Developers say minimalls will fill

Minimalls seem to be under construction everywhere in North Idaho. As several apparently are slow in attracting occupants, soothsayers project that “we’ve overdone it.” Some minimalls have tremendously good locations; some have attractive shell buildings. Although the malls are abundant, developers are confident they’ll soon be full.

One attractive complex is Hayden Creek Plaza – two buildings totaling about 25,000 square feet off Government Way north of Mountain West Bank on Prairie Avenue and east of Prairie Shopping Center. Designed in the Northwest style with attractive rock, huge wooden beams and pagoda-peaked roofs, one building just south of Centa Avenue has a potential for 12 units and the other building, along Government Way, has eight units. All units are about 1,400 square feet, but separate units can be combined into larger spaces.

Realtor Jack Beebe of Beebe McKernan & Daboll real estate said four or five Hayden Creek Plaza spaces have signed leases. Although he won’t give company names yet, they include a high-end women’s clothing store, restaurant, insurance company and spa. For information call Beebe at (208) 667-0485.

River City Center off Highway 41

A comparable project is River City Center on 16.6 acres on the northeast corner of the Highway 41-Mullan Avenue intersection, Post Falls. A multiunit car wash and dog wash business was built there last fall, and two minimalls will be east of that. Pads also are planned for development north and south of the car wash, with development planned down the road for the property on about eight acres north of these buildings to 12th Avenue.

The first minimall, also a Northwest-style design, will be complete in August with 10 retail suites from 1,409 to 1,748 square feet. The second mall will be built as the first meets occupancy. Developer John Hansen, of Caymus Development, said several potential tenants are lined up and will announce their own news. He also owns the car and dog wash at Ramsey Road at Kathleen Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. For information call (208) 660-7545.

Matson’s Plumbing expands

With continual growth and its purchase of the area’s Roto Rooter business, Matson’s Plumbing this weekend moves into a new facility at 3846 N. Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene. The 1,800-square-foot place is in the same complex as Spokane Hardware and Windows America off Kathleen Avenue.

Owners Matt and Liz Veneroso have had Matson’s Plumbing for six years after discovering North Idaho on vacation and moving here from Orange County, Calif., in 1994. Matt has 25 years of plumbing experience. The combined plumbing and Roto Rooter business has 15 employees. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or by appointment. Call (208) 765-2826 for Matson’s Plumbing or (208) 765-1264 for Roto Rooter.

Tidbits

“A reader wondered about the purpose of writing last week about a would-be car buyer who was disgruntled with a rude car dealer without naming the dealer. The reasoning is to warn businesses that rudeness loses them more than the one customer as word-of-mouth spreads, and losing $20,000 sales hurt.

“Don’t get excited. The dirt-scraping north of the Coeur d’Alene North condominiums is for a parking lot.

“Job seekers should be aware that potential employers might Google the names of applicants to discover information that may not be on application forms or surface in interviews.

“Explore the area toward the river from the Riverstone complex along Northwest Boulevard, Coeur d’Alene. Many of the 412 planned new homes and condominiums are under construction in the Bellerive project from developer Marshall Chesrown. The complex farthest toward Lake Coeur d’Alene will include commercial areas on the first level. A “coming soon” sign between Bellerive and the Riverstone cinemas describes a proposed 100-room, five-story Hampton Inn hotel to open next spring.

“ Honeysuckle Villa, an apartment complex for the age-55-and-up community, will open in July at 3805 to 3815 Honeysuckle Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The units are 980 square feet with two bedrooms, one bath and multiple amenities. Call Vista Management at (208) 667-5192.