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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Growth Fuels Development Of Supermarkets In Coeur D’Alene Area

One of the sure bets is that people need to eat. So, as the population of North Idaho grows, watch for new Albertson’s, Super 1 Foods and Safeway supermarkets.

The breaking news is about the new Albertson’s to be located in the northeast corner of Highway 95 and Prairie Avenue, Hayden. Although the Boise-based company has signed a lease with property owner Steve Meyer, the actual construction probably is a year away.

The store will be about 50,000 square feet and would contain all the amenities the existing Coeur d’Alene store (44,000 square feet) has, according to Mike Reuling, executive vice-president of store development. The facility will employ about 115 people.

“The timing depends upon area growth,” Reuling said. “The store will be a little bigger and a little more refined than the Coeur d’Alene store.”

The new 55,000-square-foot Safeway planned for just east of Kmart in Coeur d’Alene is current news. And the good news is that Safeway (26,000 square feet) will retain its present Coeur d’Alene store near downtown.

The new Super 1 Foods in Post Falls is old news. A building permit is filed for the southeast corner of Mullan Avenue and Idaho Street. Construction has begun, and the 48,000-square-foot facility should be complete in September. The superstore will include bakery, floral, deli, butcher, video and banking departments.

Several people, including me, continually whine how the new Coeur d’Alene supermarkets are in the same area, all along or near Highway 95. Although it means the demise of neighborhood markets, Highway 95 is the business corridor. Coeur d’Alene residential growth is to the north, extending miles east and west from Highway 95, which remains the major travel corridor. Some year a north-south freeway will be built, but these supermarkets will be long-established by then.

Those of us living along the 15th Street corridor complain about the lack of convenience. However, it’s also nice that these high-traffic businesses are not in our neighborhoods. We must admit proper zoning does work.

All types of oak furnishings and accessories will be available at Black Canyon Oak, a new store to open in mid-May at 901 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. The 5,000-square-foot building formerly was the home of Walton’s Automotive.

A great deal of remodeling has been necessary to change the place into a retail furniture store, according to Gary Parkinson, who owns the business with his sister, Tammy Lambert. Their emphasis will be quality merchandise at fair prices, Parkinson said.

Originally from Colorado and a deep sea diver, Parkinson came to North Idaho from the Philippines. He also is an owner of Lambert Jewelry and also the former Odds & Ends furniture store.

The last time Coeur d’Alene was featured on national TV the Chamber of Commerce was flooded with thousands of calls from viewers who were interested in obtaining more information about our area.

You remember. The Merrill-Lynch ShootOut golf tournament was at the Coeur d’Alene Resort course, and it just happened to be about the most beautiful day the area ever enjoyed. Unfortunately, so did the TV crew and commentators, and they showed millions of viewers why.

With any luck, the words “Coeur d’Alene” or “North Idaho” will never be seen or heard on Patty Duke’s “Amazing Grace” TV show, which in its first episode showed several lake scenes and fall foliage along Seventh Street. We’d like our paradise to remain as anonymous as possible.

After Saturday night’s initial airing, I received a call from a Pennsylvania cousin who heard Duke talk about the show and North Idaho on “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” and then watched Duke’s show. Then Tuesday, I got the first letter in my life from a New York cousin, complete with a clipping of an article printed in his local paper about North Idaho and the TV show.

Although I’d like “Amazing Grace” to be successful, I’d sure rather the location not be publicized on the show. I’m proud of our area; I’d rather it remained nearly as it is so I can continue to be proud.