COEUR d'ALENE — National optical retailer Eyemart Express opened the doors of its first location in North Idaho earlier this week.

The store, which neighbors Five Guys in the new Heritage Square retail center, marks the retailer's sixth location in the state and "is part of a broader push to make high-quality eyewear more accessible across the region, with an in-store lens lab and skilled lab specialists making most glasses ready to take home in as little as 30 minutes," a press release read.

Customers can choose from over 2,000 frames at affordable prices for the whole family, including in-house styles and designer brands such as Versace, Burberry, Longchamp, Tory Burch and Ray-Ban, according to the press release. Kids can pick from a wide assortment of frames featuring brands like Jonas Paul, Paw Patrol and My Little Pony.

Area residents have the option to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with doctors at Eye Pros, which has an office located inside the Eyemart Express store, or bring in an existing prescription from their eye doctor.

“There is a need in Coeur d’Alene for expert eye care with an emphasis on customer service,” said general manager Chad Cheifer. “Our new Eyemart Express store reinforces our commitment to providing the community convenient access to eye exams and glasses, especially when people are short on time and watching their dollars. We’re here to help members of the community see every moment clearly and feel their best without breaking the bank.”

The store is also expected to create a dozen full- and part-time jobs, ranging from eyewear experts to lab technicians and opticians, according to the release. 

"Along with providing a competitive benefits package for all employees, the company offers employees a variety of training and development programs to cultivate career paths in the optical industry," the release read. 

As with every Eyemart Express location, the Coeur d'Alene store offers 20% discounts to local veterans, military families, first responders, health care workers and teachers and other school staff members.

Eyemart Express is now open at 7307 N. Culture Way. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eyemart Express is closed Sundays. 

To schedule an exam online, visit eyemartexpress.com/pages/store/coeur_d_alene_id.

Now the TidBits

New and Upcoming

• Post Falls Brewing Company is opening a new location in the former CDA Cider Co. space at 1327 E. Sherman Ave. "We know we have big shoes to fill in this spot," the brewery shared to social media in part. More details to come.

• Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar will take up residency in the ground floor commercial space of the new Thomas George building at 116 S. Third St. in Coeur d'Alene. The restaurant will have both indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar featuring craft cocktails and menu offerings including entrees, handhelds, pizzas and more with vegan and gluten-free options. The Spokane-based restaurant has several locations over the state line.

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car is taking the place of the former Grease Monkey Auto Repair location at 3273 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls.

• U-Haul Moving and Storage of Post Falls is now open at 365 N. Herborn Place.

• Featuring over 20 pinball machines and other arcade classics, Big Flipper is now open at 312 E. Annie Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

• Offering "authentic Indian cuisine," Tandoori Grill is now open 118 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

• The grand opening of Cultura CDA's flagship location at 155 W. Neider Ave., Coeur d'Alene will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25. Check out Cultura CDA on Facebook for more information on opening-day deals. 

• A Club Pilates studio is opening Dec. 11 at 900 N. Highway 41 Suite 8, Post Falls. In anticipation of the new studio, Club Pilates is offering 20% off the lifetime of the membership and no enrollment fee for its first 50 founding members. For more information on memberships, visit clubpilates.com/postfalls or call 208-626-2163.

• The Chicken Shanty location at 1423 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene has closed permanently. The owners cited ongoing personal matters and rising costs in a post to social media.

• Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is now open at 498 S. Beck Road, Post Falls.

• Jersey Mike's is projected to open Oct. 22 at 9627 N. Government Way, Suite 1 in Hayden. The location will be a first for North Idaho.

• O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 3921 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls is now open. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ongoing Projects

• The Habit Burger Grill is coming to North Idaho. The chain, known for its "Charburgers," is eyeing an opening sometime in late spring or early summer of 2026. An exact location for the restaurant has not been disclosed, but a spokesperson confirmed it will be "in the 83814 ZIP code area." This location will be a first for the region.

• A four-story Residence Inn by Marriott is under construction on Northwest Boulevard between Emma Avenue and Davidson Avenue.

• Crews have broken ground in the southwest corner of Lake City Marketplace, where national chain Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers will eventually be opening its first location in North Idaho. The restaurant will be 3,368 square feet and have a dual-lane drive through. Other national retailers, including Jersey Mike's, Nothing Bundt Cakes and a Sleep Number store, have also applied for development at that site.

• 7-Eleven is coming to Post Falls; this one is planned for the southeast corner of Pleasant View Road and Seltice Way.

• With many options for food and beverages in an elevated space, Rooted Social House is eyeing an opening sometime this year at 310 N. Spokane St. in Post Falls. In a recent social media post showcasing interior design concepts for the building, HDG architecture said, "Rooted builds on a growing cluster of HDG designed spaces, each contributing to a more connected, walkable, and character rich district in Post Falls."

• Idaho Central Credit Union, or ICCU, will open a branch location in Rathdrum. More details to come once construction gets underway.

• A 7-Eleven is taking the place of the former Wells Fargo building at Government Way and Appleway Avenue.

• Work is underway on the new Local Market building at Highway 41 and Hope Road in Post Falls. Another new Local Market is planned for Best Avenue and 15th Street in Coeur d'Alene. Both markets will have an emphasis on produce, fresh flowers, coffee and products sourced from local vendors in addition to freshly-made deli sandwiches, pastry bars and premium espresso coffees with drive-throughs. They will also include gas and electric car charging.  

• A Marriott Hotel is under construction on about a half-acre at 602 and 612 E. Sherman Ave. The six-story hotel will include 131 guest rooms, 130 parking stalls on the main level and three levels underground, an administration area, a bar, kitchen, lounge, dining area, meeting area, laundry, fitness room and a rooftop patio bar.

• A four-story 151-room Hyatt Place Hotel is under construction for the Millworx development on Fourth Avenue in Post Falls.  

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Have a tip on happenings in the local business world? Contact Hailey Hill at [email protected].