Handle on business: Comic book store opening
Two huge Super Heroes on the front of the store give a clue of what’s inside, but Lightning Comics in Northern Lights Mall at 411 Haycraft Ave. (at Highway 95) has much more. The 3,000-square-foot store will open Jan. 1.
Yes, hundreds of comic books, both new and collectible (they call them back issues), line the shelves. The store also sells graphic novels, collectible card games and comic and sci-fi art, toys, statues, books and games.
Owner Tim Boal came to North Idaho three years ago from Las Vegas, where he owned two comic stores, which he sold when he moved. He earlier worked for Diamond Comic Distributors in Los Angeles.
Boal plans to host artist and creator signing parties that he will tie to local charities with emphasis on foster family awareness. Store hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Phone 667-2400.
New owner, plans for Candy O’Brien’s
Atsuko Schlesinger, a woman with an interesting personal and professional history, has purchased Candy O’Brien’s Boutique in the Coeur d’Alene Plaza Shops.
An employee of the women’s upscale apparel shop for nearly seven years, Schlesinger is adding fresher, more youthful styles to the inventory – “fun, friendly, but with class,” she says. She also offers in-house alterations as well as custom accessories. She previously owned House of Dreams gift shops in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane and the Magnolia Tea House.
Born in Manchuria to Japanese parents, she was raised in Tokyo and was a flight attendant for World Airways’ last flight out of Da Nang, Vietnam, where she stacked people into seats and confiscated hand grenades and guns. She also helped with the Baby Lift orphan flights to the U.S. She came from California to North Idaho in 1990.
The 2,700-square-foot store is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Phone 664-4311.
Intermountain Ins. now on Neider
All lines and types of insurance are available at Intermountain Insurance, an independent agency now at 194 E. Neider Ave., across from Costco. Pend Oreille Insurance purchased what had been Big Bend Insurance in Post Falls and moved it to the new location.
With David Brown owning both the Intermountain and Pend Oreille companies, the 2,000-square-foot Neider Avenue office employees include Lonni Williams, Aaron Morton and Shelly McKinney. Phone 457-1777 or check www.imountainagency.com.
This week’s tidbits
“Digital Color Print Center and Discount Communications have traded Coeur d’Alene locations. Expanding its production space, Digital Color is now at 3901 N. Schreiber Way. The company specializes in large-format printing, design, tradeshow graphics and fine art reproductions. Phone 676-9082.
Discount Communications, at 214 W. Sunset, is a satellite dish call center and includes Creative Element art shop.
“Former University of Montana colleague Carl Gidlund, now of North Idaho, sent an e-mail supporting Sears’ help for its employees who are called to active military duty. The Vietnam War-era veteran touted Sears for its paying the difference in salaries and maintaining benefits for its reservist employees. “Shop at Sears and tell a manager why,” Gidlund wrote.
“One can’t help but notice a building rising in the northeast corner of Government Way and Neider Avenue (with Sportsman’s Plaza and Costco in the background). It’s a 10,000-square-foot mini-mall offered by Keimle & Hagood of Spokane. It will have up to seven retail bays depending on the needs of the occupants. “We have all sorts of action,” a company spokesman said. Phone (509) 755-7562.
“In her State of the City address before 300 people at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce gathering Tuesday, Mayor Sandi Bloem emphasized that “Progress has a human face” and that it’s people who provide and use the progressive changes in the city. The audience, however, knew that a major face recognized for that progress belongs to the mayor.