Leather Works opens next week

Mark and Mary Rogers wore full buckskin outfits when they were married long ago in Colorado. And they’re still into leather.

Now they sell it. Leather and sheepskin products that they manufacture themselves will be the mainstay of their inventory in The Leather Works store when it opens Tuesday at 215 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene. They will manufacture their items right in the store.

Their products include sheepskin slippers, hats, mittens and boots and leather purses, vests, bags, moccasins and belts. For many years their items have been featured at Art on the Green and in a kiosk in Silver Lake Mall. The Rogers finally have their own store.

“It’s a hometown, handcrafted ma and pa shop,” Mark said. The store will be part of what’s being developed as Artists Village Co-op in spaces being marketed as commercial condos on the north side of the 200 block of Sherman Avenue. The Leather Shop is in the space formerly occupied by Prim’s Smoke Shop, which moved to 416 Sherman.

The Rogers came from Colorado to join friends in Coeur d’Alene in 1980. Their store hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Phone 676-0818.

Sun Rental opens on Highway 41

Offering equipment for homeowners and contractors, Sun Rental Center will open in mid-June at 2605 N. Highway 41, Post Falls.

Rentals by the hour or day will include sanders, pressure-washers, airless paint sprayers, ditchers and small- and medium-sized building and earth-moving equipment.

“We’ll have hundreds of items,” said Terry Hornick, who owns the business with his wife Jan. Their partner is Ken Geren. The men have many years’ experience in the equipment rental business, having been with A to Z Rentals and Rent X in Spokane since 1975. They now live in Spirit Lake and Post Falls respectively.

Independent of other North Idaho and Spokane Sun Rental stores, the Post Falls store is an 11,000-square-foot building on three acres that the owners purchased.

“We’ll grow onto the property,” Terry Hornick said.

Hours will be 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Phone 777-9911.

Kayak Coeur d’Alene on Locust

Kayak tours on Lake Coeur d’Alene and quality kayaks themselves and their accessories are available through Kayak Coeur d’Alene, which opened this month at 307 E. Locust Ave.

The guided tours include transportation to and from the lake and all the equipment. Daily tours for up to 20 people are available mornings, afternoons and sunsets May through September at $32.50 for adults and $25 for children. Guides offer information about the area’s geology, wildlife and history and well as kayaking, of course.

Originally from Houston, owner Chip Dalvini came to North Idaho in 1999. He has five employees.

“This is one of the most beautiful places in the country and a great place to raise kids,” he said.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 676-1533. The Web site is www.kayakcoeurdalene.com.

Games is a gathering place

Video games, game cards, their accessories and collectibles are what’s for sale at Games, which opened this month at 411 Best Ave. (next to the 7-Eleven store), Coeur d’Alene. Playing the games themselves, however, is the emphasis of the place.

“More than two-thirds of the space is set up with tables and chairs for kids of all ages to come and play,” said Logan Bowen, who owns the business with his father, Rick Bowen. “We plan to be a gathering place, and we’ll have weekly tournaments.”

The prime name brands include Star Trek, Star Wars, Hero Clix, Marvel Origins and others based on superheroes. The Bowens themselves have been in Coeur d’Alene more than 30 years.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 625-0027.

AromaBasics, Full Size Fashions closing

AromaBasics closed its doors in Mullan Square next to Wal-Mart, Post Falls, last week. The store sold natural soaps, oils, creams and gift items for two years. Manager Sandy Tabor said she’s looking for a new job.

Although it’s still getting in new items, Full Size Fashions will close in the Prime Outlet Stores in Post Falls in mid-July. The clothing store’s 23 outlets all are closing as the owner retires. The five employees in Post Falls are all “taken care of,” a spokesman said. The store’s fixtures also are for sale. Phone 773-1056.