Bible Book Nook Plans Expansion And Employment Growth

Located on three acres between two major roadways, Coeur d’Alene’s Bible Book Nook is a North Idaho fixture. The store, and its landmark freeway billboard, have served the area for 35 years.

But the Nook will soon have a new look. This winter the Nook’s two buildings between Appleway and Interstate 90 will be replaced by a two-story, 12,000-square-foot store. Store employment will grow from four to six people.

Too big to be a nook, the store’s new name will be the Christian Gift Center. The center will occupy half the main floor, and the remaining space will be leased. Offices will occupy the second floor.

Christian Gift Center is owned by Spokane’s Daryl Bursch and his company, Christian Resources Inc. The company operates five similar stores in Spokane and others in Lewiston and Moscow. It employs 75 people and is considering expanding to Montana, company officials said.

A pioneer Coeur d’Alene home, which became an eyesore before a California native rescued it, is blossoming into one of the city’s most unique apartment buildings.

The turn-of-the-century turreted house across from Coeur d’Alene’s main post office, Second and Lakeside, has had its problems. During the past decade, it fell into disrepair and was badly damaged by fire that resulted in a woman’s death.

Two years ago, LeAnn Anderson fell in love with the historic house and purchased it, not realizing the bureaucratic red tape she would encounter. However, after considerable effort and costs, the house has reached its final stage of renovation by Northernaire Construction Co.

Anderson has converted the home into four two-bedroom, two-bath lake view apartments that Anderson described as “mini-homes.” The renovation expanded the building’s floor from 5,000 to 6,500 square feet.

She plans to open the apartment building in November and may offer one unit as a weekly rental.

“I bought the house because of its special look,” she said, rationalizing the costly renovation. “It became a personal fight. It’s been blood, sweat and tears; I’ve done a lot of the work myself.”

Originally from Los Altos, Anderson moved to Hope from Houston, where she worked with NASA. She moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1994 and works in Spokane. For information about the apartments, call her at 666-9602.

The grand opening for Norm’s Downtown Auto Body, 315 Coeur d’Alene Ave., is 9 a.m. to noon today. The ribbon-cutting is at 9:30 a.m. The shop plans to serve refreshments and hold a drawing for a $250 gift certificate for auto body and/or paint work.

The new business owner is Frank Kaderka. He came to North Idaho from Southern California five years ago, and has been painting cars since 1960. Shop supervisor is Pete Seavers.

Kaderka said the purchase of the only downtown auto body business was no accident.

“I wanted to say ‘Downtown’ not only in my building (name), but in the way we do business,” Kaderka said. “Quality work and best service is what downtown is known for, and it’s the only way I’ll run my business.”

Arrow Ambulance of Coeur d’Alene has been renamed Shannon Ambulance and has become part of a 10-station ambulance service owned by Bud Kopp of Lynnwood, Wash.

The Coeur d’Alene business, 133 Poplar Ave., includes five ambulances, eight full-time employees, 17 part-time employees and six part-time nurses. Manager Bill Deruyter came from Western Washington and has been with Shannon for four years.

Janis Fenton sold Arrow, which she began managing in 1982 and bought in 1987.

Shorewood Homes construction company is building a new office and warehouse facility on Schreiber Way behind the new Forest Service building in Coeur d’Alene.

Tom Anderl’s business will move in December from its current Hayden office to the new, 7,000-square-foot facility. Originally from New York, Anderl has been in Coeur d’Alene for 26 years. He employs 11 people.

The Shorewood Homes building project is on a weekly list of city building permits that sparks construction interest for an otherwise laid-back year.

Other projects approved last week by the city include the $3.7 million administrative facility for Kootenai County offices; a $325,000 interior renovation project for the historical Fort Sherman Officers’ Quarters building at North Idaho College; a $220,000 Boston Market restaurant on Neider Avenue; and a $20,000 improvement to the footings of the new Paul Bunyan Drive-In on Northwest Boulevard.

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