Riverstone’s Main Street has European flair
If you haven’t explored it in a while, it’s time to take a walk in Riverstone. That huge commercial/residential condominium development along the Spokane River on the east side of Northwest Boulevard has really changed in the past year.
The newest changes are along Main Street, which starts at the east end near the entry to Regal Cinemas and ends at Beebe Boulevard, the north-south connector. The architecture along Main Street resembles a narrow, old-time, European downtown. The buildings are stone, stucco and beams with high-pitched roofs and balconies serving the condos above the businesses.
Many of the commercial spaces are open, but several have gained occupants in the past few weeks. Buckle and Zumiez opened last month with young people’s apparel and recreational “boarding” goods. Boardwalk Boutique, around the corner toward Beebe Boulevard, offers women’s apparel and accessories. Among stores still planned are Barnes & Noble, Tecate Grill and Sangria Grill.
Aeropostale targets young teens
Aeropostale opened Oct. 3 with color-coordinated, casual clothing and accessories for youths ages 11 through 18. Yes, many of the jeans have holes in the knees or wherever. Its Web site describes its inventory as “high-quality, active-oriented fashion at compelling values.”
With its headquarters in New York City, the company has more than 800 stores in 47 states and Canada. With 20 employees, hours here are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Check www.areopostale.com.
Escape Outdoors opens in November
With Riverstone’s store being only its second of many projected stores, Escape Outdoors will offer recreational outdoor apparel, accessories and gear for the whole family. The 2,000-square-foot store will open next month on the south side of Main Street.
The store is an offshoot of Helly Hansen, a Norway-based company with 12 stores in the U.S. and Canada. The first Escape Outdoors store opened in the Southcenter area of Seattle last summer. Owners are Amy Gelhausen in Spokane and Katherine DeStephano in Bellevue, Wash. With about 10 Coeur d’Alene employees, hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 9 Saturdays and 11 to 7 Sundays. The www.escapeoutdoors.com Web site is being developed.
This week’s tidbits
•Academy Mortgage also is coming to Riverstone with 1,432 square feet on the second floor of the Riverstone III office building up Beebe Boulevard. With its headquarters in Denver, Academy will have six employees in Coeur d’Alene.
•The word “buck” for dollar originated when trappers used (deer) buckskins for trade. It also is used in other countries originally colonized by England. “The buck stops here” refers to poker markers.
•The Autumn Job Fair of the Idaho Department of Labor is from 10 a.m. to noon today (better hurry) at 1221 W. Ironwood Drive. More than 25 employers are answering questions and providing interviews.
•Last week we whined about getting too many phonebooks. They can be recycled in the recycling boxes in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls.
•Nick n’ Willy’s Pizza has closed its Rathdrum store as well as the one near Costco.
•Superman, Venom and Hulk comic book artist Angel Medina is signing comic books from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (better hurry No. 2) at Tim Boal’s Lightning Comics in Northern Lights Mall, 411 W. Haycraft Ave. Benefiting Kootenai County Food Bank, attendees will get a free comic book for bringing in a nonperishable food item. Of course, they can buy comics for Medina to sign also. Phone 667-2400.