Handle on Business : Custom decor draws inspiration from the past
The key word to the theme of this store is the first word of its name: Inspired American Decor.
It’s a new home decor and furniture shop next to Granny’s Wild Geranium, across from the Pizza Shoppe in Appleway Square, located at the northwest corner of the Appleway/Highway 95 intersection in Coeur d’Alene.
“Inspired” is the primary word because most of the furniture in this place is cleverly fashioned of reclaimed wood. That is, it’s been used before in another fashion.
Charles Haddy Jr., who owns the business with his wife, Lisa, finds refined-looking material from foregone antiquities, and designs and builds custom pieces that take advantage of the wood’s shape, size, color and type.
The Haddys didn’t want me to mention the source of what I found to be the most inviting examples. They thought mentioning wine barrels would make their inventory sound too rustic. So forgive me, Haddys. However, the items that Charles has so cleverly contrived from the wooden side curves and round tops of the wine barrels are beautiful, useful and intriguing.
The gift and decor items are displayed to complement the furniture, from artwork and candles to their holders. There’s Amish barn stars, vintage signs and pottery. Their store reflects their love of the past, wood and the environment.
The Haddys also are the local distributor of Solar Comfort portable infrared heating systems. They came to North Idaho eight years ago.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Phone (208) 664-8876.
Neider Square almost full
American One Finance and Allan Joubert, a chiropractor, will move into the Neider Square building at 114 W. Neider Ave., Coeur d’Alene, as the facility is completed in the next few months. Each will take about 1,100 square feet of the 7,000-square-foot building.
Originally from South Africa, Joubert will come from Redmond, Wash., where he has lived for six years. He earned degrees in architecture and interior design before he graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa. He said he likes the lifestyle and business climate of North Idaho and will be near relatives here.
Building owner David Jensen said 1,400 square feet of space remains available. He also has the future home (in April) of Mongolian Barbecue in the new building next door. Phone (208) 265-6141.
ROW Adventures on Sherman
Planning to take advantage of sidewalk traffic, River Odysseys West has signs at 413 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene, where it will open an outlet in March. Under the parent name of ROW Adventures, the company’s offices are on Garden Avenue.
With about 60 employees in the summer and 10 in the winter, the company arranges water, camping and ranch adventures. They include whitewater rafting, flyfishing, canoeing, hiking and ranch vacations in Idaho, Montana and Oregon.
Peter Grubb has owned the company for 27 years, starting in Spokane and moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1984. Check the www.rowadventures.com Web site. ROW’s new adventure center will be in the space formerly occupied by Optique, which moved to 312 N. Fourth St.
Tidbits
“The Post Falls store at 900 N. Highway 41 has become the 114th outlet for the Coeur d’Alene-based Pita Pit USA company. Hours are 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Owners Darren and Jennifer Miller have 17 employees and also the rights to Pita Pit franchises in Spokane and Lewiston. Phone (208) 773-7200.
“Construction will begin soon on the new Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery near the pond in the north portion of the Riverstone development off Northwest Boulevard. The classy, 6,200-square-foot place with about 60 employees will be open for lunch and dinner. Check www.bardenay.com.
“Enjoy winter’s first day (today) and have a pleasant holiday.