Contractor To Begin Work Soon On Post Falls Entertainment Complex

Hmmm. Six movie screens, one ice rink, one swimming pool and one restaurant all added together equal nine places for entertainment and activity. Maybe that’s the origin of the name Nine Out for the complex planned for Post Falls between Interstate 90 and Seltice Way just east of Post Falls Mazda.

Wrong!

Developer Bob Guindon told his children they could come up with a name for the family-oriented facility which should open by this summer.

While living in Alaska, with few other kids around, the Guindon youngsters had to settle for one another for playmates. Sports-fanatic Brandon, in an attempt to keep a baseball game more interesting and equal, would give younger sister Brenda nine outs before they traded the pitching and batting roles.

Hence, the name Nine Out.

The cinema portion of the complex should come first, pending necessary rezoning. Then construction on the 16,000-square-foot building should start about March 10, Bob Guindon said.

The sixplex would include three pairs of theaters which would have capacities of about 120, 175 and 300 patrons. The cinemas will employ about 10 people.

Second on the building agenda will be an ice rink for both hockey and open skating. The rink will be 200 by 85 feet, with construction probably to start in May. Guindon plans for a 62,000-square-foot building to house the rink and possibly a second rink or an Olympic-size swimming pool. Or, he said, the building may be built for the first rink and then added to as the complex grows.

“We might pull the plug on the swimming pool,” he said. “If so, we may add the second sheet of ice. Right now, we can’t see enough cash flow for a swimming pool.”

The restaurant also is on the back burner. He plans for a family-style restaurant on a 5,000-square-foot pad.

Born in Coeur d’Alene and raised in Post Falls, Guindon has been in the construction business for 18 years in Alaska and Post Falls, where he has Burley Bear Construction.

Daniel and Stephenie Strite grew into the antique business.

It started with a yard sale where the international couple (originally from Switzerland and Laos respectively) found that customers went wild over their European furniture.

The Strites then started picking up old furniture and repairing it for resale. The business grew until it became necessary to begin an antique business.

The business, to be called Reality Check Antiques, is scheduled to open in March in the 4,000-square-foot building between Sta-Fit and Bogey’s at 214 Coeur d’Alene Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

The Strites will sell their own antiques for lower prices as they are able to eliminate middlemen because of their European connection, Daniel Strite said. They also will rent spaces to other antique dealers; they have 10 signed up and can accommodate 10 to 15 more.

In 1988, Strite went to Washington, D.C., where he was a nanny and met his wife. They lived in Nevada and California where he was a translator for research companies. They came to Coeur d’Alene after seeing it as a backdrop for a TV stunt show which was filmed here.

“We were dazzled by the beauty; it’s so much like Switzerland,” Daniel said.

A few tidbits: Nearly 500 customers were served as a line ran about halfway around the building as Coeur d’Alene’s Red Lobster opened Monday, according to manager Steve Herold.

Last week I hinted that the only thing I really wanted for Valentine’s Day was a truck. I got it. Of course, it’ll be a long time before the Red Lobster sees me. I have to admit that not many wives would be as gracious as mine as I brought it home without her seeing it first. Well, she likes it, too. Really.

Speaking about coming to North Idaho from California: This month I met with about 50 California journalism educators. All who saw my North Idaho College badge said they knew someone who had moved here. (No surprise.) Some said their professional groups had negated Coeur d’Alene for a national convention because of the negative aspects. Whoopie.

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