New garden center to open just in time for spring planting
The name basically says it all – Coeur d’Alene Garden, Gift & Gallery. This 5,000-square-foot store and outdoor acre will open April 15 at 1619 Lee Court.
Formerly the home of Granite Planet (and temporarily part of Coeur d’Alene Tractor while its snow-damaged roof was being repaired), the new store is on the east side of Ramsey Road, between Appleway and Interstate 90.
It also will take advantage of the huge, neighboring WinCo grocery market planned for the northeast corner of the Appleway-Ramsey Road intersection.
Adhering to its name, the new business will offer nearly all types of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, vines, herbs, berries, statuaries and decor, bagged and bulk soils and bark, landscaping design services, small greenhouses, hanging and color baskets, a small pond center and supplies such as gardening tools and fertilizer.
Associate Jenni Carey will offer Fleurtation, a flower business with bouquets and event decor, and another 2,000 square feet will be dedicated to a gallery for local and Northwest artists.
With a motto of “Inspired by Nature,” owners are managing partners Stacy Schriger (originally from St. John, Wash.) and Jodee Fyfe (from Rathdrum) and “mentor” Jerry Dicker, a New York native who came to North Idaho from Orange County, Calif. The business will have eight employees.
Hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 to 6 Sundays.
Knight’s Gamemasters opens on Gov’t Way
Heroes for kids are in the spotlight at Knight’s Gamemasters, which opened earlier this month at 6055 N. Government Way.
The store features card games (Super-Heroes, The Gathering and Pokemon) for buying, selling or trading, action figures (such as Spock, Darth Vader and Chewbacca) and bright T-shirts (like Superman, Ironman, The Hulk). Tables and chairs offer kids places to play the games. Two comfy chairs are in front of a TV with a Wii component.
Owner Logan Knight says he wants this to be a safe, fun place for kids to be with friends and meet new ones, a Project Safe Place. The 40-year-old father of five grew up in Coeur d’Alene and attended North Idaho College. He previously shared ownership with other game shops.
Gamemasters is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 9 Saturdays and 1:30-6 p.m. Sundays. Phone 772-1725.
1210 Tavern rebuilding on Sherman
Games for adults will be the draw at the new 1210 Tavern being rebuilt at 1210 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The 3,000-square-foot sports bar (with many large-screen TVs) will replace a former game store, barber shop, China Gate Restaurant and its 1210 namesake, which all were lost in a fire last year.
Owner Jess Jensen said he hopes the new place will open in May with a sports motif, beverages and food, and space to accommodate 72 seated customers. A kitchen and menu will be added later. Born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Jensen briefly owned the 1210 when it was the Black Jack Tavern.
He anticipates having up to seven employees and to be open 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. He’ll begin with beer and wine with the possibility of a liquor license later.
Ace Hardware shuffles places
What had been the Coeur d’Alene Hardware Do-It Center at 1217 N. Fourth St. is now Ace Hardware, and what had been Ace Hardware at 1010 Sherman Ave. is now Sherman Hardware.
It’s a bit confusing, but the Ace company chooses which store it wants its name on, explained John Montandon, who’s had the Sherman store for 35 years. His father, Richard Montandon, began the store 55 years ago at 320 Sherman, which now houses Pita Pit and the current store was a grocery.
Meanwhile, Sandy Seright bought and renovated the Fourth Street store, which is now Ace. He also owns Ace Hardware in Post Falls. The Post Office outlet will leave the Fourth Street store April 15. Originating in 1924, Ace has about 4,000 stores. Its headquarters is in Oak Brook, Ill.
This week’s tidbits
•The Mix-It-Up home decor and gift shop celebrated its grand opening last week in the Parkside Condo building on Front Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene. It’s worth a look.
•Tiki Hut will be the new Independence Point concessionaire at Coeur d’Alene City Park this summer. Owners Randy and Akiko Folk, who previously had the barbecue restaurant in Riverstone, will offer Hawaiian-themed food such as teriyaki skewers, hot dogs and soft drinks from May 1-Sept. 30.
•The Sentinel, the student-produced newspaper at North Idaho College, won the (ceramic) “apple” as the top prize for two-year college newspapers at the National College Media Convention last week in the Big Apple.