POST FALLS - The former iconic Hot Rod Cafe along Interstate 90 is transforming into Timber Gastro Pub.

Bill Miller and Randy Ingraham, owners of Longhorn Barbecue and Maggie's South Hill Grill in Spokane, plan to open Timber at 1610 E. Schneidmiller Ave. in March.

The bar and restaurant will serve high-end beer and food, including flatbread pizza, wood oven-baked appetizers, gourmet burgers, vegetarian options, tacos and desserts.

The business, which will create about 40 jobs, is being renovated.

"The design will pay homage to the timber industry, which has been the economical backbone of Post Falls and Idaho throughout the years," said Josh Hissong of HDG Architecture, which was tapped to design the pub and assist with public relations.

"Large old timbers are being milled south of town near St. Maries that will give the restaurant a feeling of warmth and help create the clean lines that make the interior and exterior a one-of-a-kind design."

HDG also designed other businesses in the region including Fire, The Boiler Room, Revel77, NUDO and Vault.

Timber will be open seven days a week with lunch and dinner hours. It may also offer a weekend brunch.

Timber will seat 200 as the Hot Rod Cafe did.

"But Timber will have such a more open feel with the old massive bar that jetted through the middle being shrunk down to a more service-oriented bar," Hissong said.

The bar area will have strategically-placed TVs for sports viewing, but that will not be the basis of the lounge.

A wood-burning oven will greet customers of Timber.

Jeff Chatigny, who has a diverse background in food that includes wood-fired pizza and New Orleans-style bistro, will serve as executive chef.

"Timber is dedicated to creating a menu that is diverse and approachable and will epitomize the recent push to get back to simple American dishes that have been as important to our culture as the lumber mills that were sprinkled along the shores of the Spokane River," Hissong said.

"Jeff's ability to mix old-school techniques with the melting pot that is the current American food culture should prove to be what makes Timber unique and popular," Hissong said.

Hissong said menu prices haven't been finalized.

"The rate they are going for is $9 (starting price for lunch items) to $25 (tops for dinner items)," Hissong said.

The bar will have 12 to 16 local beers on tap and wine.

"For Post Falls, this means a super cool new restaurant and a chance to feel like you have escaped to another place and maybe even another time," Hissong said.