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Brycie's Cheesesteaks & Subs finds new home

by Rick Thomas
| April 13, 2010 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - After more than five years in the same spot on busy Fourth Street, Brycie's Cheesesteaks & Subs moved to a quieter but still busy neighborhood.

"It's like moving to the other side of the tracks," said Tara Lucas, who with husband Steve opened the shop on Fourth Street in 2004 and recently relocated to the former Sunshine Trader at 1116 W. Ironwood Drive.

She got a tip the spot might be available from her food service representative and jumped at the opportunity.

From the day she spoke to the landlord to the day they opened on Feb. 22, the whole thing only took 11 days. It was a flurry of painting and cleaning, and they were back in business.

It didn't hurt that they saved $1,600 a month in rent.

"That was the big driving factor," Lucas said. Rebuilt after a fire at the former Chelsea's bar, the original Brycie's building was a "dumpy, divey hole in the wall" that succeeded by offering a better quality meal.

"It is not your typical sub," she said. "We use our own steak, cooked up from raw on the grill. It's the same with our chicken, with our 24-hour marinade."

The new venue actually has a smaller kitchen, it is more efficient and is allowing Brycie's to add a few more items to the menu. Three soups are now available each day, and the weekly special will continue, including the Reuben on the third week of each month. A salad bar will be added in a few weeks, and more breakfast offerings will be available.

The big change is in the number of seats - up by 30, plus another 50 on the patio that will open when weather permits. The original location saw about 65 percent of sales "to go," and that is down to 45 percent to 50 percent because of more sit-down diners.

"It is much more enjoyable to sit down and eat your lunch," Lucas said. "It is a nicer atmosphere."

Brycie's is named after the couple's middle son, now 13, who helps out a little washing dishes. It is truly a family operation, with Steve and Tara and now seven employees, plus daughter Kayla, 18.

Daughter Carlee, 8, was just a tyke when they originally opened, but is still a regular during evening hours, but is not allowed to help out.

"She wants to come to work," Tara said. "We have to fight her back. The kids love it. They don't know any different."

Because of the additional service, two more employees were added after the move.

The Ironwood community has welcomed them with open arms, Tara said, glad to have a sandwich shop back in the neighborhood.

And the traffic count on Ironwood is substantial, she said.

"I don't think we gave up that much," she said. "There is just as much traffic."

Brycie's is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will continue to take phone-in and to go orders.

Information: 769-7922