Ah, this was a week when I thought/hoped I'd have big news.

It started with a reader emailing me that she heard a major store would be built by Cabela's on the state line. Her source said it wouldn't happen until the new I-90 interchange to serve that area was built. Then an administrator for the company's nearest store (in Seattle) wouldn't directly answer if one was coming here, but she hesitated enough to make it seem probable.

Then the real estate representative from the selling company, Four Corners in California, didn't seem very positive and said he'd get back to me. After several nagging calls, he hasn't returned them. Then a Post Falls planning department helper researched it and reported that the store will only locate where 1.5 million people live within 50 miles or three million live within 100 miles of the store.

Yes, IKEA won't happen here. Too bad. It's a great store that handles all types of household and outdoor products, clothing, toys and even has a unique cafeteria. It originated in Sweden (ironically in what was the village - now city because of IKEA's growth - where my relatives live) and now has 333 stores in 40 countries. It would also employ hundreds of people. The store in Seattle's south suburb of Renton is 242,188 square feet. Comparatively, the Coeur d'Alene Costco store is 152,000 square feet.

On the other hand, an IKEA here would hurt the local mom-and-pop stores. Check it out at www.ikea.com.

Miles Coffee eatery opens

A variety of breakfast and lunch items and many types of coffees are offered at Miles Coffee Co. The restaurant opened Jan. 2 at 167 W. Miles Ave. (next to Friends Church), Hayden.

The menu includes breakfast sandwiches and burritos, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, soups, salads, pie and baked goods. A retail area offers coffee, syrups, sauces, tumblers and coffee supplies.

Marble tables and couches accommodate about 50 customers with a dark wood decor, fireplaces and TVs. With a drive-through, hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

With 27 years in Coeur d'Alene and 12 years in the coffee business, owners Donna and Jim Kinney have 14 employees. Phone 769-7200.

Sleep Country off Highway 95

A "grand opening" sign is on the new Sleep Country USA store between Super Supplements and the Inland Northwest Blood Bank at 405 W. Neider west of Highway 95.

Offering popular brands of mattresses and related products, Sleep Country has 70 locations in Washington, Oregon and now Idaho. The headquarters for the 20-year-old company is in Kent, Wash.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 8 Saturdays and 10 to 6 Sundays. Phone 667-9300. Check www.sleepcountry.com.

Ah, we like the Tidbits

• Although Coeur d'Alene Cycling & Fitness has closed at 2402 Government Way, the neighboring Shull's Safe & Lock in the same building remains open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The building started as a bike and lock shop in 1964, and Cleo Shull took over in 1969. Son Clark bought into the business in 1972 and sold the bike portion in 2008. Phone 765-6932.

• The Adhara tanning, make-up and swimsuit store at Coeur d'Alene Avenue and Second Street is closed.

• Watch for news on a new eatery in Rathdrum.

• People mix the spellings on "lose" and "loose." "Lose," of course, is to misplace. "Loose" means not tight. Think of "Loosey Goosey," a bird with a bowel problem.

• In selecting amounts, "fewer" is countable while "less" isn't, such as "less salt" because the grains aren't countable.

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.