Noah's Ark Foods could re-locate to Garfield

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Apr 12, 20120

Water damage to a business building in Garfield has been repaired and an agreement for a potential tenant has been negotiated.

After a water burst in January in the building, the former long time home of Cher’s Restaurant, the town of Garfield spent $40,000 in insurance proceeds in repairs. In the meantime, they have lined up a new manufacturing operation that may move in.

Noah’s Ark Foods of Palouse sells Dutch Apple Rings, an organic, gluten-free snack packaged in one ounce bags. Its owners, Mike and Mindy Hicks, started their company last year.

In January, the Hicks entered into a tentative agreement with the Garfield Public Development Authority to move into the back section of the building, which was recently occupied by Smokin’ Papas.

“Everything is so up in the air right now,” said Mike Hicks. “If it happens it could be a really good thing for us and the town of Garfield, but it might not happen.”

Hicks is waiting to hear on the results of loan applications sent to the federal Small Business Administration, Clearwater Economic Development Association (CEDA) and Spokane Neighborhood Economic Development Alliance (SNEDA).

Daymon Marple and the Garfield Public Development Authority (PDA) wrote letters of support for these loan applications. They have agreed to hold the space for 90 days, with possible extensions.

“We have high hopes this will come through,” said Marple, PDA president. “For now we’re in kind of a waiting mode. The fortunate thing is we’ve had time to fix the building.”

The turn-of-the-century building had been vacant for months before sustaining the water damage.

Smokin’ Papas was the fourth restaurant located there in the past 10 years. It closed down last summer as the result of family illness.

Last January, Cher Curtis, who ran Cher’s Restaurant in the building for many years, was on her way to church when she saw water raining down the windows.

She called to report that something was wrong.

“It was evident immediately,” said Marple. He went inside to find water four inches deep.

It turned out temperatures had dropped low enough to freeze and burst pipes in the kitchen in three places.

“When you put water on sheet rock, it’s like milk on graham crackers,” commented Marple.

Ken Renstrom Homes came in to re-do the ceiling, fix furnace ducts and build a room around the water tanks.

“That way the pipes won’t freeze,” said Marple.

If the Noah’s Ark Foods funding comes through, it would be a second new business in Garfield. Seedlings day care just opened in the United Methodist church.

“It’d be a really nice one-two for the economic development of Garfield,” said Marple, who has also served two years on the city council.

The 90-day agreement with Noah’s Ark Foods will expire at the end of April, but they could get an extension.

If the Hicks gain financing, they will move their manufacturing ovens and appliances into the back of the building. The remaining front part of the building could be a soup and sandwich place, possibly operated by the Hicks.

“It’s a turnkey operation,” Marple said.

He named off several of the restaurant fixtures that are inside and ready to be used, including beer taps, grills, plates, a deep fat fryer, commercial prep tables, three refrigerators, a walk-in cooler, silverware and a milkshake maker.

“We have a lot of irons in the fire trying to distribute (the product),” Mike said. “The stores like the product, but the problem is we’re so small the store managers would rather not have to deal with you.”

Right now, Noah’s Ark Dutch Apple Rings are available locally at Dissmore’s in Pullman, Rosauer’s in Moscow and McLeod’s Market in Palouse.

Mike Hicks said he may find out a verdict on the loan applications as soon as the next 10 days. If he can get the money he needs, he said the operation to set up in Garfield would start soon after.

“We’re trying to bring jobs and keep our manufacturing in our local area,” said Hicks.