Developer To Begin Work In May On Phase I Of Rathdrum Strip Mall

Usually, houses are the first step in an area being settled, and businesses follow once enough population exists to make establishing them worth the gamble.

Occasionally, such as with the outlet malls in Post Falls, the businesses are established first with the promise of attracting customers through passing traffic or even creating themselves as a destination.

Either way, location is the key.

Rathdrum is the fertile ground. Literally. However, plenty of people are sad to see that lush prairie turn to foundations and pavement. Convenience and cost are the factors that put the developments on the farm-friendly flats instead of the rocky hillsides.

So you select the verb carefully as to whether Rathdrum is burgeoning or blossoming.

Taking advantage of the growth are Mike Cole and Don Trujillo of North Star Development. Choosing a spot beside Lakeland High School, across from Lakeland Junior High and in front of Lakeland Pines subdivision, the men will build Lakeland Square, a two-phase, 19,000-square-foot strip mall.

Construction on Phase I will begin in May, with Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta and Check-It-Out Video as signed tenants. Other businesses are committed, and spaces are available in both phases.

“Our timetable on Phase 2 will depend on tenant response,” said Cole, who also built and sold River City Plaza strip mall along Seltice Way in Post Falls. “Rathdrum is where Post Falls was a couple years ago. Residential growth has been steady; it’s ready for commercial growth.”

Each building will be comprised of up to seven suites ranging from 800 to 2,500 square feet, with about 1,000 square feet of office space in a second level of each. Phase I will be complete in the fall. Architect is Bill Dahlberg.

Cole came to North Idaho 18 years ago from Folsom, Calif. His North Star Development also is the leasing agent. Phone 773-6963.

Specialty hot dogs made locally from a family recipe with natural casings and quality buns are the sole mainstay of Just Dogs, which opened this month at 620 Spokane St. (across from Andy’s Pantry), Post Falls.

All the wienies are foot-long, with choices including chili, sauerkraut, cheese and condiments. Beverages include hand-made ice cream shakes and soft drinks.

Owners Clayton and Rosemarie Battles used the same formula for a successful store in San Jose. They came to Post Falls 10 years ago when he was transferred by Action Express Trucking.

Just Dogs seats 24 people indoors and 24 outdoors, with phone orders and take-out offered, too. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Still in Post Falls, Papa Murphy’s (take-and-bake pizza, calzone and lasagna) is moving from 101 E. Seltice to the Hillstead development at 1600 E. Seltice. The 10 employees will pack their pizzas at the end of the month for the space formerly occupied by Donuts & More.

Manager is Candi Moore, and owners are Larry and Marlene Martens, who are looking for another Papa Murphy’s location in Kalispell. Originally from Chinook and Libby, Mont., the Martens had the former Coeur d’Alene (Klotz) Drug from 1986 until 1993, when it was swallowed by the super stores.

Papa Murphy’s is open 11 a.m. until 8 or 9 p.m. daily. Phone 773-1575.

Still in pizza, take-out and delivery pizza (uncooked or cooked) breadsticks and (later this month) hot chicken wings are offered by Pizza Time, which opened last weekend at Fairgrounds Center, 4055 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene.

Owners are Spokanites Dan Burns and Mick and Jill Lee. Burns started the Pizza Time company in the early ‘80s in Seattle. Pizza Time has about 60 stores in the Northwest.

The Coeur d’Alene store has nine employees. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. weekends. Phone 765-4477.

Duffer’s Golf Cart Service is now open at 6280 Government Way for sales, repair and leasing of golf carts.

Owner Jeff Hall offers new, used and reconstructed golf carts, featuring brand names of Club Car, EZ-Go, Melex and Hyundai. Hall came to Idaho four years ago after being a stationary engineer for Los Angeles County. Duffer’s originally was Ray’s Mobile Golf Cart Service on Lacey Avenue in Hayden. Phone 772-2064.

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