Yogurt - your way
The customer will make all the decisions at Top This, a yogurt store to open about March 1 in the eastern half of Ironwood Square near the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Government Way. Options will include 15 yogurt flavors and more than 65 topping choices.
"It's simple. The customer grabs a cup. fills it, tops it. We weigh it; they pay it," explained Sonie Combs, who owns Top This with her husband, Earl. "With options of ProBiotic, kosher and dairy-certified products, it promotes a healthier lifestyle."
The Combs are with Lakeshore Realty and also own Wigs & Things in Coeur d'Alene and are active in their community and church. Hours for Top This will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They'll have six to eight employees. Watch the progress at Top This Frozen Yogurt on Facebook.
Hubbly Bubbly for relaxation
This place is pretty cool - not on the outside, but it sure is interesting inside.
It's the Hubbly Bubbly Hookah Lounge at 6288 Government Way. Located in the former Graffiti Skate Shop building (next to Frame-It and Par-Time Golf), this place is called a lounge for a reason. It's a place for people age 18 and over to puff hookahs or shishas (flavored tobaccos) and relax. It's filled with colorful sofas, cushions and carpets. Customers rent the hookahs (pipes) and buy the tobaccos and smoke them in the lounge. They can also buy Turkish coffee, mint tea and soft drinks.
In this case, "lounge" is a verb or noun in the relaxation sense, not the bar-serving-alcohol sense.
"Drunk people and hot coals don't mix," explained owner Mus (pronounced moose) Rebahi. "Hookahs were invented in India 2,000 years ago and were developed in Turkey and the Middle East."
Flavors can be traditional, exotic or house mixes, and two people can share a hookah with sessions from 30 to 60 minutes. Rebahi describes the decor as contemporary Moroccan. Hours start at 5 p.m. daily. Private parties and a V.I.P area are available. Rehabi has two employees here and another Hubbly Bubbly in Spokane. Check www.mybubbly.com.
Ex-Cell Property Management opens
Handling the renting and maintenance of houses for property owners is the business of Ex-Cell Property Management. With 20 years in the business, Deanna Hughes opened last month at 1914 Fourth St. The building formerly housed a pot pie business.
Originally from the Oregon coast, Hughes came to North Idaho three years ago after visiting the area as a vacation spot. With two employees, Ex-Cell is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 to 5 Fridays and weekends by appointment. Phone 676-0900.
Kira's Kiss makes, markets desserts
Healthy gourmet desserts are the emphasis of Kira's Kiss at 314 Third St. The products are high in taste and low in fat is the promise of owner Alexandra Damsker.
The bakery should open at the end of the month with wholesale delivery, catering and a drive-through. Chocolate, pumpkin and vanilla cupcakes will be featured. Check info@kiraskiss.com.
Here's this week's Tidbits:
• I got five e-mails and two phone calls expounding that KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) on Appleway had closed. After being open for 38 years and serving probably tens of thousands of drumsticks and thighs and undergoing two remodels and three owners, it did indeed close. The only all-you-can-eat KFC in the area is now at the outlet in Hayden. I'd love to tell you what the Cd'A building will be - but I can't yet.
• Fourth Street soon will be the hottest place for new businesses. At least three will open in the next month in Mid-Town. Maybe this will make up for all the empty spaces on East Sherman Avenue.
• I wanted to whine about this earlier, but it seems like such a waste when a youth organization will raise money by getting pledges for the hours the members sit in a rocking chair. You'd think those hours could be picking up litter or volunteering somewhere.
• Watch next week for an interesting education structure being built in Hayden.
• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nilsrosdahl@cdapress.com.