Top of the Menu: Gourmet Lettuce Wraps

October 30, 2019
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Gourmet Lettuce Wraps
The WELL Coffeehouse Pub & Eatery
21980 E. Country Vista Drive

Crisp, delicious lettuce wrapped around fresh ingredients, with options including Thai Chicken, Thai Shrimp, Chicken Pesto, Mediterranean, Turkey Caprese and more.

Why you’ll love it

One of The WELL’s most popular items, the lettuce wraps also represent the mission of Natalie Gauvin’s 3-year-old gourmet cafe, part of a menu featuring many gluten free and organic options. Gauvin believes in sustainability, slowing down and eating well.

“Our lettuce wraps are fulfilling in so many ways other than your appetite,” Gauvin said. “They are full of protein, vitamins, minerals and whole-food ingredients. They feed your body’s energy. It’s about eating well and being well.”

While many people enjoy the coffeehouse feel and offerings at The WELL, much of its success is found in how this easygoing vibe extends into dining options as well.

“Not fast food; healthy food fast,” Gauvin said. “You can grab-n-go with many items or choose a made to order gourmet sandwich or Acai bowl.”

Gauvin said all the dishes improve health and wellness in part because they are nutritionally complex. The various ingredients together complement one another, making the impact on the body more complete than if the ingredients were eaten at separate intervals. Even the hummus has 12 ingredients, including 3 fresh organic herbs and organic tahini. All items are made from scratch.

“I always coach my clients to never eat a piece of fruit by itself,” Gauvin said. “Always consume it with some protein and fats, such as an apple with peanut butter or a banana with almonds.”

In addition to sustainable food options, The WELL serves coffee, tea, smoothies, beer, wine and more from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Though The WELL closes to the public at 4 p.m., that’s often because the kitchen remains open for private events and catering.

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2019 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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Celebrating a long heritage of service

October 2, 2020
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Some of the customers at Stor-a-Way Self Storage in Otis Orchards first reserved units when Ron Woods developed the property in the 1990s. From traditional storage to RV and boat parking to commercial units, many of the faces that pass through the security gates each day are familiar ones.

As is the team that runs the operation. The core has seen little turnover over the years, starting with owner Randy Lentes, who purchased the business in 1998. Resident managers Kimberlee and Bob Soule have run the business since 2015, replacing managers George and Diane Hattell, who operated the facility from 2003 to 2015 before George’s death.

In George’s honor, Stor-a-Way started holding “George Sales” each year, Fridays and Saturdays set aside for storage unit owners and members of the community to sell stuff with the hopes of cleaning out or downsizing units to make way for others. Kimberlee Soule said the office will promote four George Sales in 2020, to be held in June and July.

“We created the George Sales to help those who have lost someone or need to downsize,” she said.

Another event not too far around the corner will be 25th anniversary celebrations in 2022, and Soule is already thinking about the block party she plans to throw. She said that while the property is consistently upgraded year after year, its heritage as part of the local community remains vitally important.

“The storage property has seen many changes to the area, and we have welcomed the growth,” she said. “We continue to be local and shop local. Our neighborhood continues to grow. With our 25th anniversary in the near future, it will be a chance to deliver a big thank you to our local residents and community.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2020 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

Sell it? Store it? This event helps either way

October 30, 2019
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Last year, Duane Pfeifer decided to downsize — his storage unit. After about three years paying to store items he no longer wanted to keep, he learned about a unique event put on by Stor-a-Way Self Storage, the place he paid monthly to store his items in Otis Orchards.

Called the “George Sale,” Stor-a-Way’s annual event helps customers and members of the public set up a massive sale right on site.

“My sisters and I all got together and had a big sale,” Pfeifer said. “I got rid of everything I wanted to get rid of, so I just closed down the place over there.”

Yes, Stor-a-Way manager Kimberlee Soule confirmed, that’s exactly what they do: Help paying customers downsize or vacate units they no longer want, freeing up space for others who need it.

“I realized many storage customers had units full of collectibles and were overwhelmed,” she said. “So I said we have the space a for a mini flea market, and why not bring the community too, table space is free.”

The idea has caught on and is expanding in 2019; the George Sale will be held every third Friday and Saturday of the month, May through September.

Soule, who manages Stor-a-Way with her husband, Bob, said the idea was inspired by the sudden loss of a former manager named George, who had four large units at Stor-a-Way housing years of collectibles. His family held an estate sale at Stor-a-Way, and more than 700 people came through the gates for that first event. The event has grown since, with its best turnout yet in 2018 and plans to expand in 2019.

“It’s in his remembrance, and for all those families who have to go through cleaning out the junk when a loved one passes,” she said.

And for people like Pfeifer, who are looking for options to get rid of valuables they no longer want to keep.

“The people (at Stor-a-Way) are just terrific to work with,” he said. “You walk in there and they call you by name. When we had the sale, they checked on us and asked how everything was going.”

NOTE: A version of this article first appeared in the 2019 Liberty Lake Yearbook.

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