Handle on business: Runway opens in Plaza Shops
If everything goes right, The Runway women’s apparel and accessories store opens today in the Plaza Shops in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Owners Marcia Evans and daughter Carey Liming offer designer clothing that’s “straight off the fashion show runway,” Evans said. They buy most of their products while visiting designer shows.
Evans came to North Idaho about 30 years ago from Germantown, Ohio.
Liming was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene. The Runway will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in 1,900 square feet between Story Woods Gallery and Daisy J’s in the east half of the building. Phone: 667-1100.
Vacations almost free on Sherman
Offering vacation “club” alternatives to owning time-share condominiums, Vacations Almost Free opened this month at 513 Sherman Ave. The 2,300-square-foot space formerly housed the Baby & Me store.
Affiliated with Gold Crown Resorts, the company sells memberships, and customers pay for vacations at wholesale prices. Gold Crown Resorts, the No. 1 travel club, has access to more than 5,000 resorts worldwide.
Membership fees depend on the amount of travel.
Rodney and Christine Halleck, who came here from Arizona, run the Coeur d’Alene outlet on an appointment basis. They’ve been in the business for 20 years and will have seven to 10 employees. Phone: (866) 613-8747.
Fire Department museum under way
A spring opening is planned for the new administrative offices and museum for the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department. The 7,100-square-foot building is under construction on Foster Avenue between Third and Fourth streets.
The main floor will include nine offices, a conference room, break room and the entry to the museum. There, the highlight will be the city’s 1923 fire engine and firefighting memorabilia. The basement will have room for future offices and storage. The neighboring fire station will be remodeled after the offices move to the new building.
The structure will feature brick wainscoting and a glass door to the museum area. About eight employees will be in the new building and five to seven in the original.
This week’s tidbits
“The Plaza Shops are hosting an Oktoberfest celebration, noon to 5 p.m. today. The event includes live music, special sales, a raffle, a grand prize from a drawing of customers filling out “passports” when they visit every shop, and beer, cider and bratwurst. Raffle proceeds go to Cancer Community Charities.
“This is the last Saturday for the seasonal Farmers’ Market at Highway 95 and Prairie Avenue from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Gala Farmers’ Market event will be Oct. 27 on Fifth Street in Coeur d’Alene from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Ah, remember the fire two years ago that destroyed the 7-Eleven Plaza at Fourth Street and Best Avenue in Coeur d’Alene? Construction on a new mini-mall (they now prefer to call them small retail centers) will begin in January.