Le Peep to open in Riverstone

Special breakfasts in a special place is the pledge of Le Peep Cafe.

With breakfast, lunch and afternoon appetizers (even beer and wine), Le Peep plans to open Monday, Aug. 27, in Suite A of the Bellerive condo buildings on the Spokane River at 1884 W. Bellerive Lane in Riverstone. The 3,600-square-foot location will comprise seating for 124 customers inside at booths and tables and 52 on the patio with umbrellas and a river view. Large parties can be inside or outside.

The menu includes traditional and Northwest breakfasts and lunches. A gluten-free menu also is available, and landscaping and artwork accent the flavors.

Headquartered in Littleton, Colo., Le Peep has 61 stores, with this as its first in the Northwest. Local owners David and Maggie Kemp are originally from the San Francisco Bay and Chicago areas and came to North Idaho eight years ago from Phoenix. He has 40 years experience in the restaurant business, and she teaches fourth grade at Winton Elementary.

With about 25 employees, summer hours will be 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Check www.lepeep.com.

New owners at Down the Street

The menu, decor and the warm family feel remain the same, but the owners are new at Jimmy's Down the Street Diner at 1613 E. Sherman Ave.

Although changing names a few times, the eatery has been there about 50 years. Owners Mike and Gretchen Surber have the same 15 employees who know most of the customers by name. The Surbers came here in June from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. He had 15 years in the Air Force active and reserve, and she is a teacher.

Breakfast and lunch are offered 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and "comfort food" is available to go, Mike said. The place seats 85 customers at tables, booths and the counter. It was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" show. Phone 765-3868.

Live the Lake now on Sherman

An extensive array of Idaho souvenirs with the addition of antiques to fill the tripled space are offered at Live the Lake. The store, formerly Idaho Souvenirs, this week moved from Fourth Street to the former home of Artists Northwest at 509 Sherman Ave. (next to Fleet Feet).

Owner Brenda Lincoln's inventory includes Idaho-tagged clothing, shot glasses, beach bags, mugs, jewelry, toys, sunglasses, wall decor, bottle openers, maps and huckleberry products. And Rebecca Fullwiler is adding Becca's Antique Attic.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and opening at noon Sundays. Phone 406 544-5881. Check www.cdaidsouvenirs.com.

Many Tidbits this week

• Evidently Coinuts in Sunset Village closed with legal problems.

• Watch this space for Satay Bistro details next week.

• Reader Dian is bugged by people who end their sentence with "at." Yes, avoid ending sentences with a preposition (in, at, to, etc.).

• And Jim wants to know the difference of "premiere" and "premier." My stylebook says "premiere" means "first" and "premier" means "head of state."

• Anyone hear anything about Five Guys Burgers coming here?

• In Seattle last weekend we went to the awesome St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral on Tenth Avenue and heard an extremely talented 18-year-old lad play the humongous pipe organ (the bass notes are 30 feet long vertically and 18 inches diameter) after a men's chorus sang. People "relax" all over the place to hear a free concert 9:30 p.m. every Sunday.

• You're never too old to learn something stupid.

Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.