A Sporting Chance
Nearly anything for sports, from team sports to outdoor activities, will be available at ESPM Sports, in Hillstead Plaza at 1600 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls, when the new store opens April 1.
ESPM (which stands for Everyone’s Sports Products & More) will offer in the 6,000-square-foot store equipment and apparel for all kids’ and adult team sports and recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking and golfing. Activities and classes also are planned, with fitness, nutrition and fishing topics already in the lineup.
The store, which will employ five, is in space first occupied by a Tidyman’s market, then by Hillstead Furniture.
Owners Darin and Melissa Butterfield were students at the University of Idaho and Washington State University, respectively, and came to Post Falls from Potlatch, where he was in the forestry business. ESPM hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 Sundays. Phone 457-0838.
More than the car leaves Squeaky’s Car Wash with a “feel-good” shine. The smiles, attitude and care emphasized by the employees show through to the customers at the 5475 Government Way business (across from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office).
Construction should be complete in early May on additions to the business that will include a 2,220-square-foot detail shop, a cashier’s booth and a covered and heated free vacuum area.
Also free with the three levels of wash services are floor mat washing, door-jam cleaning by attendants and large damp rags for interior cleaning.
Owners Ginny and Corky Hughes stress attentive service to their customers, who can sign up for club memberships that include washes for as low as $5.75. Top-of-the-line washes are $7.75 ($9 for non-members). The automatic, touchless car wash is attended by 15 employees who provide hand-towel drying.
The Hugheses came to North Idaho 10 years ago from San Diego when searching for “the ideal place in the Northwest.” They have 23 years of experience in retail business. They plan to hire four more people when the detail shop opens for carpet, upholstery and vehicle wax work.
It was formerly the Silver Lake Car Wash. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 to 4 Sundays. Phone 664-9247.
No major changes, from a variety of tasty bakery products to the controversial message sign on Best Avenue, are planned by Lagina and Bill McKinley, new owners of Davis Donuts at 2520 N. Fourth in Coeur d’Alene.
“If everything is smooth, why fix it?” Lagina said. “It’s a very well-established business.”
Davis Donuts is open 24 hours daily and has 14 employees. The store has inside seating and a take-out counter.
Originally from Kellogg and Lyman, Wash., respectively, Bill and Lagina bought the 14-year-old business from Tom Gatherer, who maintained public interest with his controversial messages on the sign above the heavily traveled intersection.
His first message was “Welcome, newcomers. We love our town; please don’t make it like the one you left.”
In addition to messages regarding local educational and political policies, others that Gatherer wrote included: “Nothing is more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people” and “If you think we are capable of destroying this world, then you are an egotistical left-wing liberal.”
Lagina said the sign will stay and messages will continue, but she wouldn’t predict their slant.
Her first message says, “Under new ownership.”
Tidbits:
Document imaging and scanning and selling and training with document-carrying software are the specialties of MultiSystems Technologies, which expanded at 1210 N. Idaho St. in Post Falls.
The store also offers computer system hardware, upgrades, services and training. Owner David Malloy of Spirit Lake has seven employees in the 2,000-square-foot space.
Janek Co. real estate is the new occupant of the building formerly occupied by The Bookseller at 311 Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. The company also has offices in Sandpoint and Spokane.