Law Firms, Furniture Store Add To Downtown Coeur D’Alene’s Vitality

New life is coming to the north side of downtown Coeur d’Alene as two law firms construct new buildings and an upholstery shop/furniture store moves into a vacant building.

The moves should help this quiet area just a couple blocks north of the downtown’s primary retail and tourist center. Often these streets and sidewalks are somewhat neglected since they aren’t on the beaten path.

However, now with two law firms within easy walking distance of the county courthouse, the paths should become more beaten. (I’m sure a lawyer joke is in here somewhere).

The firm of Walker Rude Jackson & Daugherty plans a 4,000-square-foot new building next to Hagadone Directories on Wallace Avenue near First Street.

Although still in the planning stages, the facility probably will have seven offices, a conference room and space to grow, according to partner Mark Jackson. Construction should begin in mid-November and be complete in three to four months.

The hip-roofed building will show siding, brickwork and glass. It will be 3,000 square feet on the main floor and 1,000 on the lower level.

The firm was founded in its present location in the Old City Hall in 1990 by Glen Walker, who previously was the Kootenai County prosecuting attorney; Paul Daugherty of Coeur d’Alene and Gonzaga University; Mark Jackson, a graduate of North Idaho College, Boise State University and the University of Idaho; and Dan Rude, another UI law graduate.

Vicki Cade and Suzanna Graham are joining the firm this week. Cade was secretary for the Kootenai County Commissioners for 15 years before graduating from NIC and UI, and Graham graduated from UI and was a deputy public defender in Coeur d’Alene.

The other new building, in the southeast corner of Garden Avenue at Fourth Street, is owned by attorneys Phil Dolan and Mark Jacobson.

Now available for lease, the 2,000-square-foot facility was built from the shell of what once was the Culligan soft water building. Must be a lawyer joke here too.

Erickson’s Upholstery & Design Center now occupies what previously was Interstate Typewriter at 303 N. Fourth.

Rick and Linda Crossley and his mother, Mary Crossley, bought the business this summer from Larry Unruh. The Crossleys moved it from Third Street last week to take advantage of better street exposure at the new location. They have expanded the business to include dining, living and family room furniture and will add new lines of furniture and fabric.

The Crossleys have owned Crossley Upholstery and Fine Furniture in Spokane for 30 years. They originally are from Boise. The grand opening of the Coeur d’Alene store will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

In the same area of Coeur d’Alene, Monarch Mountain Coffee opened a retail shop at 408 N. Third St. in mid-September. The inventory includes whole bean coffee, espressos, high-end bulk teas and coffee and tea accessories.

Owners Daniel and Kathy Garcia sell their products wholesale from their Sandpoint store at 4100 McGhee Road. Originally from Coeur d’Alene and Missouri respectively, Dan and Kathy met when they worked for the oil industry in Alaska and came to North Idaho in 1993.

The Garcias are hoping to expand their business to other locations.

Some tidbits:

There’s some debate over whether these folks are naming their new day-care center after their clients or their unique emphasis. It’s The Zoo Daycare at 30190 2nd St., Athol. Directors Rosemary Brennan and Rachel Delaney familiarize children with animals, nature and plants in the new facility across from Athol City Park.

It’s no secret that no love is lost between hotel magnates Duane Hagadone and Bob Templin. It is an interesting mistake that the Hagadone Directories Phonebook prints Templins’ number under the Post Falls Planning & Building listing.

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The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Review