Chamber May Get New Home
The triangular half-acre site across from the Coeur d’Alene Resort Clock Tower is possibly the most visible and accessible commercial parcel in Coeur d’Alene.
The site is in full view of those traveling Northwest Boulevard coming into downtown, and it looks up Sherman Avenue and toward the resort, lake and city park.
There’s probably not a better place for the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center. And that’s the main reason the chamber plans to build a new facility there.
“Our strategic plan is to serve as a visible front door to the city,” said Jonathan Coe, chamber president. “We’re in the tourism business; we do the marketing for tourism.”
With Dollar Rent-a-Car leaving the parcel at 105 Sherman Ave. (also bordered by First Street and Lakeside Avenue), the chamber has the option to buy the property from Hagadone Corp. If all goes well, preliminary plans call for a 6,000-square-foot building. Construction is scheduled to start in late spring.
A need for more space is another reason for the plan. The chamber now crowds 12 employees into a 3,500-square-foot space.
“The configuration we have now doesn’t work well,” Coe said. “We need a larger space for the existing staff, and an expansion would give us room for more volunteers.”
The chamber would move from its quarters at 1621 N. Third St. to the new site, which housed the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau several years ago. Architect Rann Haight provided a preliminary sketch of the facility featuring plenty of glass with wood accents.
An early December opening is planned for Home Styles, offering a variety of lighting options and mirrors at 3650 Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. The business is in 3,600 square feet formerly occupied by Idaho Lights in Northgate Mall.
Home Styles has four employees. The store offers lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, table and floor lamps, decorating mirrors, landscape lighting and interior water fountains.
Owners are Dennis and Sally Spencer and Karen and William Hayes III. Both couples are longtime friends. Dennis and William knew each other as youths in Hawaii.
“We had always talked about doing a business together,” Dennis said. “We’ll offer the amenities of the big stores, such as return policies and service, and we’ll add competitive pricing with the mom-and-pop store feel.”
The Spencers moved from Pinehurst, N.C., where they had a larger, similar store, to North Idaho, where Sally had been raised. The Hayeses came from Kailua, Hawaii.
Hours at Home Styles will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
A full-service wedding store with a variety of price lines is featured at Coeur d’Alene Bridal and Formal, which opened last weekend at 402 W. Canfield Ave., just west of Highway 95. The 2,000-square-foot store is in the space formerly occupied by Gwen’s Gifts in the Orvis Building.
The business offers outfits for all members of the wedding party and services such as consultations, alterations, accessories and invitations. Formal wear for other occasions is available.
Owner is Camile Thompson, who has lived in North Idaho most of her life. She has four employees. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 762-9861.
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners - with an emphasis on special dinners featuring steaks, seafood, pastas and prime rib - will be available at Prime Time Grill, which opens Nov. 15 in the former Rick D’s building at the Spokane Street-Interstate 90 interchange in Post Falls.
The 4,800-square-foot facility, formerly TJ’s Pantry, seats 124 customers at booths, tables and the counter.
Offering reasonably priced meals with large portions, Prime Time Grill is owned by Clay Christison and his fiancee, Diane Thiel. They came to North Idaho from Billings, Mont.
Thiel said owning a restaurant has always been her dream, recalling that when she was 6 years old she told her mother she would do that.
The business will employ 15 to 20 people and include a banquet room for up to 40 guests. Hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 10 p.m. weekends. Phone 457-1146.