Entrepreneurs seek opportunity in CdA
Any impressions that North Idaho is being invaded by retired folks sure can be discarded by checking out who’s who in today’s business profiles.
Some “kids” are here for the same reasons as the retirees; it’s beautiful and (so far) unspoiled. Others are here for the outdoor recreational opportunities. Some are natives who tried “the city” for a while and decided their parents were right in being here after all. Some are here because they sense viable business opportunities in a rapidly growing community. Here’s a look at a few who are just starting.
Standard American food at Tartan
Homemade, quality breakfasts and lunches are the plan for success for Tartan Café, which opens today at 1401 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.
Owners Adam Starchman, 25, and Travis Mason, 32, want to provide “breakfast and lunch that are as good of a meal as when you go out to dinner,” Mason said. They ought to know; they’ve been working together for four years at Brix and The Cedars restaurants and at The Market Café, which they purchased for their new place.
Starchman originally is from North Idaho, and Mason came here eight years ago from Richmond, Va. He previously was a chef in Big Sky, Mont.
They named it Tartan because they both have Scottish heritage. The renovated place seats 38 customers at tables and is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They have five employees. Phone 665-1682.
MonsterMuscle.Com is national
Although it’s loaded to the walls with merchandise, MonsterMuscle.Com, at 405 N. Second St. in Coeur d’Alene, is a front. No, it’s a legitimate business, but it’s also the national headquarters for bodybuilding attire, supplements and supplies and Monster Muscle Magazine.
Owners Wesley Kampen, 31, and Judy Sverchek, 28, saw a niche and a convenient location and moved their business from Spokane last month. Their shop is loaded with a colorful variety of shirts and muscle merchandise that they market from their Internet Web site, MonsterMuscle.Com.
Even more impressive is their magazine, Monster Muscle, a bimonthly publication with a circulation of 25,000 copies printed at Century Publishing in Post Falls. The slick, colorful magazine, up to 84 pages next month, is loaded with articles, photos and advertisements. Kampen and Sverchek write many of the items themselves. It’s distributed to newsstands and subscribers. The Web site is monstermusclemag.com.
Both graduates of Eastern Washington University, Kampen is a recreation therapist and Sverchek is a highly rated full-contact fighter and powerlifter. They’re organizing a benchpress, powerlift and arm-wrestling competition 10 a.m. Saturday at Ironwood Athletic Club, Coeur d’Alene.
Their store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 765-5033.
Alternative tea, items next door
On the corner of the same building, at 401 N. Second St., Tyson and LeAnn Deering-Soth, ages 30 and 26, last week opened Coeur d’Alene Tea House and Gateway Gardens.
The spacious, former antique store is furnished with warm sofas, chairs and coffee tables to create a large living room for counter-culture customers to relax and enjoy each other and special entertainment. Coming up is the tuneful expression of Abby London on guitar and keyboard on Friday, Dec. 17. They also plan to host alternative and environmental speakers.
The rear of the store is filled with what was the counter-culture inventory – including incense, clothing and posters – of the Gateway Gardens store, which had been in Silverlake Mall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.