Handle On Business: New buildings to house bookstore, restaurant

Two buildings under construction in the center of the Riverstone development will include major businesses – a Barnes & Noble bookstore and the Bardenay Restaurant.

Labeled as inside Building A, the Barnes & Noble store will be one of several businesses in the 166,173-square-foot structure between Regal Cinemas and the six-acre “lake” to the west.

The plan for the first floor (45,379 square feet) includes seven spaces for businesses, with the largest in the east end, for Barnes & Noble, about 28,000 square feet. Billing itself as “the world’s largest bookseller,” the store primarily sells books, music, DVDs and magazines. Employing about 40 people, the new store will include a cafe offering coffees and soft drinks, pastries and sandwiches. Hours likely will be from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Barnes & Noble began in New York in 1873 and now has more than 800 stores in all 50 states. Last year the company sold 445 million books, and its coffeehouses are ranked second in the country. Known for hosting community events, the company should open its Coeur d’Alene store in summer of 2008.

The second and third levels of Building A will house 51 residential condominiums with 46 having two bedrooms, two with three bedrooms and three with one bedroom. Parking will be in the basement level for residents and around the outside for customers. The project is valued at $13 million. Labeled as the Village at Riverstone Lifestyle Center, the complex also will have four more retail- residential buildings between Building A and the cinemas.

The Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery will be on the east side of the pond toward Building A. Set for completion this summer, the single-story structure will be 6,430 square feet. Similar to its sisters in Boise and Eagle with high ceilings and stone, glass and wood accents, the classy restaurant will offer lunch and dinner with a long list of appetizers and a bar menu of 52 drinks.

The distillery wing will produce rum, vodka and gin and offer fresh-pressed garnishes with special attention given to the temperature of the drinks and types of glasses used. Bardenay will employ 55 to 60 people.

Post Falls Quizno’s opens

Employing 16 people, the Quizno’s sandwich store opened last week in Highland Crossing southwest of the Highway 41/Mullan Road intersection in Post Falls.

The store advertises grilled sandwiches (my favorite is the beef dip) with premium meats and signature sauces on artisan breads. It also has soups, salads, kids’ meals and catering. Customers order at the counter, and the place seats 30 people. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Phone 773-0864.

Owners are Tim Divine, Jon Cooke and managing partner Chris McCartney, a Spokane native. The men also are looking for a location in the Sandpoint area. With its headquarters in Denver and operating since 1981, Quizno’s has more than 3,000 restaurants in 15 countries.

This weeks tidbits

“Monster Muscle has moved a few doors south to 401 N. Second St. in Coeur d’Alene. The business offers exercise equipment, nutritional supplements, martial arts supplies and a workout gym and clothing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The business will expand to 5,000 square feet this summer. Owners Wesley Kampen and Judy Sverchek say most of their sales business is online at monstermuscle.com.

“Last week’s major topics were Coeur d’Alene’s new and old federal buildings. Late information is that 55 employees will move from the old building to the new building. Although the old building is 26,000 square feet, about 13,000 is rentable. Contact Fred Zderic at the General Services Administration office in Auburn, Wash., at (253) 931-3228.

“Aaaargh! Another topic last week regarded a national-chain restaurant negotiating for a location in the northwest corner of the Interstate 90-Ramsey Road intersection. Several readers pointed out that it’s Cracker Barrel, not Apple Barrel. Sorry.

“Downtown Coeur d’Alene businesses that closed in February include Celtic Moon at 424 Sherman Ave., Erlendson Art Glass at 116 E. Lakeside Ave. and the Shred Shed at 601 Northwest Blvd.