Step Into History
The Liberty Building has been a downtown landmark since 1908 when it opened as Kemp & Hebert's, a large cash and carry department store. That retail store survived the depression only to close in 1940. The Levitch brothers, Abe and Meyer, bought the building in 1944 and moved their Liberty Furniture Store to the site and operated a thriving retail business until closing in 1986. In 1993 Shannon Ahern and Chris O’Harra were looking for a building to house their growing book and game business. After looking for several years they bought the Kemp & Hebert building, renamed it the Liberty Building and added it to the National Register of Historical Places.
Home to Leading Retailers in Spokane
Continuing the fine retail tradition of the past the Liberty Building today is home to three of the most successful retailers in Spokane: Auntie’s Bookstore, Pottery Place Plus Cooperative and Uncle’s Games, Puzzles and More. All three have been in business for 30 years! And in September of 2008 one of the most innovative restaurants in the Pacific Northwest, Santé Restaurant and Charcuterie opened serving only fresh, organic and if at all possible, local produce and meats.
The upper three floors house many local businesses including the premier architectural firm in Spokane, ALSC Architects. ALSC has been designing many of the area’s most well known buildings for 60 years including the Spokane’s Veterans Memorial Arena, Three Rivers Convention Center, Coldwater Creek Offices and many others.
While in Spokane be sure to visit this National Historic Building with its red brick Chicago Style architecture, four floor atrium and wrap around mezzanine. And then spend time shopping in some of Spokane’s best retail stores and treat yourself to some healthy, fresh Pacific Northwest cooking. You won’t be disappointed.
