Handle On Business: Kohl’s opening first store in region

Shoppers’ eyes brighten when they’re told that Kohl’s Department Stores plans to build a store on a seven-acre parcel bordered by U.S. Highway 95, Aqua Avenue and Mineral Drive in the north end of Coeur d’Alene. It is north of the Life Care Center. The store is known for selling name-brand merchandise offered at high-end stores but at a midprice range.

The store is 87,774 square feet in a site plan filed with the Coeur d’Alene Planning Department. It also shows sites for three small stores and parking spaces for 360 cars. Kohl’s Internet site indicates the stores usually employ about 75 people for that size of store.

With its headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wis., since 1962, Kohl’s has more than 800 stores in 45 states. Although this would be the company’s first store in the Inland Northwest, the company gave no time line for the construction or opening. However, the site plan said construction will begin in the spring with a Boise contractor. Kohl’s has three stores in Western Washington and is planning stores for Spokane and Southern Idaho.

Residential-retail condos for Post Falls

A condominium development with 87 residential units and 10,000 square feet designated as retail space is under construction on five acres in the 3500 block of East Third Avenue in Post Falls.

To be called Promenade, two buildings comprised of 48 units should be completed in March. Owner Andrew Otero said the project is fashioned after upscale projects in San Diego and New York, but it has been carefully designed with the mountainous outdoor environment of the Northwest in mind. Target clients are first-time buyers, he said.

The site plan on Web site www.promenadepostfalls.com shows four buildings of 87 condos with one, two and three bedrooms. Some of the units offer vaulted ceilings, while others offer a second-story master bedroom loft suite. All units include decks and covered parking. The retail spaces will be in the clock-tower building facing Third Avenue. It is scheduled for completion in July.

Formerly of San Diego, Otero said his family chose North Idaho after looking around the nation for the ideal place. Contact Lakeshore Realty at 665-2443.

Cougar Mechanical expands

A heating, air-conditioning and electrical company, Cougar Mechanical, last week expanded from its Spokane location to 2320 Government Way (next to Metropolitan Life), Coeur d’Alene. Daren McGrath manages four employees in the Coeur d’Alene office and about 20 field workers.

Although Cougar has served North Idaho since the company opened 10 years ago, the new office reflects increasing business in this area, McGrath said. Owners are Monte and Katie Yockey. Phone 667-7279.

New Edward Jones office

Eric Soles will open a new Edward Jones financial planning and investment office at the end of the month at 211 E. Coeur d’Alene Ave. (next to Dahlberg Architects) in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Soles is transferring from an Edward Jones office in Liberty Lake. He was in the Army for five years, and was educated at Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University, graduating in finance, general management and marketing. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Call 667-1539.

This week’s tidbits

“Wow. Hamburgers existed 100 years ago. Still in the dynasty of the Hudson family, Hudson’s Hamburgers is celebrating its centennial in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The famous burger bar uses the same menu it did then, even with ham and eggs on the list. Cheeseburgers, however, didn’t happen until the 1950s, according to Todd Hudson, who runs the place with his brother, Steve. Meanwhile, nearby Clark’s Jewelry also is 100 years old!

“AmericanWest Bank celebrated its grand opening Friday at 223 Ironwood Drive (in front of ShopKo). With 12 employees, the company’s 44th branch is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 6 p.m. Fridays, and the drive-through is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. AmericanWest has 11 branches in North Idaho, and its headquarters is in Spokane. The new branch’s phone is 277-1000.

“The downtown Coeur d’Alene Pita Pit eatery closed this week (until Feb. 15) for renovation into the Pita Pit USA National Training Center. With the national headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, the store will be the training site for new owners and managers as the chain spreads throughout the nation. It also will test new products. Pita Pit has 116 outlets in 38 states, with 55 outlets in development.