Progress Report: Construction Delays and Collaboration
Everyone knows that when opening a business things never go according to plan and you always spend more than you budgeted. I wish I could say my adventure was different. My original goal was to have Nectar Tasting Room open with a soft launch by November 11 but as it stands now, we probably won’t even have lights, furniture, or a bar installed by then. I’m still keeping an optimistic outlook for a soft launch on Friday, November 26 and an all out marketing assault and opening party on December 3.
After a full 10 days of delays and minimal work we’re finally starting to see progress toward the original design. A few design elements have changed along the way and two significant interruptions bumped us out a few days.
- My designer had to remove himself from the project to focus on some other items in his life
- A pesky little thing called permits and city red tape held up plumbing and electrical work.
While it never seems that anyone has the same level of urgency as I do, I’m very impressed with the workmanship and speed that contractors are working at. In spite of the permit hold ups, plenty of work that didn’t require permits continued. In the video you’ll see more of what has been happening. This week’s big turning points include:
- Paint on the walls
- Removal of old carpet in the basement
- Flooring begins to go down
- iPad menu development
- WSLCB license approval from 3 of the 5 wineries
- Merchant services account set up
- Some lighting and furniture ordered
- Hundreds of little details ironed out
Spokane Welcomes Us With Open Arms
I’m very excited to share two very cool developments that speak to the awesome community that we have in Spokane.
Shortly after I announced the Nectar Tasting Room project, I was contacted by Jeremy Hansen of Sante Restaurant & Charcuterie. Sante is one of the hottest new restaurants in Spokane and Chef/Owner Jeremy Hansen is getting tons of well deserved recognition. Sante is on the same block as Nectar Tasting Room and Jeremy reached out to not only welcome us to the neighborhood but will be hosting us on November 5 for a special wine pairing dinner featuring five wines from the participating wineries. Details on time and pricing can be found here! Please stop by for dinner and enjoy a sneak sip of Nectar Tasting Room.
Another business with a collaborative eye is Wine Styles in North Spokane. Owners Mike and Deedee McMahon reached out and invited Nectar Tasting Room up to promote our opening, get this, as part of their anniversary celebration! How cool is that?!? This is a business that truly gets collaboration and partnership. While we can’t legally pour and sell the Nectar Tasting Room wine at Wine Styles, I will be up there next weekend (still undecided on 11/12 or 11/13) helping during their weekly wine tasting and doing a little wine education. If you ask nicely, I might have a secret stash for you as well. Stop by Wine Styles from 6-9pm (8801 N. Indian Trail Rd) and say, “hey!”
Partnership Announced With LaunchPadINW
Shortly after I began this blog in 2009, I was referred to LaunchPadINW as a place to connect with local business people. This connection may have been one of the three best decisions I’ve made in the last year. Bill Kalivas, Allen Battle and the rest of the staff at LaunchPadINW have been instrumental in the success of Nectar Wine Blog. Early in the summer we began talking about sharing space and developing a collaborative partnership that would help each business. LaunchPadINW has grown to over 3,000 members and is a leader in business development classes and education in Spokane. Their weekly classes and quarterly networking events are well attended and people are using LaunchPadINW as a place to develop business connections and bridge virtual interactions, through Facebook and Twitter, into real business revenue.
LaunchpadINW and Nectar Tasting Room are moving in to the same building. With a total of 8,000 square feet of rented space, Nectar Tasting Room and LaunchPadINW are building out a partnership of future success in Spokane. Stay tuned for more information on this partnership and feel free to stop by the new digs at 120 N. Stevens. LaunchPadINW has moved in to the third floor as construction progresses in the basement and first floor.
LaunchPadINW on Facebook – On Twitter – On the Web
Happy to see things are moving forward with the tasting room. Seriously, let me know if I can do anything to help. I’m just a short drive away from Spokane.
Josh! How exciting. Even with the delays, you are still moving forward. We are there for you! We own Paintmasters, Inc. so if there is anything we can do to help to help, let us know. We will be there for you. Sounds like you could use the new healthy Xe Energy drink, too! AND I have made Xocai Peanut butter cups for just you! They really turned out quite good, I must say!
Josh, hearing great excitement from all in the area when the subject of your new tasting room comes up. Today at the Spokane Regional CVB Annual Meeting I visited with the LPad gang and they were bursting with the good news (yep, even at 9am and 1 cup of coffee!).
So happy things are rolling along – construction is a challenging time any way you cut it, so just know we are all ready to come in and show our support (and drink some good wines, of course!).
sucks. my customers are contractors, so I know about all that tapey tape.
you talk “soft” opening. Now, for the “grand” opening, I assume you’ll be flying out all your favorite wine bloggers and personalities to blow the roof off that place (the expensive, expensive roof), right?
Joe, my uncle contracts and flies a 747 charter planes, maybe we can get him to pop across the country picking up wine bloggers for a massive party.
I’ll be streaming the opening, so at least you can be there virtually!
I appreciate your support.
Pingback: Vinotology » The Times, They Are A-Changin’