Retirement Centers Undertake Expansion In North Idaho

We all get older. That inevitability is a major part of North Idaho’s growth. Retirement centers, assisted living quarters and nursing homes are part of North Idaho’s building surge. In recent months, I’ve outlined several new and expanding facilities, and that doesn’t include others rumored to be on the way.

Here are two that have brand new Coeur d’Alene building permits.

Changing its name from the Woodway Inn to the Lakewood Inn, the retirement center at 205 Anton is more than doubling in size.

The facility was built in 1987 with 31,000 square feet and 48 units on two levels. Work has begun to expand the center to 78,000 square feet with 56 apartment units and six cottage units. The $2.1 million addition will be attached to the north side of the existing building. Completion should be in early spring.

Included will be a dining hall, exercise room, hairdresser, elevator, laundry and full landscaping, including trellises and gazebos.

Lakewood Inn is owned by Emeritus Corp. of Seattle. The company owns several similar facilities in the Northwest and recently purchased the Cooper-George Apartments in Spokane.

“Family living” in a “home” rather than a “facility” is the emphasis of Gary and Linda Ghramm. They are constructing three eight-unit residential care centers called Beehive Homes of North Idaho at 632 N. 21st.

The $1.2 million project, facing the playground of Fernan Elementary School, should be complete by spring. The first building is under construction and should be complete in August. Each building will have 3,400 square feet and include dining and activity rooms.

The business will have about 15 employees. The third building may be a critical care or Alzheimer’s unit.

Originally from Colville, Wash., and Minneapolis, respectively, the Ghramms have been in the residential-care business for 20 years and in Coeur d’Alene for six years.

The residential communities accessed by 15th Street in Coeur d’Alene finally have a fringe full-service grocery store - Walden’s Market, 15th and Dalton Avenue.

New owners Mike and Amber Richardson have expanded the inventory beyond that of a convenience store and will be adding produce in July and a deli in the fall. They plan a grand opening when they change from Conoco to Texaco gasoline in July.

Walden’s began as a fruit stand in the 1940s and was a meat market before it became a convenience store which enjoyed new life when Canfield Middle School was built across the street. It also is a post office substation.

Originally from Eureka, Calif., the Richardsons have been in North Idaho for 10 years in the motel and campground business. Cleanliness and a no-smoking policy have helped change the store’s image.

Cisco’s, an antique shop opening next week at 212 N. Fourth, Coeur d’Alene, has an intriguing theme:

“Hunters of the past, specializing in the rare and the exceptional.”

The 5,000-square-foot building originally housed Cope’s Appliance.

Owners are Denise and Sam Kennedy.

A variety of wood floors will enhance the emphasis of each area. Included will be Native American, cowboy and Western, furniture of distinction, country furnishings, hunting, fishing, nautical, taxidermy and folk art, tramp art and trench art.

The Kennedys were enticed to Coeur d’Alene by Chick Weaver of Hayden Lake when he visited their shop in Clear Lake, Iowa. They checked out Western locations for five years before settling on North Idaho. They will maintain a shop in Iowa.

A few tidbits:

David Newman, former Spokesman-Review bureau chief in Coeur d’Alene, has opened a law practice in Redmond, Wash.

Ron and Jill Branson of Coeur d’Alene have purchased Wolffy’s drive-in on Argonne Avenue in Spokane. They employ 15 to 20 people, including carhops on roller skates to enhance the ‘50s atmosphere. Ron is with Tomlinson-Black real estate.

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