green storefront sign painted on the blond brick exterior that had been hidden for decades, Storhaug says.

While the siding installers replaced the lower portion of the siding, Storhaug had them leave the overhead masonry with the newly discovered signage for Sav*More Food Stores exposed.

"We're trying to decide whether to leave it up there because it's got character," he says.

Storhaug bought the 7,700-square-foot structure at the southeast corner of Third Avenue and Sherman Street in 2004 and since then Storhaug Engineering Inc. has occupied most of the space there.

Storhaug says the signage caught him by surprise. He had known that the building originally was constructed in 1940 as a prototype "deluxe drive-in" Safeway grocery store. He also had known the structure had been occupied by several businesses over the last few decades, including Culpepper Cattle Co., Harry O's, and Doc Holliday'sSteakhouse & Saloon, but he didn't recall the Sav*More name.

Upon reviewing an environmental site assessment conducted in 2004 by EnviroScience Group Inc., of Spokane, on behalf of Storhaug, it turns out that Safeway occupied the building until 1965, and then Sav*More operated there for several more years, he says. In the 1970s, the property was the site of the Viking Restaurant, Nordic Buffet, The Rond-D-Vuo Chuckwagon, and Chapter 11. Through the 1980s and early '90s, the site was home to Discount Carpet, Price is Right Flooring, and Chicken on the Run, the report says.

Office

Black & Associates Insurance Inc. has leased 1,200 square feet of office space in the Ironwood Center, at 7407 N. Division, and has moved there from leased space at 8605 N. Division. Brian Anderson, of NM Black, handled the transaction.

Michael J. Bibin & Associates CPA, a Coeur d'Alene accounting firm, has leased 4,500 square feet of office space at 1299 Riverstone Drive, in Coeur d'Alene, and has moved there from leased space at 850 W. Ironwood Drive. Jim Koon, of Century 21 Beutler & Associates, handled the transaction.

Industrial

NPL Construction Co., a Phoenix-based natural-gas pipeline installer, has leased 22,400 square feet of industrial space at 16707 E. Euclid, and NPL plans to open a Spokane Valley office there. Darren Slackman and Grant Person, both of NM Black, handled the lease.

AllWest Testing & Engineering LLC, a Hayden, Idaho-based company, has leased 5,000 square feet of floor space at 3005 N. Industrial Park, in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, and plans to move its Spokane Valley office there from leased space at 12928 E. Indiana. Rob Kannapien and Craig Hunter, both of Coldwell Banker Commercial Schneidmiller Realty, and Chase Breckner, of Crown West Realty LLC, handled the transaction.