Persian restaurant opens on Government Way
Hey. This was a tough one – figuring whether the lead to this piece should be a new Persian restaurant or an erotic lingerie store. They’re both somewhat unique to North Idaho.
Let’s go with Babak Kabab, which the owners claim is the only Persian food restaurant in the Inland Northwest. It’s in a former snack shack at 3023 Government Way. The well-known menu items are kababs, primarily barbecued kubideh or jujeh, ground beef and chicken sandwiches. They also have American and Persian breakfast items and espresso and hot dogs and chili for lunch.
Owners Babak and Amber (Currie) Haidari met in Turkey while helping earthquake victims. He learned to cook from his parents, who had restaurants in Iran, and she is a fourth-generation North Idahoan.
A palindrome, which is a word spelled the same forward and backward, the walk-up and drive-through Babak Kabab is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays.
Adam & Eve to open Dec. 1
A ladies lingerie boutique, Adam & Eve, will open at 348 W. Bosanko (just east of Highway 95) on Dec. 1. The 2,300-square-foot space formerly was part of a sporting goods store.
With an inventory that includes a catalog of 13,000 erotic products, the store will offer items from extra small to the larger sizes and from less expensive to the higher end, according to owner Scott Johnson, who also has a store in Nampa.
With its headquarters in Hillsborough, N.C., Adam & Eve comprises about 30 stores around the country. Its Web site is www.adamevestores.com. Tim Murray will manage six employees at the Coeur d’Alene store, which will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 Sundays. Phone 664-1400.
Clean Cuts moving south on Fourth
With the opportunity to buy his own building, Eric Carpenter is moving his Clean Cuts business from 2500 to 808 N. Fourth St. on Dec. 1. He’s had the men’s hair service business for five years since he came from his native town of Lewiston. His assistants are Blake Becker and Danielle Gonzales.
With the 1950s building having Inkworld Tattoo and the Shabby to Chic shop at each end, Clean Cuts is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Phone 769-9466.
Long Story Short Coffee travels
For several weeks now, the subtle lime-green ’79 Ford step van has been in the Memorial Field parking lot during morning hours attracting students and employees on their way to North Idaho College. The Long Story Short Coffee van is cool, and its many products are hot and perk up their customers.
Jon Lewis is there from 7 to 10 a.m. weekdays with hot coffee and tea products as well as cold coffee specialties when it’s hot, and root beer, lemonade and bottled water. He also can bring the van to other venues such as the Saturday Market in the summer.
Originally from Cincinnati, Jon and his wife Kendall lived in Japan and Vancouver, B.C., before coming to North Idaho in 2004. With six years experience, he considers himself a professional barista and is available to work special events. Phone 651-3106 or check jon@longstoryshortcoffee.com.
This week’s tidbits
•The Hayden Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center will relocate to the Hayden City Hall at 8930 Government Way on Dec. 15. Contact Carol Nadolny at 762-1185 or join@haydenchamber.org.
•Poppy, a store with women’s apparel, accessories, gifts and baby items, moved to the Sherman Mall at 412 Sherman Ave. in mid-October. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 Sundays and extending for holiday shopping. Phone 968-0076.
•While Riverstone adds stores, one has subtracted as Joey’s Smokin’ B-B-Q closed last week. One problem was the parking in front always being taken by cinema customers. Meanwhile, however, watch for details on new Riverstone stores Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Hapa Fish.