Retailers Invest $1.8 Million in North Spokane Build-Outs

Spencer Gifts, Sephora, Habit Burger and El Pollo Loco are among the businesses renovating or building out commercial spaces on the north side of Spokane.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Retailers Invest $1.8 Million in North Spokane Build-Outs

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Retailers and restaurants are investing $1.8 million in commercial renovations and build-outs in North Spokane. Spencer Gifts and Sephora are planning new stores at Northpointe Plaza, and El Pollo Loco is expected to open on North Division.

Why it matters

The projects add retail and dining options to the north side of the city, reflecting continued commercial investment in the area. Permit records indicate the scale of work underway at each site.

Permit records show Spencer Gifts tenant improvements valued at $185,000 for a 2,800-square-foot store, while the Sephora remodel is valued at $750,000. Contractor selection for the Sephora project has not been announced, and the El Pollo Loco opening timeline is not yet specified.

The players

Habit Burger & Grill

Habit Burger & Grill is a fast-casual burger chain that has expanded across the Inland Northwest, opening its first regional location in Coeur d'Alene in 2025.

El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco is a Southern California-founded chicken restaurant chain with roughly 500 U.S. locations, known for flame-grilled chicken.

Sephora

Sephora is a global beauty retailer owned by LVMH, operating stores in malls and shopping centers across North America.

The details

Spencer Gifts has a certificate of occupancy for its space at 9656 N. Newport Highway in Northpointe Plaza, where walls, fixtures and finishes were replaced. Anderson Heritage Eats Co., the Spokane franchisee of El Pollo Loco, is converting a former Taco Time at 5102 N. Division through exterior upgrades, new doors and windows, and a full interior renovation.

October 2025: Habit Burger & Grill opened its North Division restaurant at 7404 N. Division.
July 2025: Habit Burger opened its first Inland Northwest location in Coeur d'Alene.
January 2026: El Pollo Loco opened a restaurant in Kent, Washington.

Openings & Closings

Habit Burger's North Division opening in October 2025 followed its first Inland Northwest location in Coeur d'Alene in July, extending a regional rollout into Spokane itself. The Northpointe Plaza projects and the former Taco Time conversion show retailers and restaurants continuing to reuse existing North Spokane commercial space.

North Spokane shoppers can expect new Spencer Gifts and Sephora stores at Northpointe Plaza and a new El Pollo Loco on North Division as those projects open. The added retail and dining options bring more choices closer to home for residents on the north side.

The takeaway

Watch for opening announcements from Spencer Gifts, Sephora and El Pollo Loco to plan visits as these North Spokane projects finish. Commercial permit records are a useful public source for tracking storefront changes in your own neighborhood.