SPOKANE, Wash. — The lights are on and the doors are open at one of Spokane’s long-time lounges.
Less than an hour after opening time Tuesday, tables were already filling with people enjoying a drink and company at Zola.
Two months ago, that certainty wasn't the case for Zola employees like Sheldon Moore.
"I’m the bartender extraordinaire," the six-year staffer said with a smile. "Zola is my home."
Before Christmas, rumors about the bar's closure had staff and customers concerned.
“Obviously very scary at first," Moore said.
Also unwelcome to fans of the Main Street staple like Nick Velis and his group of friends. They'd been coming to the nightlife spot since moving back to the area. Velis said he'd even rearranged plans so as not to miss out on these outings.
"Yep, absolutely. So, we’ve been coming in for over a decade," he said. "We did hear of a lot of things closing and we knew this place, we didn’t want that to happen. So, if there was anything we could do, if we could invest in it, we were going to do that.”
Invest they did.
Velis and a group of partners bought the bar in what he calls a pretty quick decision. They heard in mid-December about the possible closure and had taken over ownership by January 1.
It’s a success story from a time when many worried about the state of downtown as a handful of restaurants shuttered within one month.
But, the Downtown Spokane Partnership says the annual numbers weren’t as bleak as December appeared.
"We did see close to two dozen businesses close their doors in 2023," says president Emilie Cameron. "We did also get to celebrate nearly 20 business grand openings in 2023.”
In terms of restaurants in the downtown business district, Cameron says about a third more opened their doors than closed.
Several new spots took over spaces left behind.
Cameron says this is pretty typical of the industry as a whole. The Washington Hospitality Association says 18% of the state's restaurants close every year, with a cycle of new ones popping up.
Cameron says DSP doesn't keep tabs on businesses outside the downtown business district, so it's unknown how many across the city closed or opened.
A broader look at the city and state’s 2023 restaurant outlook from Washington’s Department of Revenue, which would provide clarity on those closures and factors behind them, still hasn’t been released, according to the hospitality association.
Without big swings in closures between 2022 and 2023, Cameron says the future looks bright for the growth of downtown business.
"We’re incredibly optimistic about 2024," she said.
With events like Expo '74, upcoming NCAA tournaments and new attractions like Spokane’s USL teams expected to draw in more crowds, she says this could be the year that pulls businesses out of a post-pandemic slump.
"There’s an incredible opportunity, not only as a business owner but as a Spokanite, to participate and come re-experience, re-engage with downtown," Cameron said.
With a revamped menu and extended happy hour, Zola hopes to not only draw people in but keep them out. Out for a nightcap, that is. Velis says the success of their late-night offering may mean a boost for other nearby spots; if people come downtown for a show or shopping or even dinner, they may stay out longer to start the night with a drink or end a trip with some live music and appetizers.
"If we lose all these businesses, that’s going to go away," Velis said. "People will come down and leave. We want people to stay, keep creating that nightlife and opportunities for people to go out, socialize.”
Moore and the rest of the staff, who were all retained under the new ownership, are excited about the changes. Though he's quick to point out the things people have come to love most about Zola haven't been altered, like the dedication to live music and the welcoming vibes.
"It's just a little bit tighter, little bit funner, little bit better. That's the shortest way to put it," he said. "Zola’s not going anywhere. We’re here, standing strong. Want everybody to come on in, keep this party rolling like we do here.”
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