People ask how I find out about something new in business. Spies such as readers sending emails are the biggest help. I drive/walk different directions as I go through town and notice a truck unloading, a "sold" or "Coming Soon" sign or a new nameplate on the building. I read building permits. I go to a Tips Club where you're fined a quarter if you don't have a tip. Often a business goes into a place another has left so I find where they've relocated or gone out of business.

Today's first items come from "Grand Opening" ads in newspapers.

Gentlemen's Corner in Plaza Shops

Offering quality men's clothing with a Western theme, Gentlemen's Corner opened last week in a 1,000-square-foot center space in the Plaza Shops in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Owners David and Genny Scheel, who also have the Painted Pony store across the hall, sell nice men's shirts, trousers, jackets, shoes (lots of cowboy boots), many hat styles, gloves, belts, scarves, watches and Western decor items.

Coming from Melville, Mont., and Wasilla, Alaska, 12 years ago, the Scheels opened the Painted Pony more than three years ago. It specializes in mainstream women's wear with a Western edge. The two stores combine for eight employees.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 to 5 Sundays. Phone 765-0200. Check www.paintedponyonline.com.

Gentlemen's Corner is in the space formerly occupied by Skin Deep Couture, which moved to Silver Lake Mall. Watch for information on that next week.

Vitality Health off Highway 95

Quality cardio, strength and sauna and hot-tub equipment for your home and how to properly use it is offered at Vitality Health & Fitness. This store opened last week at 6235 Sunshine St., which is south of Tri-State Outfitters on the southeast corner of Highway 95 and Hanley Avenue.

"Our focus is on total wellness," said owner Bob Thomas, a personal trainer since 1984. "Yes, we sell equipment, but we put people on a program so they know how to use it. It's all one-on-one, and we partner with doctors, nutritionists, chiropractors and physical therapists to help clients achieve health, relaxation, rejuvenation and fitness goals."

With four employees, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 to 5 Saturdays. Phone 635-5746. Check www.vitalityhealthstore.com.

Cartridge World opens fourth store

This one I noticed while driving by. The space that previously was W Cleaners in the mini-mall in front of Costco at Government Way and Neider Avenue is now Cartridge World.

The store sells all brands of ink and toner cartridge for home and business printers and fax machines.

"With 100 percent guarantee, most items are remanufactured in our stores," said owner Ben Irwin. "Every cartridge is flushed or cleaned out before replacing needed parts, refilling and testing."

Irwin and partner Patrick McCord also have three stores in Eastern Washington. Cartridge World has 1,700 stores and its headquarters in Chicago. Coeur d'Alene hours are 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 to 4 Saturdays with a drive-through option. Phone 930-4355. Check www.cartridgeworldusa.com.

Here's your tantalizing tidbits

• Next week will include the new Boardwalk store and "relocating" news - how one store's move leads to news about other stores.

• Check out all the seasonal shops in Silver Lake Mall. They're quite interesting.

• One reader asks when to use "or" and "nor." It depends if the statements is negative or not such as "Use either salt or pepper" or "Use neither salt nor pepper."

• Another said she's bothered by "double" wording such as "I have got to know" when it should be "I have to know." My most bothersome double-wording is "same exact."

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.