Local Treasures with Pia: The wonder that is the Wonder Building

Downtown Spokane - Up until 2000, loaves of hot Wonder Bread and trays of tasty Hostess cupcakes were still baked at the Spokane-Continental Bakery Building – aka the Wonder Bread Building - on West Broadway and North Post, filling the neighborhood with the sweet scent of freshly baked treats.

When the baking ended, the building sat quiet and boarded up for some years, until a $15 million renovation brought it back to life. The gorgeous red brick, industrial building is experiencing a renaissance as Wonder Spokane, and taken on a new role as a dynamo for business development on the north bank of the Spokane River.

The former bakery is listed on the Spokane Registry of Historic Places, and bread was baked under several different brand names at the Wonder Building starting in 1907.

The 95,000-square-foot building opened to office and retail tenants in 2018. The building has a top-notch infrastructure yet retains the industrial look that’s so functional in modern office spaces and multi-use buildings.

And it’s become a landmark on the north bank, because of the many different tenants and events like the Wonder Saturday Market. Every Saturday through Oct. 30, the main hall fills with farm produce, street food and artisan goods from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The indoor market space is the only covered market in the Spokane-area and it often spills over into a covered area outside.

Every day, beautiful food scents come from the food hall on the ground level, and they are just as tempting as the smell of fresh bread used to be.

The food hall is home to the High Tide Lobster Bar operated by Spokane Chef Chad White, who also runs Zona Blanca and TT’s Old Iron Brewery and Barbecue. Delicious lobster roils and clam chowder, quickly made High Tide a bustling seafood spot for lunch and early dinner.

Seattle restaurateur Ethan Stowell opened Bosco Pasta & Panini in the Wonder Building earlier this year, just after he opened Tavolata downtown. Bosco is more casual and shares open seating with High Tide and Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters in the food hall.

The building puts on its own special events – like art events and live music – check the website for the latest updates.


Learn more about the Wonder Building.

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