Business Building Spree Fuels Post Falls’ Dramatic Growth Spurt

New buildings and new businesses continue to boost Post Falls’ claim as the fastest growing area in Idaho.

Most new businesses abut Seltice Way, which has become the major commercial corridor for western Kootenai County.

Construction is under way on a new Taco Bell restaurant at 1785 E. Seltice, just east of the new McDonald’s. The 2,100-square-foot adobe-style restaurant should open just before Christmas with about 10 employees.

The restaurant will include about 20 seats for indoor dining and a drive-through. A re-design of the Taco Bell restaurants stresses comfort and efficiency. They are cost-effective but still traditional, said Ken Langel, who co-owns the restaurant with his brother Craig.

Originally from Rudyard, Mont., Ken moved from Anchorage, Alaska, to become the regional manager for his family’s Taco Bell restaurants. Craig, who started a Taco Bell in Missoula 10 years ago, now has 14 stores in Montana.

Taco Bell is the largest fast-foot Mexican restaurant chain in the world, with more than 4,800 locations in all 50 states and 20 countries. Glen Bell started Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, Calif.

The company employs more than 100,000 people and in one year serves 5.2 billion tortillas and 366 million pounds of ground beef. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Tricon Restaurants, the world’s largest restaurant company (revenues in excess of $20 billion), which includes Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, all under the parent company of PepsiCo.

The Langels also are constructing a restaurant in Cheney and hope for others in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

A comfortable, clean restaurant with a traditional menu is the aim of McDuff’s, which will open in November at 152 W. Seltice in central Post Falls. Originally an A&W drive-in, the renovated building is across from Rob’s Seafood Restaurant.

Offering breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, the 3,200-square-foot facility boasts a casual atmosphere with a fireplace and seating for 60-70 customers at tables and in booths. It will employ 12-15.

McDuff’s specialty will be eggs Benedict. Taking advantage of its traditional A&W drive-in design, it has covered parking for 18 cars.

The owner is Larry McDowell, who came to North Idaho from Redlands, Calif., where he has another restaurant. He originally is from Hutchinson, Kan. He said he came to North Idaho primarily for the clean air and clean water. The name McDuff’s comes from McDowell family nicknames.

A medical center dedicated to the community of Post Falls is the object of two new buildings totaling nearly 40,000 square feet at 925 E. Polston.

Groundbreaking for the first 18,000-square-foot structure was Tuesday adjacent to Post Falls’ North Idaho Immediate Care Center. The three-level building, to be completed in April, will be the twin of a second structure to be built midyear. They will be connected by a 3,300-square-foot lobby.

Principal owner Dr. Jack Riggs (also an Idaho senator) said the plan is for a fullcampus health care center to accommodate complete urgent, primary and specialty care, occupational care, preventative and wellness medicine, and laboratory, radiological, physical therapy and dental facilities.

The focus of the three-acre project has been to get the building started, Riggs said. Now the emphasis is talking to potential occupants. The number of spaces will depend upon the sizes needed by the occupants.

The facility is a joint venture of Riggs and S & D Development, which is owned by Keith Sexton of Coeur d’Alene and James Doty of Post Falls and California.

A graduate of Coeur d’Alene High School, the University of Idaho and the University of Washington, Riggs has been a Coeur d’Alene physician for 12 years, after serving three years in the Air Force. He owns North Idaho Immediate Care Centers in Post Falls, Hayden and Coeur d’Alene.

Originally from the South Bay area near Los Angeles, Sexton and Doty came to North Idaho 12 and four years ago respectively. Combined, they have more than 30 years’ of experience in facility design, development and management, primarily medical.

Architects West of Coeur d’Alene designed the complex; S & D is the general contractor. For information, phone 765-3326.

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