People looking to avoid standing in the long holiday lines now have another option with the May 2 opening of Christmas at the Lake. 

The new year-round retail outlet is in The Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza Shops at 210 E. Sherman Ave. in downtown Coeur d’Alene. 

“Christmas isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a feeling,” said owners Rebekah (Bekah) and Cyrus Zamani. “We wanted to create a place where people can step into that feeling whenever they need it. Whether that’s in May or December.” 

The Zamanis have a long history of holiday production and retail experience as the two have owned and operated Santa Land in Portland, Ore., for the past 14 years. 

“When we moved here a couple of years ago, we noticed that Christmas at the Lake had gone out of business, and we were kind of throwing out the idea of opening a Christmas store here,” Cyrus said. “We received a lot of feedback from people in the area who missed the old store. People working for the city also told us that people often asked what happened to it.” 

Cyrus said they intend to replicate how they conducted business at the Portland store, lean on the tradition of Coeur d’Alene’s old Christmas store, and add a twist.  

"It’ll have a bit more pop culture — we’ll do all the seasons as we do in Portland, not just Christmas, Cyrus said. “When we get our feet under us a little better, we're going to have a strong Halloween, Independence Day and Easter set up. We’ll also promote local events like the car show, IronMan, stuff like that.” 

Bekah said they want the business to be more than just a retail store. 

“We want it to really be a fun experience when you come in — make it a little bit more of an attraction,” she said. “We’ll put a Christmas tree up towards the front of the store, which will periodically be redecorated based on whatever season we're in or holiday coming up.” 

She also wants to make the store kid-friendly. 

“We're going to have a letter-writing station so kids can write letters to Grandma or to Santa or whomever they want to,” Bekah said.  

Christmas at the Lake offers a curated mix of traditional, nostalgic and holiday items, including hand-blown glass ornaments, authentic German nutcrackers and décor, traditional German candle fans, mantle décor and lighting, vintage-inspired holiday games and Lionel O-scale train sets. 

“We'll also have custom-made Coeur d’Alene ornaments that people can take home, hang them somewhere and remember their trip here, whether they are locals or people visiting,” Cyrus said. 

Bekah acknowledges that people can purchase many of the items sold at Christmas at the Lake online. But there are some obvious differences between purchasing something locally rather than having it shipped to you. 

“They can’t get the indoor experience we offer here at Christmas at the Lake,” she said. “When you come here, you can see and feel the quality of the items we sell. Our handmade German Nutcrackers are so much more intricate and detailed than those sold on the internet.” 

Cyrus said if shoppers don’t find what they are looking for at Christmas at the Lake, he’s open to suggestions. 

“We want to offer what people want — to be a place where people will come to do their shopping,” he said. “So, anyone who wants to give us their two cents' worth can feel free to let us know or to post it on Instagram @christmasatthelack.cda.” 

Christmas at the Lake is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. 

Now the TidBits 

New and Upcoming 

• Two Moms & Tots, a childcare service for kids ages 6 weeks to 5 years, is coming to 104 W. 11th Ave., Suite A, in Post Falls. 

• Dragon Fly Support Services, a mental health and substance use counseling facility, is coming to 601 E. Seltice Way in Post Falls.

• Hyatt Place, a 151-room hotel, is slated for 1213 E. Fourth Ave. in Post Falls.

• Bare Root Skin Essential & Esthetics opened its new location at 14777 Highway 53 in Rathdrum. 

• River & Rye will be opening in May at 424 E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene. The menu will include "various flavors from Spain, France and Italy, along with some PNW flair," as well as craft cocktails.  

• Mor Furniture for Less, one of the West Coast’s largest furniture retailers, is opening a showroom this summer at the Prairie Shopping Center in Hayden. 

• The Habit Burger & Grill is taking the place of the former Pizza Hut at 212 W. Appleway Ave. The chain, known for its "Charburgers," is eyeing an opening sometime in late spring or early summer. This location will be the first for North Idaho.

Ongoing Projects   

• The Spill the Tea and Benzo Box is nearing completion at the southwest corner of Greensferry Road and Seltice Way in Post Falls.  

• Jefe's Tacos and Tequila has filed for its business license. The opening date is undetermined at this time.   

• The Ross Point Gas Station is under construction at 310 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls.  

• The parking lot for the new NomNom gas station and convenience store at 5231 W. Riverbend Ave., Post Falls, has been paved. The opening date is undetermined at this time.  

• Coeur Dance Arts is a new dance studio under development at 4131 Early Dawn Ave. Suite 105B, Post Falls. Classes should begin in May; check coeurdancearts.com.   

• A state-of-the-art pickleball facility called The Flying Pickle is coming to The Pointe at Post Falls at 140 N. Beck Road. Opening is anticipated by mid-2026.   

• American Universal Storage is planned for Spirit Lake along Highway 41, across from the Jiffi Stop.   

• A new commercial building is planned for the Riverstone development at 1570 W. Tilford Lane and will bring at least one new dining option to the area. The 7,500-square-foot mixed-use building's targeted finish date is this summer.   

• A five-story, 173-room Hilton Dual Brand Hotel is planned for a 2.71-acre parcel of land off Lee Court and Appleway Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. The project's start and completion dates haven't been determined. 

 • The 33-unit, mixed-use "Nonna" building across from Post Falls City Hall on Spokane Street is anticipated to be completed by October of 2026.      

• Spokane-based Golden Rule Brake is under construction at 3627 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene.

• • •

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

    A larger-than-life Nut Cracker in the showroom of Christmas at The Lake in The Coeur d'Alene Resort Plaza Shops on Sherman Avenue.
  

    Items to put under the Christmas tree.