The Dirt: Spokanewich, Tio’s Taqueria opening in Crescent Court building

Two quick-service restaurants are opening Monday on the skywalk level of the Crescent Court building in downtown Spokane.

Brad Frey and Cory Johnson, owners of Spokanewich and Tio’s Taqueria, began renovations in December for the two restaurants totaling more than 1,380 square feet at 707 W. Main Ave., Ste. B-12.

Johnson, a chef with extensive experience working at Michelin starred restaurants in London, Dubai and Spain, will be overseeing restaurant operations. Frey, an architect and Washington State University graduate, designed the two establishments.

“Since COVID-19 hit, we did a lot of construction ourselves, pretty much everything you see, we built,” Frey said, adding that the restaurants were scheduled to open in March, but that plan was halted because of the pandemic.

The concept of Spokanewich and Tio’s Taqueria is simple: rapid, gourmet meals accessible to everybody, Frey said.

Tio’s Taqueria features various Mexican street tacos on 5-inch tortillas, made fresh daily, and pozole. The restaurant may add beans and rice to the menu in the future, Frey said.

Spokanewich offers a variety of sandwiches inspired by flavors from around the world, such as the banh mi, falafel, the chimichurri, truffle philly and barbecue pork. It will also offer custard, and plans are to add a gourmet “adult lunchable” to the menu, Frey said.

“We are trying to test peoples’ palates a little bit but also making it something they are comfortable with,” Frey said, referring to the menus.

The restaurants, which will be open 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, are primarily geared toward the lunchtime crowd but may add delivery service in the future, Frey said.

Johnson and Frey drew inspiration for the restaurants, in part, from street food markets in London and food halls in Portland.

The business owners chose to launch Spokanewich and Tio’s Taqueria in downtown Spokane and on the skywalk primarily because of the daily foot traffic and potential to host small, locally owned grab-and-go restaurants, Frey said, noting the success of Chad White’s restaurant High Tide, which is in the skywalk level of the Numerica Building.

“We really like the idea of the skywalk. The (foot) traffic in the skywalk area is pretty impressive and we do think (the skywalks) are unique to Spokane,” Frey said. “There’s tons of potential there, it just needs a little bit of life breathed into it.”

Revamp underway for fitness facility

Byrd Family Investments LLC has filed an application with the city to convert a building at 116 E. Augusta Ave. into a self-defense training and fitness facility.

The project calls for $13,000 in renovations that include building multiple walls in the 5,750-square-foot building.

Spokane-based New Convenant Construction is the project contractor.

Spec commercial building planned

Canter Commercial Properties LLC recently filed a preliminary application with the city to build a spec commercial building at 3700 E. Francis Ave. The 22,420-square-foot building will consist of industrial, storage and office space.

The project valuation is $300,000, according to the application filed with the city.

The project architect is Greenacres-based South Henry Studios.