Denny’S Goes Classic

Combining its traditional favorites with a flashy, new design and menu items from the ‘50s, Denny’s will construct a new restaurant in Post Falls in the next few months.

Located just east of the Hot Rod Cafe off Seltice Way, construction should start in mid-April on a 3,800-square-foot building that will feature a stainless steel exterior highlighted by colorful neon stripes. The theme is a classic Denny’s diner, several of which have been built recently in California, Arizona and Florida.

Jerry Fouts co-owns the regional franchise with Gary Early of Spokane and the Post Falls building and land with Rick Jost of Coeur d’Alene. Fouts described the new outside look as “a full metal jacket” with a pleated stainless steel exterior, glass-block corners and a rolled roof.

The restaurant, to open in late July, will seat 134. It will employ about 50, have parking for 75 cars and be open 24 hours every day.

Originally from Seattle, Fouts has been with Denny’s restaurants for 32 years, the past seven as a franchise owner, including the Coeur d’Alene restaurant on Fourth Street. He and Early have 10 Denny’s franchises in the Inland Northwest. They also own McQ’s Billiards & Sports Bar in the Spokane Valley. Jost is manager of the Coeur d’Alene store.

The Denny’s chain began in 1953 in California and has more than 1,750 restaurants. It is now based in South Carolina.

Anything to do with horses, including handmade horsehair items, is offered at Homestead Saddlery, owned by Kim and Chris McLaughlin at 1985 W. Hayden Ave., just west of Ramsey Road.

New and used saddles and tack and a unique selection of Western-style gifts are offered. Included are consignments and custom work from local artists. The horsehair items include belts, hatbands and barrettes. Tack repair is another service.

Raised in the Kingston area along the Coeur d’Alene River, Kim has been around horses all her life. Chris originally is from Hope, Idaho. Former owners Jim and Irene Seidler retired. Store hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 to 5:30 Saturdays. Phone 772-2043.

Adding spaces from an existing house located just south of the original dealership, Dave Smith’s Frontier Leasing & Sales will be adding new employees and additional vehicles to its property at 2021 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

The three-bedroom house at 2015 Fourth St. will be converted into a customer waiting area, offices, employee break room and accessory department by April. With 19 employees, the company sells late-model cars and trucks that have been trade-ins for new vehicles at the company’s new-car dealership in Kellogg.

Ken Smith is owner of the 30-year-old company, which has been in Coeur d’Alene for 15 years. Joe Orsi is general manager in the Coeur d’Alene office, which also agreed with the city to maintain the traffic island at the Fourth and Third streets confluence to the north. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. It closes at at 6 p.m. on weekends. Phone 667-6053.

Offering custom framing, prints and a gallery showcasing local artists, River City Framing & Gallery moved to Suite A of 205 E. Seltice Way (next to Down the Street Restaurant) in Post Falls.

Donna Bain bought the business last year after managing it for five years. Originally from Billings, Mont., she came to North Idaho 13 years ago and has taught art at North Idaho College.

The gallery changes its feature show every three months. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 to 2 Saturdays. Phone 457-0893.

Tidbits:

Coeur d’Alene Honda Kia and the Super One Foods stores in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Hayden are helping raise Food Bank donations through April. People donating a can of food at the markets can obtain an entry form for a Kia Sephia valued at more than $10,000.

Many neighbors and passers-by sighed with relief when the new, pulsating sign was subdued at the new Lett’s Downtown Car Wash in Coeur d’Alene.

The melted snow has revealed a disheartening amount of litter along I-90. It’s especially noticeable in the Post Falls area since the Washington side of the border has been picked up.