Bi-Mart opens with a bang

Shoppers like what they find on Rathdrum store’s first day

RATHDRUM — Richard Kammerer had been waiting for the new Bi-Mart store to open in Rathdrum.

So when it did Thursday, he and wife Carolyn were there.

They were not disappointed.

“It’s excellent. I give it a big old five-star thing,” he said as he pushed a cart filled with their purchases.

Kammerer, with experience in hardware stores, said he pays close attention when he shops. He said the store was well-stocked, well-staffed and well-organized.

“I was completely amazed. This store has just about everything,” he said. “And lots of help. The help was there, right on top. That’s an important thing. You don’t get that in a lot of hardware stores.”

The estimated 35,000-square-foot store at 16102 N. Highway 41 is easily visible with its bold, red Bi-Mart lettering.

The store employs about 50 and brought in extra help for the grand opening, which provided not only a boost to the local economy, but to its psyche as well in the midst of Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order issued Wednesday due to the coronavirus.

Mark Breimen of Athol made the 15-mile drive especially for Bi-Mart’s opening.

It was worth it.

“I think it’s a great store. I really do,” he said.

Store manager Ruth Jongeward said they planned to open their doors at 9 a.m. but instead opened just after 7 because of the line of people waiting outside on a cold and cloudy day.

Shoppers soon roamed the wide aisles while staff wearing blue shirts quickly offered assistance.

Managers said the store is following all Centers for Disease Control guidelines and purposely didn’t heavily promote the opening to avoid attracting too big of a crowd.

Still, people arrived in a steady stream throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Checker Kaci Perez said the day was going “fantastic.”

“I’m having so much fun,” she said, smiling.

The only items that ran out? Toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

“Considering the circumstances with everything going on, it’s been very positive,” Jongeward said. “We got great support from the community. It’s just been an overwhelming response.”

The employee-owned regional retailer has been in the Northwest about 65 years. It opened stores in Caldwell and Star, Idaho, in 2018 and in Kuna in 2017, and has about 80 stores total.

A lifetime membership is $5, but people can stop in and check things out without a membership through mid-April.

It offers almost everything for “Northwest lifestyles and pocketbooks.” That includes sporting goods, clothing, crafts, hardware, electronics, food and beverages, automotive, gardening and electronics.

“We’re totally stocked, ready to go,” Jongeward said.

Greg Bacon Sr. and wife Beth, of Spirit Lake, slowly perused the aisles, carefully looking over the shelves.

“So far, it looks like it’s got everything,” he said. “You’ve got your gardening, camping, fishing, hunting, some food. I’ll be stopping in from time to time.”

Bacon Sr., a veteran who served with the U.S. Army, wore a T-shirt with a picture of a shark and the words, “You’re going to need a bigger boat,” in reference to the first “Jaws” movie.

“I have two boats,” he said, laughing.

Bi-Mart can probably help with boating needs, too.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 to 6 on weekends.