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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

CdA’s City Salon is growing out



 (The Spokesman-Review)
Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Review

One of the newsroom guidelines is that a barbershop is one of the best places to hear story ideas. When I was a Montana college student on spring break in Tijuana, I listened to the barbershop crowd chat about their dope-smuggling operation — not realizing that this innocent blond boy understood (somewhat) their Spanish.

That isn’t what I learned Wednesday at the City Salon shop in Coeur d’Alene, however. April Kassarjian, owner of the place with her husband Mike, explained that the hair I have grows so rapidly because my brain is so fertile.

Actually, “hair’s” what was the news in the barbershop.

In the first week of June, City Salon is expanding and moving to the north side of the Coffeeville Car Mall (the former Knudtsen Chevrolet location) at 1710 N. Fourth St. With the expansion into 1,600 square feet, the full-service hair business will grow from five stations to 11 and from seven to 11 employees.

It will also add a boutique with clothing, accessories and novelty items, mostly with a hot rod theme, which also is decorating scheme. Brand names will include Motorcult clothing and the funky cartoon style of Paul Frank. They also plan to offer low-brow art and car shows. Their grand opening will be July 1.

Originally from St. Maries and Santa Rosa, Calif., respectively, April and Mike met and married in North Idaho. They started their shop last November at 505 N. Fourth (north of Franklin Hoagies). Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday with appointments and drop-ins. Phone 765-0303.

Mystique salon has a lake view

The new Mystique salon goes another direction. Another pleasant couple, Michael and Iris Matthias, offers quality hair services in a room with a view of Lake Coeur d’Alene upstairs in the Templin Building at 117 Fourth St.

They specialize with the latest in technology and style in highlighting and coloring with personal service. They opened the salon last month in what formerly was a lawyer’s office.

“Don’t worry. We had it exorcized,” Michael joked. Also from Santa Rosa, they came to North Idaho “for their children” after discovering the area many years ago while on their honeymoon.

Their pampering service is by appointment on weekdays. Phone 665-5838.

LandAmerica moves to Third

With the real estate business booming, LandAmerica Lawyers Title this week is in the former A.R.T. building at 301 N. Third St. (across from Modern Glass), Coeur d’Alene. Expanding to 15 employees, the company will occupy the entire 5,600-square-foot place. This includes a classroom and plenty of desk space for the full-service title and escrow company, which moved after eight months in Harbor Plaza on Northwest Boulevard.

“We’re thrilled to be downtown,” said Manager Jan DeFord. “We have plenty of space and parking.”

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Phone 667-7885.

Meanwhile, back at the Realtor

Despite just opening in North Idaho, Keller Williams Realty signs already are on land parcels along Highway 41. The company opened its Coeur d’Alene office at 1044 Northwest Boulevard, in the same building as Stewart Title and Countrywide Mortgage.

Top-rate training and customer service are the qualities of the 18 employees, according to Mike Jones, broker. Roger Bussey is the team leader of 16 sales agents and two support staff.

Founded in 1983 and based in Austin, Texas, the company started franchising in 1991 and now is the country’s fourth largest real estate company with 28,000 agents and 441 offices. Phone 667-2399.

Sargents Lounge raises roof

Raising the roof and adding a special fireplace hasn’t changed the reliability at Sargents Restaurant & Lounge, according to Terry Eastman, part-owner with John Magruder and Jerry Thompson.

The long-established facility at 9021 Government Way, Hayden, “completely cleared the air quality” by raising the roof 18 inches, Eastman said. Other changes include adding a four-ton fireplace of seven precision-cut rocks fit together without mortar, new windows, tables and benches and extending the bar 10 feet.

The restaurant boasts the best steak and prime rib in North Idaho, Eastman said, along with fish, chicken, their famous Cattleman’s Sandwich and the “fastest sit-down lunch in town.”

The 100-seat restaurant with 15 employees is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The lounge is open all day. Phone 772-1441.

Here are some tidbits:

• Kits Cameras is closing at the end of the month in Silver Lake Mall. Some of the five employees may be absorbed by the Northtown Mall store.

• The Furniture Showroom at 1311 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene, will close at the end of June. Owners Mel and Betty Starr, who have had the place for 17 years, are retiring and have the 5,000-square-foot building available for lease. Phone 664-4451.

• Whims Home & Yard Décor on McGhee Road north of Sandpoint has added a garden room. The inventory now includes tropical hardwood furniture, freeze-proof pottery and funky yard art. Phone 255-2156.

• Tony’s Restaurant on Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive has closed until it opens under new ownership. Watch for major changes.