Out with the old, in with the new

MEDICAL LAKE — When she first saw the space at 104 E. Lake St. in Medical Lake — the trees in the courtyard, the apartment, the offices and the old tavern space — Jessica Glenn wondered why a space with so much potential was sitting vacant and unused.

“I’m a sucker for potential,” she said.

After her mother, Mary Isabel, or “Bell,” passed away in 2018, Glenn was full of undirected energy, so she bought the building and began to change it.

And after over a year of work, the transformation of the iconic Wagon Wheel Tavern at the corner of Lefevre and Lake streets is nearly complete.

While century-plus old structure remains, it has slowly morphed into what Glenn envisioned when she first saw the building with a “prime location” — a multi-purpose property featuring an open space for, well, whatever the community wants.

Now called The Bell Building after her late mother, Glenn has completely remodeled the structure inside and out.

The property boasts a 1,300 square foot upstairs apartment with 12-foot ceilings and the original oak floor with views of the lake. That, and commercial office spaces that front Lefevre Street keep the bills paid.

But the centerpiece of the property is the old tavern area.

Now officially called The Bell Event Center, the 1,400 square foot space has been transformed; windows provide more natural light, a front façade facing Lake Street, French doors lead to the outside courtyard and a small break room offers a space for serving pre-cooked food.

Originally from the East Coast, Glenn landed in Medical Lake in 2007 and has been doing business since, primarily as a landlord — she owns 58 apartment units in town.

During that time, she’s learned something about doing business in a small town like Medical Lake.

“No one thing is going to survive here,” Glenn said.

While the community has been trying to get her to label the facility as something specific — a yoga studio, a drop-in center for kids, a party rental space — she has resisted such pigeonholing.

“It has to be all those things to succeed,” Glenn said. “Because Medical Lake is a small community. It has a lot of different needs.”

And she is continually asking people what those needs are.

Glenn tells the story of two local teen boys who watched the remodel with interest and curiosity as they rode their bikes around town during the summer. Glenn said they have since committed to stopping by every week to check on event center activities.

“They’re funny about it,” Glenn said, adding that they asked, “When are we going to able to come hang out here with our friends and do stuff?”

She asked another group of kids what they wanted to see happen in the space. They asked for musical instruments and board games.

“It warmed my heart,” Glenn said.

One idea that she said “really summed up what I want to do,” is to utilize the facility’s courtyard space and have individual groups of teens each design and construct — with the help of retirees, perhaps —portable miniature golf greens, or putt-putt golf.

The kids could then run them as a fundraiser for the school.

And in the process of building and using the greens, teens learn new skills, including project management, leadership and business abilities.

Which is why she chose not to lease the space out: to ensure that not any one thing is happening there, but multiple things.

She hopes to hold “cross-generational” events, like her vision of building putting greens that will bring young people, retirees and seniors and the community in general together.

But neither is she rigidly set on any specific events.

“I’m really open to being responsive to what the community wants and needs,” Glenn said.

The Bell Building includes an actual bell that hangs over the entrance to the event center. The bell has an intentional meaning.

Glenn pointed out that bells once called the community together, and that is exactly her hope for The Bell Event Center: that it will be a catalyst for bringing the Medical Lake community, young and old, together for the greater good, where people “actually come together and talk to each other,” she said.

She referred to the space as “anti-social media.”

“We’re losing the skill of face-to-face communication,” Glenn said. “To me that’s a fundamental part of democracy.”

She encouraged anyone with an idea for the event center to contact her.

“Let’s explore it,” Glenn said.

She can be reached at 509-325-4294. Look for upcoming events at http://www.thebellbuilding.net.

The 0.38-acre parcel was purchased for $225,000 in 2018, according to Spokane County records.

Glenn is owner of Sledgehammer Properties, LLC, Constellation Properties and The Bell Event Center LLC. She can be reached at 509-325-4294.

Look for upcoming events at http://www.thebellbuilding.net.

Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].