COEUR d’ALENE — Chad and Tia Clifford have been building something big in the vacant commercial space next door to Fred Meyer.

On Sept. 27, the couple will open the doors to North Idaho’s first Bricks & Minifigs, an authorized LEGO® retailer that specializes in buying, selling and trading all things LEGO.

In addition to brand-new LEGO-brand boxed sets, the store carries sets made by third parties using LEGO bricks, such as military vehicles or Deadpool minifigs. Bricks & Minifigs also carries some retired boxed sets and a variety of vintage minifigs.

Customers can also stock up on miscellaneous LEGO pieces at the store’s bulk table, build their own custom minifig and even sell built-out sets for store credit.

“There’s really nothing in Coeur d’Alene like this,” Tia said.

The Cliffords are especially looking forward to providing a unique community venue at Bricks & Minifigs; a space for birthday parties and other events is located inside the store.

Birthday parties at Bricks & Minifigs will include the option for partygoers to build and race their own LEGO cars, the couple shared. The space will be available for booking a few weeks after the store’s grand opening.

The Cliffords describe themselves as “a LEGO family”: their son, Liam, got his first set at 3 years old.

However, they only became aware of the Bricks & Minifigs franchise when they checked out a location in Issaquah, Wash., about a year ago.

Bricks & Minifigs has around 305 total franchises, both active and planned, across the United States, Chad said.

Tia emphasized that LEGO can spark creativity in all ages — from children to the inner child of every adult.

“We’re welcoming to everybody,” Tia said.

The grand opening celebration for Bricks & Minifigs is set for Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The first 200 customers will get a minifig, a custom baseplate and an “exclusive” sticker.

The occasion will also be marked by raffle giveaways with prizes including free small bulk LEGO pieces for a year, free birthday parties, free sets and more — with the grand prize being a brand-new LEGO PAC-Man set.

Bricks and Minifigs is located at 560 W. Kathleen Ave., Unit 2. Regular store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Now the TidBits

New and Upcoming

• PLEASE NOTE: Real estate opportunity submissions are no longer being accepted for the TidBits column. 

• The grand opening of Big Flipper Arcade CDA is set for Saturday, Oct. 11, 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." A family-friendly celebration is slated from noon to 6 p.m., and a 21+ celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. and go until 11 p.m. Follow them on instagram @bigflippercda.

• Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers should be open by the end of the month at 498 Beck Road in Post Falls. An opening date is expected to be announced sometime in the coming week.

• 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.

• Marketplace@Miles will be hosting grand opening celebration events Sept. 25-27, featuring food vendors and drawings for prize giveaways. Regular business hours for the new vendor mall at 10374 N. Government Way in Hayden are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Barre Length + Strength, a "new boho chic hub for fitness and community," is now open at 9040 Hess St., Hayden. Classes will be offered seven days a week and include Barre Cardio, Barre Classic, Barre Strength and pilates-inspired 'Barrelates.' For more information or to register for classes, visit www.lengthstrengthbarre.com.

• The grand opening of Syringa Bodywork's Barefoot Myofascial Massage Practice is slated for Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. The practice offers a "distinctive approach that uses gravity and bodyweight to deliver intentional, sustained depth of pressure" in massage, a press release said. Syringa Bodywork is located at 9494 N. Government Way, Hayden.

• Currently taking to-go orders, Piccolo Pizza is a new restaurant offering pizza, pasta and other scratch-made dishes located at 910 E. Fourth St. Suite A, Post Falls. Visit piccolopizza.net or find it on socials for to-go ordering information — and look out for its official opening date.

Ongoing Projects

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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].

    A line of vintage LEGO soldiers on display at Bricks & Minifigs.
 

    Hill