North Idaho’s Quality Of Life Lures Businesses Seeking Change Of Pace

Quality of life.

That’s it. Those three words continue to explain why North Idaho is growing. In items collected this week, each of the business owners said they have located here to escape where they were for what North Idaho offers.

Atlas Center, just north of the former Duncan’s Garden Center, is among commercial developments that are attracting businesses seeking new locations. Just a few lots remain of the original 27 in the 17-acre development, primarily geared for light industrial businesses. The complex and nearby Atlas Building Center, at the intersection of Highway 95 and Kathleen Avenue, are owned by Idaho Forest Industries. IFI also may take over the vacated Duncan Garden Center property, according to IFI President Jim English.

Among the businesses recently relocating in Atlas Center is Benchmark Signs & Graphics,, which already has outgrown the 6,500-square-foot building it just occupied.

“We have an architect designing a 3,000-square-foot addition,” said Luke Griffin, who owns the business with his wife Cyndy. The Griffins started their company in Riverside, Calif., in 1985. In 1992 they brought it to Post Falls. They’ve grown to 16 employees and plan to be up to 20-25 employees by year end.

“We had no idea our business would survive when we came here,” Luke said. “We had to leave the rat race. I was working seven days a week and driving 300 miles a day. Coming here has been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. People here are more down to earth.”

Benchmark’s five divisions are: wholesale (such as interior signage for supermarket chains), retail, golf, fleet services and digital imaging (turning small images into large formats). Phone 664-1265. Benchmark’s web page is at www.benchmark-graphics.com.

Copper Basin Construction, a residential development company, is building an 8,500-square-foot facility in Atlas Center. Steve White said his company, with six employees, will occupy 2,300 square feet and will lease the rest as office and light industrial space. Phone 765-5059.

Copper Basin will move from Sunset Mall. Originally from the Yakima Valley, White came to North Idaho from Arizona. His partner, Greg Gervais, is from the Los Angeles area.

CommWorld of the Inland Empire, a business telephone company, and The Spokesman-Review combine on another new building in Atlas Center.

CommWorld, which also works in voice and data cabling, moved from 4025 Government Way. The company was started in 1984 and has five employees. Owner Tim Conces originally is from Cleveland.

The Spokesman-Review uses a portion of the building for its newspaper distribution center.

Brigitte DeMouy was wearing fishnet stockings and bright, white bloomers under a split-to-the-top leather skirt Monday as she chatted with customers at her new Karisma store at 421 Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

“I was going to close for the holiday (President’s Day), but then I decided the college students would be off, and they’d be coming in here.”

She was right. The business’ vintage and campy clothing attracts college shoppers. The store also features a wide array of costumes, masks, collectibles, antiques and simply interesting stuff.

DeMouy uses her art and sewing skills to manufacture costumes. She’s making one for Cleopatra for North Idaho College’s Popcorn Forum in March, and she just finished making a pair of baby angel wings for Valentine’s Day. She also makes wedding gowns and lingerie and refinishes furniture.

Originally from Washington, D.C., DeMouy came to North Idaho from St. Petersburg, Fla., because “This is a wonderful place to raise a family,” she said. Her silent partner, who was a customer in Hollywood, Calif., came here for the same reason.

Karisma accepts quality consignments and also rents costumes. Phone 664-7760.

Lisa and Chuck Boyd also left California’s faster pace of life for rural North Idaho. They’ve opened Boyds Collectibles at 1030 N. Fourth St., in Coeur d’Alene, and they’re planning to live on acreage near Athol.

They came in December from the San Diego area, where they owned the Family Fitness Centers. Now they make and sell craftwork from white pine and barnwood. Their store, a 1920s’ house, is brightly decorated with unusual birdhouses, flags and balloons. They also sell fresh flowers on holidays.

“We came here for the community, morals, values and lifestyle,” Lisa explained. “We camped on the lake when we were on our way to Washington and decided we didn’t need to go any farther.”

The Boyds also take consignments and operate the 2000-Plus Nutrition business. They plan to expand to the rear and the second story of their building.

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