Summer opening planned for German restaurant
New restaurants possibly are what interest people most. At least they earn more reactions from readers than other items in this space. So this week you won’t be disappointed as there are two new places to reveal.
One, however, is several months away, but it’s quite intriguing. The Coeur d’Alene Hofbrau (German restaurant) is planned just west of the carwash at Kathleen Avenue and Ramsey Road. Owners Bill and Roxanne Wagner hope to open the 5,000-square-foot place by July.
Coming from Fresno, Calif., the Wagners plan to model the place after their Old Fresno Hofbrau, which they recently sold. Bill Wagner said some visitors to Fresno from Coeur d’Alene said such a restaurant would work in North Idaho. He got in touch with Jobs Plus and, yes, it is happening.
And jobs there will be – about 25 of them. However, the Wagners are bringing their chef, Eddie Blanco, and his family with them. The place’s interior will have a European ambience with crown molding to hold old German steins.
“The original steins had lids to keep the flies out,” Wagner explained, “because the Germans like their beer warm, and warm beer attracts flies.”
Be assured, however, that the Hofbrau’s beer will be served cold. The 72-foot-long bar will have 28 stools, and the restaurant will hold about 300 customers at booths and tables and in a banquet room.
Food will be served like a reverse buffet. Customers will take their trays to the food bar, where they will order sandwiches or dinners, which are $8 and $10 on the Fresno menu. Sandwiches (6 ounces of beef, turkey, knockwurst, pastrami, ham) can include a choice of 13 salads, soups and drinks. Dinners (8 ounces of roast beef, turkey or ham) come with rice or potato, salad, veggie or roll and beverage. Desserts are extra.
“We roast several turkeys every day,” Wagner said. “They’re the favorite.”
Originally from Pennsylvania and Minnesota, the Wagners also plan to have a Hofbrau in Post Falls. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Lizzie’s opens on Hayden Lake
Lizzie’s on the Lake has opened in the waterfront building that has housed a succession of restaurants on the south shore of Hayden Lake since the early ‘80s.
Owner Elizabeth Fees said Lizzie’s is more of a “social gathering place” than a bona fide restaurant.
“It’s kind of a local ‘Cheers’ bar where everybody knows your name,” she said. “Local people think of it as their place.”
The menu includes several appetizers (bar food), a soup of the day, fish and chips, tacos, salads, several burgers and sandwiches, all ranging from $4 to $10. Lizzie’s holds about 40 customers inside at tables and at the complete-beverage bar and many on the huge, seasonal deck.
Fees said she’ll have 10 to 20 employees in the summer, and her major help now are chef Evan Wheeler and bartender Cindy Helgren. Calling herself an Air Force brat, Fees said she came to Hayden Lake in 1970 when her father retired and moved here.
Winter hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. daily. Call 772-5057.
This week’s tidbits
•It’s time to see if Idaho is holding unclaimed funds under your name. More than $16 million in unclaimed money will go to the state’s general fund on July 1, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission, which holds unclaimed property for the state. Many of the assets are unclaimed because people didn’t know they had them or just forgot about them, and sometimes they’re worth thousands of dollars. They include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, utility deposits, traveler’s checks, contents from deposit boxes and other items.
Most states hold unclaimed property indefinitely until it’s been claimed by the owner or the owner’s heirs. However, due to a law change in 1997, Idaho will take permanent ownership of the property that has remained unclaimed for 10 years or longer beginning July 1, 2007. At that time, owners and their heirs will lose all rights to that property.
Check the unclaimed property list on the Web site at www.tax.idaho.gov. People who find their names on the list can fill out a claim form (available on the Web site) to get the money. There’s no charge for the service.
You also can check www.missingmoney.com to check for most states all at once. Rosdahls found (minimal) missing money in three states.
•Evidently the Red Robin Restaurants won’t be expanding into Coeur d’Alene anytime soon. For a while they considered the Riverstone development, but that’s not happening, a Riverstone spokesman said. Instead, watch for a Tecate Grill. More later …