Game Of Musical Stores Creates Pockets Of Empty Space In Lake City

Some music, please, maestro.

Doo-de-doo-de-doo (hum to the tune of “Strangers in the Night”)

Ah, yes. Once again we play the theme of Coeur d’Alene’s never-ending game of musical stores.

This is similar, of course to the traditional game of musical chairs with one notable innovation - it’s absolutely backward.

You end up with more empty spaces than when you started.

Speaking of starting, let’s start with Interstate Office Supply, which (as I wrote a few weeks ago) moved from 303 N. Fourth St. to 1205 N. Fourth (the former Modern Drug building).

After buying the building, new owners Gary and Leisa Ulvan needed to fill a few empty spaces, which they have done.

The closest tenant to the landlords is Just Roses, a new business owned by Terri Stravens of Osburn.

Amazingly enough, Just Roses is just that, selling and delivering bouquets and arrangements featuring roses. Stravens owns two Just Roses stores in Spokane. The stores are part of a 10-outlet franchise operation based in Washington’s Tri-Cities.

Next door, at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Harrison is P&P Courier. The 12 employees of Harry Pollard and Robert Powell deliver anything that weighs less than 100 pounds. Most of their service involves documents (such as from banks and mortgage companies) and auto parts.

The two-year-old business formerly was run out of Pollard’s home.

On around the corner, at 317 E. Harrison, the new tenant will be Coeur d’Alene Barber.

Partners Earl Anderson and Gary Hill plan to be in their new shop on May 2. After 17 years, they’re leaving 205 Sherman, primarily to increase parking and decrease overhead.

Coeur d’Alene Barber’s old space will be filled by a new business, One More Thing! Kids. Owner Jan Carr found her One More Thing! women’s clothing business at 413 Sherman needed to expand into the children’s wear category. That’s why she will open the new Kids store June 13 in the Roger Hudson-owned building.

Offering what Carr describes as a “moderate to better” class of merchandise, her stores specialize in products and promotional companies that are environmentally conscious. Examples include items produced naturally and from plants (like some specialty cotton) that are organically grown. Low-impact dyes also must be used. The new store will offer items from newborn to Size 14 in girls and Size 8 in boys.

Carr was educated in her special interest from years in Portland where she was a merchandiser for two clothing-industry giants - Nordstrom and Nike. She’ll have three employees in each store.

Just a block north, at 211 Lakeside Ave., European-style baked goods will be the specialties of the Blue Moon Bakery, which should open the first week of May.

The 1,200-square-foot space most recently was The Kite Shop; however, at the turn of the century the building (owned by Rich and Mary Lou Piazza) was a livery stable. The space has been completely remodeled, with a classy arched entry.

Bakery owners Scott and Cathy Weston and Jonel Baker will offer croissants, hard-crust breads, scones, tarts, baguettes, brownies, cookies and cheesecakes. Customers may also choose from a variety of beverages, including lattes and espresso drinks.

Items are take-out or eat-in, with seating for about 10 customers to begin with.

The Westons came here from California, and Baker is from Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. They plan to be open daily.

Ah, ha! Did you catch where the empty building is? It’s the old Interstate Typewriter Building at 303 N. Fourth.

The empty building (or buildings, as I’ll explain next week) is the problem. As growth occurs, businesses locate along the outer fringes, where there’s room for large stores and parking lots.

So the inner city and those areas that years ago housed the “arterial and fringe” expansions often decay. The old buildings sit empty because they lack the amenities of the new ones.

Coeur d’Alene is luckier than many towns; the downtown will remain busy because of the lake, parks and brilliant renovations on behalf of the downtown businesses. And many of the older arterial areas will remain alive because of traffic.

A few places caught in the awkward spots will suffer. And thus it goes with this game. Those places don’t hear any music.

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