Expanding Their Retail Horizons
Boundary Trading Co. Food & Drug already is the big player among markets in the Bonners Ferry area, but the “desire to do better” is leading the business to a major expansion, says co-owner Paul Matejovsky.
Although the supermarket opened its 32,500-square-foot store just three years ago, construction began this week on a 7,000-square-foot addition that primarily will expand the inventory of health and beauty care and general merchandise.
Other changes will include a drive-through window for Boundary Pharmacy, an expanded new location for Reese’s Photo One and modified or expanded grocery, produce, meat, floral and video departments. Construction should be completed in late May.
Matejovsky and Gary Morgan built the new facility after buying the former Bargain Giant business. Originally from Wolf Point., Mont., and Kellogg, respectively, the two met and formed their company, Bonner Foods Inc., after associations through other North Idaho markets. They came to Bonners Ferry in 1994. Matejovsky’s family had a Lake Pend Oreille cabin near Hope, Idaho, for many years.
Local employment and business are a major emphasis for the company, Matejovsky said. The store employs 65 to 90 people seasonally and will add five to seven with the expansion. Local companies also are handling the construction.
Success and the need for expansion also have led to the relocation of ShopSmart, which moved within Prairie Shopping Center from 1,400 square feet on the east side (Phase 1) to 3,000 square feet on the west side (Phase 2).
A variety store specializing in name-brand merchandise under wholesale prices, ShopSmart offers nearly anything that might be remembered as being in the old “five and dime” stores. Prices aren’t quite that low. Owner Cherie VanderRoest has installed a pricing sign that reads: “99 cents to $9.99.”
“But many items are even under 99 cents,” she adds. She acquires merchandise from liquidations, samples and discontinued lines.
“I couldn’t fit the merchandise in the old store,” she said. The new location in the former Keystone Lighting building also has better visibility from Highway 95.
VanderRoest and her husband, Steve, came to North Idaho from Texas eight years ago. The store employs four. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Phone 772-9083.
A May opening is planned for Corral West Ranchwear, which will occupy about 7,100 square feet of a 16,500-square-foot building under construction between the Target and OfficeMax stores in Silver Lake Plaza, Coeur d’Alene.
Under construction simultaneously with the company’s new store near the Wal-Mart in the Spokane Valley, Corral West Ranchwear offers full lines and leading brands of Western wear. The 50-year-old company, based in Cheyenne, Wyo., has 61 stores with five under construction in 14 states. The Coeur d’Alene store will employ 10-12.
The building’s remaining 9,500 square feet on the west side remains available for lease. Developers are WAM Enterprises of Spokane.
Making an offer on a business that wasn’t even for sale, Dean Haller of Coeur d’Alene purchased Sign Service and Mfg. Inc. at 111 E. Miles Ave., Hayden.
Sellers Bruce and Barb Dietrich started the company 24 years ago when he was laid off from a sign company, put a ladder in the back of his dad’s truck and went out on his own, he said. Now the company has nine employees.
An Eastern Washington University graduate, Haller managed several Firestone Tire stores and came to Coeur d’Alene from Lake Chelan, Wash., where he owned and operated Westview Resort.
White Cloud Consulting & Personnel in Hayden is now named ProLease, following the merger of parent companies White Cloud Consulting of Buhl, Idaho, and ProLease of Washington, D.C. The company’s services for small and mid-size businesses include payroll, taxes and workers compensation.
“We want to let people know it’s still the same local service,” said Jacklyn Holovka, who co-owns the Hayden office at 8191 Loch Haven Drive with her sister, Carolyn Schultz. Phone 762-8231.