Pandemic brings opportunity for some, devastation for others
- The COVID-19 pandemic dominated news headlines in 2020 and served as the subtext for many of the significant business decisions made in the Spokane area during the year. With that backdrop, the Inland Northwest business community experienced a number of significant setbacks, with longtime retailers and once-promising startups closing, and jobless rates reaching heights not witnessed in more than a decade. At the same time, businesses that boomed during the pandemic made plans for significant expansions that could have lasting effects well after the pandemic is held at bay. Below are the top 25 Inland Northwest business stories of 2020, in chronological order.