Handle on Business Taco Works expands in size and location

Taco Works started small this past winter, set back on a parking lot at 510 Best Ave. next to Lyle’s Crafts in Coeur d’Alene.

It’s still small, but now it’s bigger and has moved forward on the lot – and it’s busy.

The reasons are a trio of “A” words: accessible, affordable and amiable (describing the owner/operator). Omar Magdalena sells basic Mexican dishes with choices of chicken, steak, pork or shredded beef. The food is prepared in minutes while you’re there. It’s packaged, you take it home, and dinner is ready.

Pretty handy when it’s your turn to “cook.”

Born and raised in the Mexico City area, Magdalena came to the United States in 2001 and to North Idaho for tree-planting work in 2004. He started Taco Works using his family’s restaurant business background.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Phone number is 704-2091.

Store to ‘fill’ party needs

Farther east at 840 Best Ave., the Filling Station party store will open Wednesday in the building that formerly housed the Best Avenue Barber Shop.

The store will offer party favors, especially cloth animals that children stuff themselves with a “filling” machine, as well as games, dancing (chicken dance, the Hokey Pokey, etc.), framed photos, T-shirts, scarves, party hats, bowties, a “tree house” gift box, wishing star and birth certificate.

Owner Dina (pronounced Dee-na) Hourlland is from the fifth-generation Mills family of Coeur d’Alene. Her four children will help with the parties.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, with parties by appointment. Phone number is 660-5236.

Tuscan furniture in Post Falls

Old World-style (such as from Tuscany, Italy) furniture and accessories are the specialty of Quinn Essentials, now open at 518 E. Fifth St. in Post Falls. With a 3,000-square-foot showroom, the business is in a 6,000-square-foot building just south of Interstate 90.

Quinn Essentials offers furniture for all rooms of the house, rugs, lighting, artwork and catalogs for additional choices. Originally from Spokane, owner Angela Quinn has six employees.

Seasonal hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Phone number is 773-0140.

Washington Trust in Sandpoint

Full-service banking, including commercial lending, is available at Washington Trust Bank, which opened this week on the first floor of the historic Pine Street Annex building at 515 Pine St. in Sandpoint.

“Opening the Sandpoint branch in a historic building represents the rich history of Washington Trust,” said Eric Paull, vice president of commercial banking. “The bank’s success is rooted in the ability to build effective, long-term relationships with clients, and that’s what we’re going to do right here in Sandpoint.”

Based in Spokane, Washington Trust has 38 branches in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.

Five employees will operate the Sandpoint branch from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Tutoring Club near Costco

Tutoring Club – a learning center specializing in individualized programs in reading, writing, math and sciences – has moved from Sunset Mall to 100 E. Neider Ave., across from Costco, in Coeur d’Alene.

“The focus is on the individual needs of each student to bring them up to and beyond their grade level to ensure no future academic problems,” said Scott Keith, owner and director. “We have up to five teachers who provide tutoring for all ages in a quiet, professional, learning environment.”

Originally from Boise and Twin Falls, Keith graduated from Boise State University and came to North Idaho in 1992.

Tutoring Club has about 200 centers in the United States and worldwide. Hours in Coeur d’Alene are from 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, adding 9 a.m. to noon during the summer. Phone number is 676-8886.

This week’s tidbits:

“Hype on historical hamburgers has filled the news lately. Reader Addison “Bud” Arce laments that North Idaho needs an In-Out Hamburger joint. The closest to it, he says, is Longboard Burgers inside the A&D Mini-Mart at Appleway and Fourth Street in Coeur d’Alene.

“The China Gate restaurant at 1210 Sherman Ave. has closed. And the neighboring Rick’s Barber Shop has reopened. Meanwhile Twelve-Ten Tavern, named for its original address, is now at 1206 Sherman Ave. And at least three new Asian restaurants are planned for Coeur d’Alene. Watch this space for details.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if busy intersections had “free” right-turn lanes? Although more expensive to construct, they sure would ease congestion.