Downtown Spokane is where you’ll find dining, theatre and concert venues, nightlife, shopping, luxury lodging, and so much more! It truly is the epicenter of the city.
According to Wikipedia: “Spokane is the economic and cultural center of the Spokane metropolitan area, the Spokane Coeur d’Alene combined statistical area, and the Inland Northwest. It’s known as the birthplace of Father’s Day, and locally by the nickname of ‘Lilac City’.”
We just call it home.
There’s a lot of history that can be found about Spokane; its buildings downtown themselves show much of it. Most are brick buildings because after the Great Spokane Fire of 1889, wooden building construction was prohibited near the downtown area.
Nowadays, as you explore the city, you’ll find that it’s extremely pedestrian-friendly and lends itself to pub crawls, art walks, and sightseeing.
Entertainment
The Spokane Arena While technically not in the downtown core, it’s the region’s entertainment mecca, providing versatile configurations that allow for literally everything. It is the home rink of our local WHL Hockey team, The Spokane Chiefs. From touring musicians, to ice hockey, professional wrestling, local college/university graduations, and even monster truck shows, the Arena hosts it all.
First Interstate Center for the Arts Here, you’ll enjoy the majority of the shows touring from Broadway, but it also serves as a venue for touring musicians as well. Situated on the edge of Riverfront Park, there is easy access from surface streets or the interstate.
The Spokane Symphony Tucked a bit further into the city center, but also easily accessed by interstate, the symphony has many shows throughout the year and even offers a few free nights, shows in local parks, and has performances for sensory friendly concerts. The venue is an incredible Art Deco masterpiece, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.
Bing Crosby Theater “The Bing” is a multi-purpose venue that hosts everything from musicals and plays to musicians and bands to stand-up comics. The interior is another beautiful example of the type and variety of buildings you’ll find in the downtown core.
The Knitting Factory When your favorite band comes downtown for a visit, they’ll likely perform here. “The Knit” hosts everything from country and rock and roll to punk rock, hip hop and stand-up comedy.
The Spokane Comedy Club Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine. There’s no better place to find a healthy dose than the Spokane Comedy Club, a popular destination for touring comedians. It hosts Open Mic Nights as well, so if you think you got what it takes to make a crowd laugh hysterically, this is your place to be.
This is definitely a short list. There are smaller, more intimate venues all over the city that host musical and comedic artists.
Shopping
Downtown has no shortage of fun shopping opportunities to tempt you and your wallet.
River Park Square Local and national shops have found a home here, in downtown’s shopping, dining, and entertainment mecca. Clothing, decorating, housewares – check. Dinner and a movie – check. During the Christmas season, River Park Square brings the tallest tree you’ll ever see and Santa makes a visit so you can capture all the magic with your family.
If you couldn’t find what you were looking for at River Park Square, perhaps you’ll find it in one of the smaller boutique shops in the downtown core.
Auntie’s Bookstore For the readers in your life, check out Auntie’s, Spokane’s own independent bookstore. New and used books, greeting cards, tote bags, t-shirts, games and puzzles. They offer bookstore credit for your gently used books, and hold events, signings, and so much more. Their catalog is online, so you can peruse and order from home; if they don’t have it in stock, they can even order it for you.
Uncle’s Games In the same building as Auntie’s Bookstore, you’ll find Uncle’s. This store has every game you can think of. Board games, card games, strategy games .. you name it, they got it. There are other locations in the area, and even one in Redmond on the west side of the state. But make no mistake, Uncle’s Games started in Spokane!
Boo Radley’s Known for being Spokane’s Quirkiest Shop since 1993, it’s everyone’s favorite. It’s got an eclectic mix of everything from stickers, accessories, toys, home decor, shirts, mugs, books, odds, ends, doodads, and gadgets. Boo Radley’s is the perfect place to find a stocking stuffer or a last minute gift for any occasion.
Atticus Coffee & Gifts While you’re shopping at Boo’s, check out Atticus. This local gem is a fun place to grab a coffee and your next “just because gift” for your bestie. The list of options here is too long for this page, but if you stop by, you won’t be disappointed.
We could easily go on, there are so many more places to pop in and out of, it’s hard to pick just a few. Recommendation: take a weekend day to just walk around and see what’s downtown.
Luxury Lodging
Whether you’re in town for business, a graduation, or some other event, if you’re coming from out of town and need a place to rest your weary head, downtown Spokane has you covered. Here’s just a few of your options.
The Historic Davenport If you know anything about Spokane, you should also know something about The Historic Davenport Hotel. There are many from this Collection of Hotels scattered throughout the city, but this one is the Historic Davenport. It’s a Forbes 4 Star and AAA 4 Dimond rated property with 284 Guest Rooms and Suites, 33,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and is home to the award winning Palm Court Grill and Peacock Room Lounge. It was somewhat recently renovated to its original glory and my goodness, it is something you have to see in person to truly understand what a beautiful job they did. During the Christmas season, the hotel is decorated in lights and hosts the annual Christmas Tree Elegance, where beautifully decorated trees are raffled. The Wikipedia page has so much more information about this remarkable landmark.
Hotel Ruby Looking for a cute and boutique option in the heart of the city? That’s the Ruby. It’s located near many restaurant and entertainment options within walking distance. The rooms are decorated with original art and stylish colors and furnished with eclectic fixtures, making it a unique experience for you, your family, and even your pet!
Holiday Inn Express Spokane-Downtown by IHG Another landmark destination, located on the north side of downtown, just across the Spokane River. The imposing structure sits on a basalt cliff and echoes the architectural flourishes of the historic homes built during the early years of Spokane. Picturesque views of the city and Mt Spokane in the distance are sure to provide content for all your social media accounts.
Just the Beginning
While this may be the end of this article, it should serve as the beginning of your adventures in exploring our beautiful city.
If you’re looking to make a move to the Spokane area, or are a current resident and need a local, reputable builder who listens to your wants and needs, contact us for all your home building or remodeling needs.
If you’re a business person and need a new location or your current one needs a makeover, we’re also experts in commercial construction.
