Former automotive shop to become brewery, restaurant

A former automotive shop on the west end of downtown Spokane will soon be a brewery and restaurant, according to city permit data.

The Watts Project will transform the former Watts Automotive shop, 1312 W. First Ave., into a 6,600-square-foot brewery production facility and tap room called Brick West Brewing.

Permits issued by the city show $750,000 in work to renovate the building, which sits just west of the intersection of First and Cedar Street. When complete, the building also will have a 8,100-square-foot restaurant, and the roof will feature a patio with covered seating.

Plans filed with city indicate the building will have a roof-top bar as well.

Matt Goodwin and Jordan Tampien are behind the construction project. The two are co-owners of the Boiler Room on Spokane’s North Side and Backyard Public House in the West Central neighborhood.

Tampien is also part of a team developing a $9.5 million, seven-story residential tower at 1309 W. First Ave., which is currently under construction across First from the Watts building. The team includes his brother, Joel Tampien, and another set of brothers, Matt and Ryan Goodwin.

General contractor for the Watts project is T.W. Clark Construction, of Spokane Valley. The architect is Trek Architecture.