Shopping in Opportunity

When customers walk into Sole Solutions, the staff doesn't ask them what size they wear. Instead, a foot doctor-trained shoe expert digitally scans their feet to gather precise sizing data. They might even set up the treadmill to perform a comprehensive gait analysis, which is ideal for runners and anyone who prefers silly-walking to regular walking. Once he's assessed walking styles, foot quirks such as high arches, or reported aches and pains, the staff member can crunch the data to produce a particular brand or model of comfortable, foot-friendly shoes.

In order to grace the shelves of the store, every pair of shoes must earn the approval of a foot doctor, who judges them based on fit, durability, support, and a 1,200-word personal essay before giving them the nod. Consistent winners include pairs by Sole, Brooks, Dansko, Naot, KEEN, and more. The shoes toe the line between trendy and classic designs, with popular styles including sandals, flip-flops, clogs, and running shoes.

Trailhead Bike Shop and Cafe fulfils every gearhead's two basic needs: offering the sale and repair of all things bike-related, and calories. The shop's group of certified bike technicians keeps frames of all makes and models in bikini-ready shape and top form with detailed repair services, and can help customers find their steely soulmate from their selection of road and mountain bikes. On the other side of the shop, a café with blazing WiFi keeps riders as road ready as their two-wheelers, serving up a savory selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, smoothies, coffee drinks, and soup. After nourishing both selves and steeds, riders can hit the trails of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, which begin just outside the shop.

In the same building where Spokane Furniture Company first opened in 1906, its staff continues to help people furnish every room in their home. The independently owned shop brings in furniture by brands such as Ashley or Home Elegance directly from the factory, eliminating middlemen and the nap imprints they leave on sofas.

Each day, the technicians at Cutting Edge Sharpening Service sharpen and restore knives with the help of precision equipment. In addition to knives, they sharpen items such as garden tools, hair clippers, and scissors, and their CNC sharpening machinery restores the razor-like edges of carbide-tipped saw blades. Patrons can bring their blades into the shop for service, or mail them in to be returned by shipping.

Within the humid confines of Upriver Greenhouse Florist and Nursery’s 13 covered greenhouses, canopies of hanging baskets soak up the sun's rays and glossy fern fronds sprawl out across the floor. Since 1928, the Knorr family has owned this lush, tropical oasis, where their pet birds, including a macaw and cockatoo, frequently soar above the plants and squawk tips for winterizing guests’ flower beds. To ensure that budding green thumbs don’t get overwhelmed, the knowledgeable staff eagerly helps customers sift through thousands of plants to discover ideal greenery for their gardens.

Oftentimes, hobbies are neglected when more serious work comes calling—like a career in clinical psychology. But for Alan Tower, it was the contrary, as he quit his practice to dedicate himself to a lifelong hobby that germinated as a mail-order nursery. Eight years later, he established Tower Perennial Gardens, and went on to serve as chair for the American Hosta Society convention and founder of the Spokane Hosta Society.

Today, Tower Perennial Gardens is home to thousands of varieties of plants, trees, and flowers, which spread across 8 scenic acres and originate from every continent except Antarctica—by decree of Santa Claus. Myriad display gardens showcase cacti, shade plants, and flowering trees to provide inspiration for green-thumbed visitors. But for non-DIY customers, Tower’s team of professionals enthusiastically offers its services to forge a lush landscape from scratch or restore a rundown garden to its former glory.