Fiesta Mexicana comes to Appleway
The business in the northwest corner of Appleway Avenue and Fourth Street is still a Mexican restaurant, but the changes are notable. The building, which began as a Godfather’s Pizza in 1984, was renovated inside and out and opened this week as Fiesta Mexicana.
Formerly Los Sanchez, which was order-at-the-counter fast-food Mexican, Fiesta Mexicana has been transformed into a pleasant service-at-your-table place. The remodeling includes a Mexican architectural theme with arches, teardrop table lights and bright colors inside and out. Care of the landscaping also makes a difference.
Serving separate lunch and dinner menus, Fiesta Mexicana offers daily specials, children’s dishes and an assortment of appetizers, desserts and beverages, including wine, beer and sangria, a fruity wine. About 15 employees help with seating for 135 customers at tables and booths.
Owners are Travis Glasser and Miguel Amador, who married sisters from Mexico City, and Pablo Chavez, also the general manager. Amador and Chavez came from Mexico, and Glasser was born in Silverton. They’ve also had a Fiesta Mexicana in Spokane for four years.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call (208) 665-2400.
Pizza Schmizza planned
As Riverstone grows with both businesses and residences, the need for food for those people increases also. So, among restaurants still planned for the Northwest Boulevard development is a Pizza Schmizza.
The New York-style pizza place should open in January just south of Regal Cinema and two doors from Coldstone Creamery. It will be a high-pace eatery with neon lights, arcade games, TV sets and art. New York-style means hand-tossed (spun) so the crust made from scratch is thinner in the middle and thicker on the edges.
The menu includes traditional ingredients as well as specialties such as No Kiss Tonite (garlic and onions), Popeye and Olive Oyl (spinach) and the flavor-of-the-day. Fresh salads and pastas also are available.
Owners James and Dinah Ford enjoyed Pizza Schmizza when they lived in Hillsboro, Ore., and decided it would be family-style business they’d like to start after they moved to North Idaho. They expect to employ 15 to 18 people and be open from 11 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m.
In 1993, the company founder asked his dad for money to start a pizza business and the exasperated father exclaimed, “Pizza schmizza!” Now there are 28 of them all over the West with three under construction. Check out www.schmizza.com.
Sun on the Run shines
A tanning salon that has class is the theme of Sun on the Run, which opened last month at 2900 N. Government Way between Best and Les Schwab tire stores in Coeur d’Alene.
The 1,200-square-foot business offers six tanning beds, tanning products and apparel. With a “pamper the customers” emphasis, the salon adds chilled-water spray bottles and chocolates in the rooms.
Owners Brandy and Dave Noordam are from McKinleyville, Calif., and Coeur d’Alene respectively, and met here in 1998. They have three employees, and he has been in real estate for 20 years, including at Century 21 since 2000. Salon hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 6 Saturdays and 10 to 4 Sundays. Call (208) 664-4500.
Tidbits
“Ah, yes, more restaurants are coming to Riverstone. Watch for details on Sangria Grille and Bardenay in the next few weeks.
“Anna Leigh’s women’s apparel, accessories and gifts will more than double in size when it moves late this month from its space near the Coeur d’Alene Plaza latte counter to the former Worthington Antiques location to the west. Owner Kitty Probst will expand her popular lines and add new ones. She has three employees, the store is open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. Sundays. Call (208) 664-3272.
“The outdoors perhaps is a main reason people come here. Last weekend guests on our deck on the edge of Coeur d’Alene enjoyed spotting 70 wild turkeys, seven practically tame deer and a chubby cinnamon bear within a half hour.