MacKenzie River Pizza opening on Canfield
Three empty commercial spaces in Coeur d’Alene will be filled with new or expanding businesses in the next few months.
Since food places seem to garner the most interest, possibly the most obvious change will be in the 4,800-square-foot building that first housed America’s Cheesecake Cafe at 405 W. Canfield, just south of Olive Garden.
Expanding from outside Montana for the first time, MacKenzie River Pizza plans to move into the building early in 2009. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers appetizers, salads, pastas, panini, soups, “mountain-size” sandwiches, kids’ meals, desserts, beer, wine and four choices of crusts on pizzas.
MacKenzie River Pizza started in Whitefish, Mont., its headquarters, in 1993 and has 12 Montana locations. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Glacier Restaurant Group, the parent company, also has four Ciao Mambo restaurants, including the new one in Hayden Creek Plaza. The company will begin interviews for 70 to 80 Coeur d’Alene employees in mid-December. Check www.mackenzieriverpizza.com.
Panda Express to open soon
Offering “gourmet Chinese fast-food,” Panda Express will open this coming week in the west end of the new mini mall at Fourth and Best, Coeur d’Alene. The 6,900-square-foot structure is replacing the former 7-Eleven mini mall that burned last year.
Panda Express will have a drive-through and seating for 37 customers and take-out in 2,350 square feet. With hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. inside and until 9:30 drive-through, the eatery will employ 15 to 20 people.
The chain started in 1983 in Pasadena, Calif., and now has more than 1,000 outlets in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Check www.pandaexpress.com.
Leasing agent Kelly Stravens of Century 21 Beutler and Associates said 2,500 square feet in negotiable spaces remains available at Fourth and Best Center. Phone 818-3637.
Von Nash Interiors expanding
Excited by renovations planned for Midtown Coeur d’Alene, Von Nash Interiors is planning its second Fourth Street location for early November. The interior design and furniture store opened its original store at 1515 Northwest Boulevard in 2002 and added the Feather Your Nest store this past year at 802 N. Fourth.
The new store will be in the 6,000-square-foot former Graves Appliance building at 849 N. Fourth. The showroom will be on the main floor while fabrics and window treatment supplies will be in the lower level.
“We have the biggest supply of fabrics for upholstering and window treatments in the Northwest,” said owner Von Nash, who also designs furniture. “I make your house look like you. I interview my client; we become a team.”
Hours in the new store will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment. Phone 667-0592. Check www.vonnashinteriors.com.
This week’s tidbits
•Fleur de Sel, a European restaurant in the Highlands east of Post Falls, opened this week. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Phone 777-7600.
•Coeur d’Alene Honda celebrated the grand opening of its new showroom and service building Friday. The 26,000-square-foot facility is at 2745 W. Seltice Way. Phone 765-5005.
•A nine-month workshop to assist business owners in surviving the economic slowdown and to position their business for growth starts Oct. 7 through the Idaho Small Business Development Center of North Idaho College. Phone 666-8009 or check www.idahosbdc.org.
•The open house for the new Life Care Center of Post Falls will be noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at 460 N. Garden Plaza Court. The $19 million, 120-resident-capacity center will have 130 employees. Phone 755-9522. Check www.lcca.com.