BioLife opens in Hayden
With an objective of receiving more than 1,000 plasma donations per week and providing a donor reimbursement of $1.5 to $2 million a year, BioLife Plasma Services will open Tuesday at 8300 N. Cornerstone Drive (across Highway 95 from Prairie Shopping Center), Hayden. The business in the new 60-bed, 16,000-square-foot building will employ 20 to 30 people.
Yes, BioLife provides dollars to donors (up to $50 in gift cards per week), salaries to employees and a new building for Hayden, but more importantly, it provides life to the thousands of people needing plasma in order to live healthy lives.
"My three kids need donations every three weeks because they have auto-immune deficiency," explained Dayna Fladhammer, visiting from Illinois for the official opening ceremony of the center last week. "I'm here because we want to give back, and I try to do that by coming here and saying 'Thank you.' My kids depend on this plasma for life every three weeks. They'll come here in June to meet the donors and thank them."
A division of Baxter Health, BioLife has about 60 centers in the country. After completing a positive physical, people can donate plasma twice a week and receive Visa gift cards for $20 and $30. Hours in Hayden are noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Make initial appointments by phone at 762-2486 and subsequent appointments online. Check www.biolifeplasma.com.
Blue Dog RV
expanding
With plans for a new building on 3.8 acres between I-90 and Seltice Way (just west of the Meineke complex), Blue Dog RV will have a new facility in Post Falls. The company plans to move in June from its current location at 4490 W. Riverbend. With its second location at 11300 N. Warren St. in Hayden, the company will have about 40 employees.
The inventory includes more than 200 of all types of new and used RVs, pickup campers, travel trailers, toy haulers, fifth wheels and gas and diesel motorhomes.
Owners John and Rebecca Asplund came from the Tri-Cities area in 2008. They're active as community volunteers and sponsors of the Idaho Foster Adoptive Parent Association. Named after their Chinese-crested dog Ginger, Blue Dog RV sales is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 to 6 Saturdays and 11 to 6 Sundays in both locations. Parts and service is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Phone 773-7878 in Post Falls and 772-7100 in Hayden. Check www.bluedogrv.com. Thanks to Shawn McMahon of Century 21-Buetler Realty for his help on this one.
Parker changes dealership name
Parker Subaru is the new name of what was the Select Subaru automobile dealership at 811 N. Greensferry Road, Post Falls. Evidently new signage will make the business more visible from I-90 as it's somewhat hidden behind the frontage of auto row.
Jim Parker and Parker Motors, which has Parker Toyota in Coeur d'Alene, now owns the 14,000-square-foot Subaru building and the vehicle inventory, which includes all types of Subarus and used cars and trucks, and its service department. The number of employees there will increase to about 25, according to spokesman Mike White, and hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Phone 773-7648. Check www.parkersubaru.com.
Parker Toyota started in a 10,000-square-foot building across from Les Schwab on Government Way in 1983 and moved to a 27,000-square-foot building at Highway 95 and Kathleen in 1991 and expanded to 60,000 square feet and 135 employees last year.
Here are this
week's tidbits:
• Watch for a Mexican restaurant in the former KFC building on Appleway.
• Next week we should have details on the new Love's Travel Center west of Post Falls.
• The grand opening for the Grille from Ipanema (Brazilian steakhouse) in Parkside Center is Saturday.
• Three more new businesses coming into Post Falls include an auto body shop, granite store and Burger King.
• The wholesale bakery planned for 314 Third St. in Coeur d'Alene didn't happen.
• A new beauty salon is coming to North Fourth Street.
• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.