Caruso’s Deli expands to second location

Caruso’s Deli is expanding to a second location at 402 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls. The first store remains in its original space at Prairie Shopping Center.

The new location originally was a Napa Auto Parts store and it is across from Les Schwab Tire Center. The new store will have a different set of owners, Josh and Stephanie Hansen.

An August opening is planned for the second Caruso’s, which will seat 35 customers indoors and about 20 outside. Featuring homemade breads from scratch, the menu includes sandwiches, salads, soups in bread bowls, breakfasts, bagels, espressos and items for children. Beer will be added later.

Owners Josh and Stephanie Hansen, originally from Kellogg, will employ six people. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Absolute Mechanical moves to town

With no end in sight to the North Idaho building boom, Absolute Mechanical is building a new facility at 1717 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene. The heating/air conditioning/refrigeration/restaurant equipment business has been operating out of the home of two of the co-owners.

The business includes sales, installation and service of equipment by the nine employees, with more to be added with the move, probably in November. The 3,600-square-foot, two-story building will include a showroom, office and warehouse. Owners are Mark and Marcelle Janes – who came here 11 years ago from Issaquah, Wash., and who also own Island Rentals (personal watercraft) – and Jake Valoff, a North Idaho native.

Thomas Plumbing to Fourth Street

Also planning a more commercial location, Thomas Plumbing & Heating soon will start construction of a new building on Fourth Street just south of Interstate 90 in Coeur d’Alene. The business hopes to move in December from its present location at 215 Homestead Ave.

Owner Dale Thomas, a Coeur d’Alene native, has 20 employees. Troy Leistko handles the heating portion of the business. Phone 704-9704.

First American Title to Post Falls

First American Title has opened an escrow branch in Whistlestop Plaza at 2700 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls. Located between Inland Northwest Bank and Hollywood Video, the location is temporary until a 3,800-square-foot building is constructed by next July in the 1700 block of Seltice Way.

The new branch has four employees. The main branch at Riverstone in Coeur d’Alene has 50 employees.

Tidbits

•Wow! Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre has earned great publicity. Last week USA Today rated the group among the five top summer theaters in the nation.

•Also needing space for the building boom, Spokane Rock Products is expanding its North Idaho operations. The cement/gravel/sand company is building a 4,800-square-foot maintenance facility at 1545 N. Pleasant View, Post Falls.

• Ideas for Midtown Coeur d’Alene on how to improve its image to attract customers are fine. However, if people want to get to a place, they will, and they’ll find a place to park. Having Third and Fourth streets one-way, as they are now, is helpful for getting in and out of downtown.

•Using roundabouts to eliminate four-way stops is a great idea. Something has to be done about the four-way messes at the Ramsey Road and Prairie Avenue and Hayden Avenue and Government Way intersections. People have gotten to really like the roundabout at Fourth and Kathleen (except when nearby CHS is exiting in the afternoon).