Yoke’s closing store on Sprague in Valley

Yoke’s Fresh Market will close its longtime location at Sprague Avenue and Progress Street in Spokane Valley because the company has not been able to renew a lease with the property owner.

In an announcement Monday, company CEO John Bole said he has not set a closing date, but that the lease expires at the end of December.

Spokane Valley-based Yoke’s has operated the store, at 15111 E. Sprague, since 1985. Bole said Yoke’s will keep the store open to sell off inventory and make an easier transition of staff and equipment to its other Spokane stores.

“We made an offer and the owner didn’t accept it,” he said. He did not identify the owner.

Yoke’s operates another supermarket in the Spokane Valley, at Montgomery Avenue and Argonne Road. The Sprague pharmacy customers have been notified their records will be transferred there, Bole said.