Complex will house Western State Cats
A combination of optimism and hope for the economy, at least in North Idaho, is with Western States Equipment. Also known as Western State Cats, the company sells, rents and repairs large construction and industrial Caterpillar equipment.
Although the company has been operating with 12 employees centering out of an office trailer in Hayden for three years, a 57,000-square-foot building is under construction on 10 acres in the southeast corner of Highway 95 and Lacey Avenue. The complex will include a sales and rental center, a parts warehouse, hydraulic hose repair facility, welding shop and wash and fuel bays.
When complete and in full operation next summer, the outlet will have up to 30 employees.
In business for more than 70 years, Western States Equipment’s headquarters is in Meridian. The company serves the Inland Northwest with 12 outlets, including Spokane, Lewiston and Missoula. Check www.westernstatecats.com.
Wild Rose Salon opens next week
Hoping to open next Thursday with two stylists and room for eight more specialists, Wild Rose Salon and Spa is in a 1,200-square-foot space in Wild Rose Center just south of the Sonic Drive-In on Highway 41 in Post Falls.
Owner Pam Willms and associate Tonya Erickson will offer hair services to women, men and children. Willms said the shop has spaces for six hair stylists, two nail technicians and two pedicure spas. Originally from Moscow, she has been a hairstylist for 19 years and specializes in Bling hair shimmer.
Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone 755-6738.
Shipping Outlet at Highway 95, Haycraft
Primarily offering shipping services for Fed Ex and the U.S. Postal Service, The Shipping Outlet is now open in a 1,000-square-foot suite next to Pro Golf in Northern Lights Mall at Highway 95 and Haycraft Avenue.
Owner Brooks Hunt also offers printing services of business cards, postcards and other needs as well as selling items for customers on eBay. He came to North Idaho from Boise in 2007. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Phone 665-SHIP or check www.shipoutlet.com.
Caribbean Tan on Government Way
With 10 tanning beds and several options for customers, Caribbean Tan has opened at 5624 Government Way (next to Shimmer Nail Salon).
The business features 20-minute Sunrise 500 beds and 12-minute Solaris 442 bronzing beds to maintain and darken tans. A North Idaho native, owner Joni Clevenger also sells several types of tanning lotions.
Single tans start at $7 and packages at $25. Unlimited monthly packages start at $30. No appointments are needed.
This week’s tidbits
•Be careful with gift certificates for risky companies. A few places don’t honor cards that already have been purchased.
•The Go-Green Cars business in Post Falls has an empty lot and doesn’t answer its phone.
•After reading about nonexistent sidewalks last week, a reader e-mailed that one of the “worst” is on Best Avenue and Seventh Street, right where the crosswalk crosses busy Best to Borah Elementary School. Thank goodness for a volunteer crossing guard there.
•This geezer has problems with music in restaurants. Sometimes I wonder if the choice of types of music is for the customer or the young employees.
•A sign of the poor economy: My favorite auto repairman of 28 years says his business is the slowest it’s ever been, and his suppliers say the same.