SPOKANE, Wash. – Land Rover Spokane has moved from its downtown lot on Third Avenue to a new location on Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley. The move has sparked concern among local business leaders who see it as indicative of a broader issue in Spokane’s downtown area.
The dealership’s former location on Third Avenue now sits empty. Business leaders, including Gavin Cooley from the Spokane Business Association, believe this relocation reflects larger challenges facing downtown Spokane.
“Yeah, I think what we’re seeing in many cases throughout downtown and the business community right now is a real struggle with the general business environment,” said Cooley.
Cooley explained that Spokane’s downtown core is experiencing a 32-percent vacancy rate in office space. Safety concerns have become a primary factor driving business decisions in the area.
“And now we have this new thing around safety, and that was never at the top of the list before,” said Cooley. “There’s a real lack of enforcement and a real lack of just normal decorum.”
After speaking with the Spokane Business Association, we reached out to Jake Rosenberg, the owner of Solitude Barbershop, a small business in downtown Spokane. He echoed similar concerns.
“Every day we have to come in and we have to be beholden to rules and regulations and ways to treat certain interactions and things that we just don’t know how to do necessarily,” said Rosenberg. “That aren’t in the playbook for how to be a downtown business owner.”
Rosenberg emphasized that the changing environment has forced small businesses to adapt in unexpected ways. He expressed concerns that the departure of larger companies like Land Rover could signify a shift in downtown Spokane’s identity.
“And so do we think it’s a one-time thing? I really don’t think so,” said Rosenberg. “There is a new set of rules that we have to follow and they’re not written down.”
Despite the challenges, the Spokane Business Association believes downtown Spokane still holds potential. However, they stress the need for stronger city action on safety and enforcement to prevent further departures.
