Chefs who dazzle the customers with their skills are almost as much of a draw as the food. This is the plan of Fu-Ki Japanese Steak House opening this week at 1500 E. Seltice Way in east Post Falls. The 3,700-square-foot facility seating 85 customers formerly was the Taco Time/Arby's building.

With an Oriental decor, the name Fu-Ki means a combination of riches, honor and marvelous. The menu includes hibachi dishes with teriyaki beef, chicken, seafood and steaks, salmon, veggie dishes, yakisoba, kobe beef, sushi, beer, wine and sake.

"All the chefs are professionally trained," said owner Lily Li, who originally is from China and has had a similar restaurant in Texas for five years. "The chefs are experienced and carefully selected, coming from California, Texas and New York." She said she was attracted to Coeur d'Alene by the weather, popularity of Asian food and tourist activities. She was educated in Switzerland and the U.S.

Hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. weekends for lunch, and dinner starts at 5 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. weekends.

StanCraft opens marine center

A new showroom for StanCraft Marine Center opens this week in a 6,400-square-foot facility at 1705 Northwest Blvd. Originally a Honda store and later a country storage area, the showroom complements StanCraft's nearly 100,000 square feet of wooden boat manufacturing, headquarters, storage and maintenance facilities in Post Falls.

The new facility offers sales of MasterCraft, Formula, Mercruiser outboard, inflatable and used boats, Limor engines and service, storage and maintenance for all boats. Customers can test a craft through a sales associate, and the company will have "demo days" at many events.

Showroom hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 to 6 Saturdays and 10 to 4 Sundays. With more than 40 employees at the company locations, phones are 664-3005 and 457-8000. Websites are www.stancraftmarinecenter.com and www.stancraftboats,com.

Owners are Robb and Amy Bloem. The son of Cd'A Mayor Sandi Bloem, he was born and raised here and educated at the University of Colorado and Seattle University. Amy originally is from Kalispell.

"We are a very service oriented company and stand behind everything we sell and do," he said.

Benewah Hospital expansion complete

The five-story addition of 54,000 square feet and costing $28.5 million at Benewah Community Hospital is complete at 229 S. 7th St. in St. Maries.

The addition includes patient rooms, family practice and specialty clinics, an upgraded physical therapy clinic and permanent MRI (imaging) equipment. The emergency area will soon be expanded, and 50 parking spaces will be added.

The hospital will host a health fair 7-10 a.m. Saturday, May 19. Check the website of www.bchmed.org for details. Phone 245-5551.

Something Special moves, expands

Expanding from 1,900 to 2,400 square feet, the Something Special store has moved a few units west in Ironwood Square (near Albertson's).

The business offers quality used furniture, jewelry, gifts, home decor and antiques from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Owner Deborah Wheeler will use some of the new space to offer painting classes. She also is looking for more vendors. Phone 704-8962.

Hang on for these tidbits:

• Watch for details next week for Shenanigan's Toy Emporium and Knit-n-Crochet stores.

• The Kootenai Farmers Markets open 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at Prairie Avenue at Highway 95 and 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Fifth and Sherman. Many new local vendors will participate with additional products. Check www.kootenaifarmersmarkets.org.

• The Post Falls outlets of Curves and MacXperts have closed.

• Satay Bistro will be a new eatery on Fourth Street as will Pigalicious on East Sherman.

• Saying "same exact" is redundant just as "is currently...."

• Money can't buy happiness, but it eases misery.

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.