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

It’s Showtime Post Falls Getting Its First Movie Theater And Two Ice Rinks

Eric Torbenson Staff writer

The River City has come a long way from its days as a lone sawmill powered by the Spokane River.

The town has blossomed into a cozy bedroom community with acres of homes, factory outlet stores and a big furniture plant.

And now, its very own movie theater.

Developers broke ground Wednesday on Post Falls’ first six-plex, with some sparkling ice rinks to match.

The Nine Out complex will open its doors this summer, said developer Bob Guindon, as earth movers leveled the site off Seltice Way next to Post Falls Mazda.

Six theaters will soon show the latest releases, saving Post Falls residents the drive to either Coeur d’Alene or Spokane to nibble popcorn and gaze at the silver screen.

The two planned ice rinks have drawn a surge of interest, Guindon said. He’s meeting with hockey leagues and team coaches in the next few weeks to coordinate ice time.

“So many people want to play around here but they just can’t,” Guindon said. “We knew Post Falls needed a movie theater when we started this out, but we had the extra land and thought, what else do we need around here?”

A sports bar/restaurant will complement the ice rinks, and there’s room for possibly more expansion down the road, he said.

Post Falls has been teased before with movie theaters by other developers. The nearby Expo development, in its earlier conception as a mega-mall, touted theaters along with big stores.

Expo has since been revised to a commercial development after the Spokane Valley Mall moved forward and gobbled up the shopping center market in the region.

“I wish I’d had the money to do it myself,” confessed Gus Johnson, Post Falls city councilman and longtime resident, referring to the theater. “I think it’s going to go over like gangbusters.”

Post Falls certainly has grown up, Johnson said, and much of the development in recent years - large supermarkets, for example - could only come here if the town has enough people.

Johnson was especially pleased that Guindon - born in Coeur d’Alene and raised in Post Falls - built the complex.

“I’m happy because it’s a local guy behind it.”

And the name, Nine Out? Well, when Guindon’s son wanted his sister to play baseball, she agreed only if she received nine outs.

“After nine outs, though, she usually quit,” Guindon said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo