POST FALLS — Though Piccolo Pizza isn’t open for dine-in service quite yet, the ‘vibe’ Jeramie Entner worked to curate in the new restaurant is already evident.

The bright colors, cinderblock accent wall and wide-open concept are a nearly identical match to Piccolo’s flagship location in Liberty Lake — which, Entner said, is the point.

“We wanted really badly to bring the same kind of vibe and energy here,” he said. “So many people had concerns how we were going to replicate it ... I think we did an amazing job.”

Piccolo’s flagship location opened about 10 years ago under Entner’s mom and brother; the family also started Liberty Lake’s Hayj’s Bistro nearly 20 years ago.

Though Entner was spending the bulk of his time at Hayj’s, it was an easy ‘yes’ when his mom and brother approached him around a year ago about partnering for a second Piccolo across the state line.

Every item on Piccolo’s menu is made to order, including stone-fired pizzas, fresh pastas and small bites.

“We really shoot to use high-end, fresh ingredients only,” Entner said.

Pasta, sauces, pizza dough and even sourdough bread are all made in-house.

Though Piccolo is “pretty much ready to go,” the restaurant is only filling take-out orders until it receives its liquor license.

In the meantime, Entner has been getting to know the community — even dropping off pizzas at nearby Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Station 1.

He’s hoping to foster the same community connections that their flagship location enjoys, which has many “first-name” regulars.

“We really want to have something like that here as well,” Entner said.  

Piccolo Pizza is located at 910 E. Fourth St. Suite A, Post Falls. Visit piccolopizza.net or find them on socials for to-go ordering information — and look out for their official opening date.

Now the TidBits

New and Upcoming

• Spirit Halloween has taken residency with the former Joann fabric and crafts store in the Silver Lake Mall.

• Shear Luck Salon has relocated to 2600 E. Seltice Way, STE E in River City Plaza in Post Falls. The Salon was previously located in the commercial center at 503 E. Seltice Way, where Hospice of North Idaho thrift store is set to close in November, and the antique and vendor mall My Favorite Things is shutting its doors this month.

• A commercial space at 444 Bay St., Post Falls is available for rent. Suite A is adjacent to River City Paints and includes a reception and conference area, two individual office spaces, a shared break room and restrooms, and plenty of parking. The space is approximately 1,000 square feet with rent at $1,465/month. Contact David Perez at 208-777-7101 with inquiries. 

• Fern Plant Shop at 211 Lakeside Ave. is expanding their offerings; "Fern Finds" will be opening within the shop Sept. 13 and will have "curated secondhand goods."

• North Idaho is getting another Popeye's location; this one is under construction along West Pointe Parkway in State Line. 

• Offering "elevated donuts and coffee in the heart of downtown Coeur d'Alene," Lantern Donuts is now open at 519 E. Sherman Ave. Check their Facebook, @LanternDonutsCDA, for up-to-date hours.

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

• A new two-story commercial building at Fourth Street and Birch Avenue is now home to Anchored Coffee, The Steve Novotny Team with mortgage company Rate, and Sportive, a "luxury wellness space" that will be offering reformer Pilates classes. For information on remaining commercial spaces, contact Duffy Smock of Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty at 208-699-5466 or [email protected].  

Ongoing Projects

• A pinball hall, called Big Flipper, will open soon at 312 E. Annie Ave., Coeur d'Alene. Featuring 20+ pinball machines spanning several decades, classic arcade games, two Skee-Ball lanes and a curated food and beverage menu, Big Flipper will have something for "a casual player, a competitive flipper or for those just in it for the nostalgia." Follow @BigFlipperCDA on Instagram for more information; an opening date has not yet been announced.

• Cultura CDA will be opening its flagship location sometime in the coming months at U.S. 95 and Nieder Avenue in Coeur d'Alene, in the former Giorgi's building.

• 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.

• In addition to the development at U.S. 95 and Nieder Avenue, national sandwich chain Jersey Mike's will also be at 9627 N. Government Way, Suite 1 in Hayden. These locations mark the first Jersey Mike's restaurants in North Idaho.

• Tandoori Grill will be opening a brick-and-mortar location at Lakeside Avenue and Second Street in Coeur d'Alene. The restaurant, which offers a variety of Indian dishes, currently operates a food truck at 7415 N. Government Way and at the Food Truck Pavilion at 30440 N. Old Highway 95 in Athol. No word yet on an opening date.

• Bricks & Minifigs, an authorized LEGO® retailer, will be opening next to the entrance of Fred Meyer in Coeur d'Alene at 560 W. Kathleen Ave., Unit No. 2. Its motto is “Rebuild, Reuse, Reimagine,” and the store specializes in buying, selling and trading everything LEGO — from complete sets to collectible minifigures, including a build-your-own minifig station. Follow on social media for updates and announcements on the opening, which is aimed for the fall. 

• Another 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.

• An O'Reilly Auto Parts store is being constructed on the northeast corner of Seltice Way and Pleasant View Road in Post Falls.

• Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is eyeing a September opening for its proposed location at 498 Beck Road 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.  

• Prime IV Hydration & Wellness is opening sometime in 2025 in Ironwood Square.

Real Estate Opportunities

• Corhaven Properties has announced plans for a spec retail building at the shopping center at Highway 41 and Poleline Avenue. The upcoming phase of development will feature four retail units ranging from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet, including a high-demand drive-thru end cap, and should be completed sometime in 2026. The shopping center is anchored by Grocery Outlet and 7-Eleven, with a new McDonald's restaurant opening sometime in the first half of 2026. For leasing inquiries, contact Jeff Ottmar with NAI Black.

• Spaces within Marketplace@Miles, a new vendor mall at 10374 N. Government Way in Hayden, are still available for retail vendors, with additional onsite storage offered. Info: Commercial Real Estate Consultants at 208-691-5328 and www.marketplaceatmiles.com. 

• Heritage Square, a new shopping center at U.S. 95 and Wilbur Avenue, has remaining suites available ranging from 1,600 to 6,000 square feet. For inquiries regarding the remaining retail spaces, contact Pat Eberlin at [email protected]. 

• Retail spaces are still available within the new Early Dawn Commercial Center at 4129 E. Early Dawn Ave. in Post Falls. Anyone interested in remaining commercial spaces should contact Danny Davis of TOKcommercial.com (208-691-6003).

• 2,500 square feet of medical-grade office space is available in the recently completed Kootenai Vision Center building located at 3914 E. Early Dawn Ave. in Post Falls. Tenants in the complex include a physical therapy clinic, an optometry office and one additional building lot. NNN leases starting at $24/square foot. For more information, call 208-660-4864. 

• A new flex tech space is available in the Huetter Business Center at 4077 N. Huetter Road in Post Falls. It is adjacent to Interstate 90 with high visibility, including a reader board visible to an average of 65,000 vehicles per day. Size is 8,671 square feet, asking $1.25/square foot/month plus expenses. Contact Jeffrey Simonds with Caldwell Banker Commercial Schneidmiller Realty at 208-518-8860.

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

    Along with to artisan pizzas, Piccolo Pizza offers fresh pastas, salads, desserts and a selection of cocktails, wine and beers.