Top area stories picked for 2004

In determining the top business story for 2004 for North Idaho, the choice went to a business that actually opened rather than to the plans or possibilities of new places.

Therefore, the winner is Costco in Coeur d’Alene. Simply judging by the always-busy store and parking lot and how the business often enters conversations, this 137,080-square-foot store has had a major impact on North Idaho. No doubt it’s also affected the amount of business (not done) in competing stores. And it will affect Neider Avenue and Government Way and future businesses in the Costco neighborhood.

No. 2 is the story that won’t happen: the closing of part of Sherman Avenue to accommodate a botanical garden in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Meanwhile, however, Coeur d’Alene Resort owner Duane Hagadone plans to add a second tower to the hotel. Whenever that happens, it probably will become that year’s biggest business story.

The Riverstone development along Northwest Boulevard is the easy choice for No. 3. This continuing project will be highlighted this year by the May opening of the 14-screen cinema complex. Watch for the announcements of major restaurants to accompany this 55,000-square-foot building.

New owner for Everett’s

Several years of restaurant experience and a sentimental history for North Idaho accompany Bill Hilbish in a new ownership of Everett’s on the Lake.

A North Idaho native with long-time Realtor Hap Hilbish as his guiding dad, Bill was raised in Coeur d’Alene and went on to major (Hyatt Regency) hotel-restaurant positions in Hawaii, Dallas and Seattle before returning to North Idaho and the Beyond Hope Restaurant on Lake Pend Oreille.

Now he’s on Hayden Lake’s south shore across from Tobler’s Marina. The mainstay dinner house specializes in steaks, seafood and chicken, has a full bar, and can be a banquet room. The summertime deck holds 68 customers. He employs nine people in the winter and more than 30 in the summer.

Hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays, when brunch is served until 1 p.m. and lunch until 4 p.m. Phone 762-4876.

Meanwhile, area dinner houses may be a bit busier as two major places, Beverly’s in the Coeur d’Alene Resort and Tony’s on Lake Coeur d’Alene, are closed for a few months for remodeling.

An ‘Aw shucks’ story

A family from Trout Creek, Mont., was heartbroken when they returned home after Christmas shopping in Sandpoint and discovered a major purchase missing from their pickup.

They had bought a nice Amish rocking chair for the family patriarch, Richard Achatz, but somewhere along the journey the chair disappeared. When the Achatzes tried to buy a replacement chair and told Sandpoint Furniture folks their sad story, the 20 employees at the store chipped in for a new one, according to the Sanders County Ledger of Thompson Falls, Mont.

Holiday time brings out the best in people, and many businesses were major contributors to Christmas funds.

Now, if businesses and others could find ways to contribute to food banks, soup kitchens and other charities all year.

Fulcrum expands to Sandpoint

Fulcrum Investments has opened a second office in North Idaho at 201 N. First Ave., Sandpoint. The firm offers investment and insurance products and services through its parent company, Moloney Securities.

Consultants in Sandpoint are JoAnn Jackson and Jack Hebner at 265-7830. The Coeur d’Alene office is at 1801 N. Government Way; phone 665-7957.