Candy Bouquet’s Arrival Gives Cupids New Valentine’s Day Options

FROM NILS ROSDAHL COLUMN (Wednesday, March 5, 1997): Correction Although Design Events (profiled here recently) originally installed holiday decorations at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, since 1994 Brian Stevens of Greenworks Landscape Co. said his company has been in charge of the decorating.

After raising all kinds of hackles the past two weeks with tirades regarding used car dealers and Coeur d’Alene’s library-botanical garden proposals, this week I rightfully should be exuding hearts and flowers.

With Valentine’s Day two days away, it seems fitting.

Heart-shaped and “sweetheart” items are featured this week by Candy Bouquet, a new business in Lincoln Professional Center, 1801 Lincoln Way (a block south of Mr. Steak), Coeur d’Alene.

Featuring specialty candies and gifts, owners Joyce Cox and Judy Olson customize their products into floral-like arrangements that can be presented in unique or personalized containers such as decorator boxes, mugs and baskets. The bouquets can include party favors, balloons, silk flowers and stuffed animals.

Both North Idaho natives, the women saw the Candy Bouquet opportunity advertised in a magazine when they worked together at a Coeur d’Alene financial business. Their new store is one of five Northwest franchises and about 250 nationwide. The company began in 1989 in Little Rock, Ark.

Also offering local delivery, shipping and a reminder service, Candy Bouquet is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Phone 664-8549.

Valentine’s Day also is about the biggest day of the year for Post Falls Floral & Gift, which has new owners in Regina Smith and Mario Villarreal.

The Whistlestop Plaza business features full floral service with local and out-of-town delivery. The giftware includes an assortment of specialty clocks, Yankee Candles and Precious Moments figurines. The store also offers 48 linear rack feet of greeting cards.

With rose suppliers raising their prices for Valentine season, the store is offering special mixed arrangements of alternative flowers - and, of course, roses.

The new owners came from California, although Smith previously owned Rathdrum Floral. The sellers are Betty and Dennis Ott, who started the business four years ago. He now serves the Inland Northwest with Rainbow Floral Supply.

Special events also is a mainstay of Design Events, an 8-year-old Coeur d’Alene production company that plans to move into its new 13,000-square-foot building in April.

Primarily serving conventions and special events with theme decorating, the company also provides seasonal decor, such as the one-ton wreath, 100,000 lights, 60 decorated trees and miles of fresh garlands for The Coeur d’Alene Resort during the winter holidays.

Recent events include last weekend’s bridal fair, with 60 booths, and the upcoming URM convention, with 122 booths, both at The Resort. They offer themes such as Hawaiian, Mardi Gras, Hollywood game show and Western with props, backdrops, custom graphics, lighting, staging, tents and special effects such as balloon arches.

The new building, in Atlas Building Center Park behind Duncan’s Garden Center on Kathleen Avenue, includes office and warehouse space. Owners are Rick and Mary Souza, who came from Hawaii and Spokane, respectively, and met at Gonzaga University. Phone 765-2595.

About 16 years ago, just after our move to Coeur d’Alene, my family went ice skating on Fernan Lake and met another family that had just moved here from Arizona. At the time, I noticed how friendly and outgoing this family was.

Things haven’t changed, except the kids have grown, gone to North Idaho College and now own King Pizza at 1606 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

The “new owner” sign on the business drew me inside to gather news. The friendly faces and word on the street of a good product made me a buyer.

Derrek Conces, his sister Christine and Jason Guerber, Derrek’s pal and Christine’s husband, bought the 7-year-old business from Jim Porter, for whom they had worked for several years.

They offer custom pizza made of fresh, hand-tossed dough, home-made sauce and fresh veggies.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, the Conces family decided to move to North Idaho because it was close to their vacation land in Montana’s Yaak River Valley. Guerber came from Boise to attend NIC.

King Pizza items may be delivered or picked up. Phone 765-5000.

Some tidbits:

Job Service will be interviewing candidates for jobs in Coeur d’Alene’s new Fred Meyer store in early March. They’ll hire 220-240 people.

“Dante’s Peak” is fascinating. Listening to audience members exclaim, “There’s Judy Yeager (one of 500 extras) or “I’ve jumped off that bridge” is a thrill. I think I saw myself.

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