Pair of stores to fill CdA plaza openings
The center island in The Coeur d’Alene Plaza Shoppes will have two new businesses soon with Papillon Paper Emporium and Randy Henry’s Dynamic Golf.
Aiming for a July 24 opening, Papillon will be in the front portion of the island. J.D. Gray’s Designer Jewelry was in the 1,100-square-foot space for 13 years before closing early this spring. The paper store will offer unique greeting cards, stationery, journals, calligraphy items, pens, pencils, pencil holders, wrapping papers by the sheet, gift items and butterfly collections, which sparked the name Papillon (French for butterfly).
Owners Susan and Brett Sommer, who also started the Figpickels Toy Emporium on Sherman Avenue, will work with Art on the Edge and local schools to develop a line of cards featuring children’s art that will benefit local children’s programs. A line of Mudgy & Millie cards and wrapping papers will benefit Coeur d’Alene Library.
With a plan to leave urban New York, the Sommers drove cross-country and discovered Coeur d’Alene during Art on the Green in 2003.
“We had planned to semi-retire when we first moved here. That plan hasn’t worked out so well,” Susan said. “Our stores are created for the people who live and work in the Inland Northwest. We strive to foster long-term relationships with our customers. We offer stores that are affordable without compromising quality.”
Explaining the choice for a “paper” store, Susan said, “The age of electronic greeting cards and ‘E’ greetings has highlighted how special it is to receive a beautiful, personalized, handwritten note.”
The store will be open daily during the summer with four employees. Phone (208) 664-0736. Papillon will have a link from the www.figpickels.com Web site.
Golf store offers analysis, lessons, products
The combination of analyzing an individual’s swing, new products and lessons and rounds of golf will be offered at Randy Henry’s Dynamic Golf that will open Monday in the rear portion of the plaza’s business island. Henry’s shop is in the 1,000-square-foot space Daisy J’s left to move to the plaza’s front space formerly occupied by the Black Rock sales office.
The key attraction in the store will be a golf simulator supplemented by equipment and accessories. The simulators, with the aboutGolf logo, use high-speed cameras to track the spin, lift and other characteristics of the hit ball. The equipment analyzes the swing and weight shifts of the golfer and simulates the play as on professional courses.
AboutGolf purchased Henry Griffiths golf products, which retains its business in Hayden, and has several outlets throughout the world. Check www.aboutgolf.com. The new store will work in partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course for an indoor-outdoor golf academy with lesson-package options, according to owner Randy Henry. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with about five employees. A grand opening is planned for later this month.
Classic cars for special occasions
With connections to many special cruisers from the 1920s through the 1960s, Champagne Classic Car Service has opened at 2600 E. Seltice Way. The cars and their drivers are available for special events such as weddings, anniversaries, retirements and proms.
The business is with classic car specialist Jim Morse and business partner Cindy Dresser. Cars are $150 an hour with a two-hour minimum. Phone (208) 773-7271.
This week’s tidbits
•A restaurant server/friend revealed that servers often don’t get their entire tip when you write it as part of paying the food bill on a credit/debit card. The place often takes a percentage of the tip as part of the “cost” of processing the card. And often another percentage of the tip goes to the bartender who pours the drinks. So, think again when determining a tip amount for a server who is “earning” $3.25 an hour from the restaurant. More on this later.
•Yard/garage sale signs need to be removed when the event is over. If you’re having a multiday event, don’t put that on your sign or customers will avoid your sale on the second day as the good stuff will be gone. And your proceeds should be reflected on your taxable income. Heh heh.