Lake County Leader

A local landmark underwent some cosmetic maintainence last week when the facade was painted.

The Cove Deli & Pizza, located at 11 Third Ave. W. in Polson, was still open for business while a crew from Fisher Painting hand-painted the aging brick from a beige hue to black.

“We looked at several dark colors and decided to come up with the black,” Tami Avison, who owns the business with husband Ken, said last Thursday morning.

Ken added that Tami and their daughter-in-law, Tasha, chose the bold color.

“It’s more pirate-y, and I’ve heard that from people” as the painters completed their work, Tami said.

The pirate theme of the restaurant, Ken added, ties into Polson High School’s mascot of the pirate as well. He noted that with its atmosphere, The Cove is a great place for family get-togethers and special events, such as birthday parties.

The Avisons decided on Polson-based Fisher Painting for the facelift.

Ken said that they were impressed with the team’s workmanship, as he was expecting painters to spraypaint the exterior. Instead, five painters, including Fisher Painting owners Justin and Aphia Fisher, Wayne Rogers, Mike Largent and Boston Goode, hand-painted and caulked the brick through the week.

“They’re a really good outfit,” Ken said, adding that while he and Tami were looking for someone to take on the project, his friends who are contractors said Fisher Painting was the way to go.

The week before painting started, the company powerwashed the area, blasting away chunks of paint that accumulated through the decades, Tami said.

“Very interesting fact,” she began, explaining the space was once a Pontiac car dealership, “on the brick up there, before they painted it, is ‘full service.’”

The Cove Deli & Pizza has had its share of notoriety, named the Polson Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2005 and 2008.