Las Canastas opens Saturday in Post Falls

Mexican food that is more authentic but still traditional is the “difference” at Las Canastas Taco Shop, which opens Saturday at 115 W. Seltice, Post Falls. The restaurant is in the building that formerly housed McDuff’s Restaurant kitty-corner from the White House Grill.

Owners Hector and Patricia Estrada chose “Las Canastas” because it means “the baskets,” modeled after the story in the Bible where Jesus used baskets when feeding 5,000 people.

Hector says his food has more flavor than other Mexican restaurants , with spiciness varying with the customer’s wishes. His mainstays will be carnesada (marinated steak) and fish tacos.

“These will make a name for us,” Hector said.

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Hector was raised in Ramona, Calif. He brought his family to North Idaho “for a new life” this summer.

“I like to give God the credit for us finding North Idaho,” he said. “I found positive things about this area on the Internet and just kind of drove up here.”

With five or six employees, the family-run business is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 777-7278.

Runge’s to expand north

After 58 years, Runge Furniture finally is putting a store north of the freeway – but not by much.

Finding itself overcrowded in its long-time store at Fourth Street and Harrison in Coeur d’Alene, the store is adding a “closeout, promotional” store in the old Black Sheep building across from the Long Ear on North Fourth.

The Runge team will find ample room in what will be a homey setting in the two-level, 8,000-square-foot building. They anticipate a late December or early January opening at the earliest.

The new store will add a couple of employees to the existing 20. Finding the perfect manager to run the place is the aim right now, according to Jeff Runge, company president and 40-year veteran.

Runge’s started downtown at Second and Indiana in 1946, later moved to 12th and Sherman and in 1980 to its present location. They had a store in Wallace for 10 years in the 1950s. One of the company’s biggest strengths has been as a community sponsor.

Daanan’s builds new store

Daanan’s Delicatessen served 35,000 sandwiches last year. They’re planning to make more.

Owners Mark and Irene Daanan are building a new, bigger store just east of the Washington Trust Bank at Government Way and Prairie Avenue, Hayden. The 3,400-square-foot facility will allow them to expand their inventory of gourmet foods, wines and beers and slowly expand the restaurant business.

The 13-year-old business, now at Prairie and Fourth Street, sells specialty sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods and has “the biggest beer and wine selection in town,” Mark said. They boast 250 varieties of beer and 500 wines.

Hoping to open right after Thanksgiving, the new store will have seating for 50 customers, a fireplace and a small bar. They will add employees to their existing eight.

Originally from Chicago, the Danaans came to North Idaho from Southern California in 1992. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Oh, the Christmas tree on top of the new building is for “Richtfest,” German for good luck, Mark said.

New stores at Riverstone

The public is invited to an open house for three new businesses in the Riverstone development of Northwest Boulevard, Coeur d’Alene. The celebration is 4-8 p.m. Friday at Element Photography & Design (owned by Sean Watson), Element Media Productions (Anne Knoll) and A Creative (a marketing and advertising company owned by Adam Graves). Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The businesses are at 1859 Lakewood Drive below Zi Spa. Phone 676-0445, 667-9312 or 667-0201.