Rapid Growth Triggers Expansion Of Trucking Firm’s Post Falls Office
Not all of the congestion on Post Falls’ Fifth Avenue off the Pleasantview I-90 exit is caused by the lower gas prices at the Flying J Conoco pumps.
Some of it is from the growing success of W.T.B. Inc., which is quintupling the size of its building west of the gas station at 3815 W. Fifth Ave. The facility is changing from a single level 3,500-square-foot building to a 17,000-square-foot, three-story structure.
Formerly called Western Truck Brokers, a few years ago the business changed from a truck brokerage to leasing trucks for contract hauling. The business has tripled in three years, contracting with about 300 truckers for service in the 48 contiguous states and Canada. General Manager Rob Wolf said the company expects to grow to 500 trucks in two to three years.
Although the company headquarters is in Spokane, the majority of the 44 employees are in Post Falls. Other offices are in Kansas City and Toronto.
The Post Falls’ building addition, with 4,500 square feet new on each of the three levels, will house accounting on the first floor, sales and dispatch on the second, and administration on the third.
Majority owner is Garry Padrta (pronounced Padurtay), who also owns the new Coeur d’Alene R.V. Resort in Post Falls.
Silk plants and trees and commercial interior decorating are the specialties of Suzanne’s Pedal Pusher, a new business at 844 N. Third St. (across Boise Avenue from Cook’s Automotive), Coeur d’Alene.
Hours at the business are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Owner Suzanne Anderson originally is from Burley and has been in North Idaho 12 years. She continues as a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty.
Utilizing her experience as an elementary school teacher, Diann Wandrey has opened The Learning Store in Sunset Mall off Highway 95, Coeur d’Alene. She also has experience in the Chapter I reading intervention program.
Offering “quality toys that teach,” the store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the space formerly occupied by Kids Fair. The store offers educational supplies, learning toys and early childhood and home-schooling resources.
Originally from Dallas, Wandrey came to North Idaho with her husband, the Rev. Kurt Wandrey, who is pastor at Lutheran Church of the Master.
Although dates are unknown because of red tape, Priano’s Aquatech Pool & Spas plans to more than double its size in a new building on Kathleen Avenue between Highway 95 and Ramsey Road.
The 9,700-square-foot building will include an in-ground pool and recreation area (for a volleyball court). Both would be available for use by non-profit organizations.
The 39-year-old business sells pools, spas and recreational furniture, including pool tables. The new space, across from Interstate Concrete, will allow expansion into new product lines and from nine to 15-17 employees.
Shelter Associates will construct the building, which is designed by Design Associates to have a Mediterranean look.
Owners are David and Connie Priano. He came to Coeur d’Alene from Wardner in 1966, and she came from the Seattle area in 1971. Construction will either begin this spring for a July opening or next winter for a spring ‘96 opening.
The weekly tidbits:
Plans for the mini-McDonald’s restaurant planned for downtown Coeur d’Alene are in the city’s final review stage, according to area McDonald’s franchisee Mark Ray. Once the permit is obtained, the store (at 213 Sherman Ave.) should be open in six weeks, possibly in March, Ray said.
A few hundred fans (possibly exaggerating) have asked what I think about the possibility of Micron bringing a computer chip company to the area with 3,500-4,000 employees. That would add 16,000 more people to the population. I came here to get out of a metropolis.
The 15th new store at Post Falls Factory Outlet Center (the new L-shaped addition at the southeast end of the row) is Kids 4 Less. Managed by McCormack Properties in Coeur d’Alene, the shopping center has about 10,000 square feet remaining available.
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