Mazda finds a new home in North Idaho
Today could be the day that a new Mazda car dealership opens in Coeur d’Alene. Providing that their load of inventory vehicles arrived, Team Mazda of Coeur d’Alene is open in the former Auto Mall lot at Highway 95 just north of Super 1 Foods.
The place has great exposure on Highway 95’s auto row, but access is a bit tricky. The key road is Crown Avenue, which takes off from Kathleen Avenue between Super 1 and Fisherman’s Market & Grill or from Government Way across from the fairgrounds.
North Idaho has been without a Mazda dealer since the Post Falls dealership closed a few months ago. That location is now used for city of Post Falls vehicles.
The owner is John Kiefer, who has Mazda, Subaru and Kia dealerships in Caldwell, Idaho, and Eugene, Ore. General manager and minority partner Gregory Berke will supervise about 20 employees. The inventory will include about 150 new and late-model used cars and trucks with full parts and service departments. Phone 664-6050.
Creekside Assisted Living planned
A few blocks away, at 240 E. Kathleen Ave., construction has begun on a Creekside Assisted Living Alzheimer Residence. The 31,396-square-foot, single-level facility may open by January.
Owned by Koelsch Senior Communities of Longview, Wash., the Coeur d’Alene facility will house up to 65 residents in private and semi-private (double) rooms. Family-owned since it began in 1958, the company has six facilities in Washington and two in California.
Spokesperson Diane Craft said the Coeur d’Alene unit will have 24-hour nursing staff. Phone 665-2444 or check www.koelschseniorcommunities.com.
Global Credit Union near Costco
A three-level, 27,400-square-foot building to house Global Credit Union and up to five tenants is under construction across from Costco on Neider Avenue in Coeur d’Alene.
The building should be complete by November to replace the Global branch on Appleway. Randy Teall, vice president of Idaho operations, will manage 16 employees. The building will have drive-through windows and a large tenant/community room.
Three or four spaces “ideal for a deli, small restaurant or coffee house” are available on the main floor, according to spokesman Ed Neunherz. Two more spaces are available on the second floor. Contact Casey Brazil at Kiemle & Hagood Real Estate, (509) 755-7545.
Tidbits
•The Taco Bell building on Appleway in Coeur d’Alene disappeared this week. A new one will replace it.
•Snow canceled the 2008 organizational meeting of the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market last week. It’s now 1 p.m. today in the library at North Idaho College. Anyone interested is welcome.
•White House Grill, take note. In New York a garlicky restaurant has a mouthwash dispenser and tiny paper cups in the restrooms.
•I bought an item in the local drug store for $5.29 and gave the clerk $5.30. She said she could figure the change better on her computer if I gave her $6. I did. Sigh.