I've received a lot of questions about what is happening on the former site of Elmer's Restaurant in Coeur d' Alene. And until last weekend I unfortunately , despite many research attempts,came up with nothing. But a lead from Nils Rosdahl's column in the Sunday Coeur d' Alene Press has uncovered just what it will be. I've done my own checking to make sure it's correct and I can now say the site will be....
A new location of the Natural Grocers grocery store chain. While Natural Grocers is not affiliated with the Trader Joe's that was to most rumored plan for the site it is , in a way, similar and still very exciting to see opening in Coeur d' Alene.
Natural Grocers is a natural and health food grocery store chain that is rapidly growing thru out the Western United States. In fact the chain has 12 new store locations currently in the works and several that have opened recently, including one in Kalispel,MT . The closest current locations to us now would be 3 stores in Western Montana and a store in Boise. Currently the 1 Coeur d' Alene location is the only location planned in our local area.
Natural Grocers is a Colorado based company with about 65 locations currently open nationwide. Products sold at Natural Grocers stores include natural and organic foods as well as vitamins, suppliements and organic / natural health and beauty products.
As of now the Coeur d' Alene location does not have a scheduled opening date however crews have completed demolition work on the site and building should begin very soon. The new store site is next door to Red Lobster at the corner of US 95 and Neider Ave. There also is no info on store size or employees as of yet but we expect this in the near future.
The site was home to a Elmer's Restaurant most recently. Elmer's is still open in Coeur d' Alene having moved into the former home of Perkins Restaurant on Appleway less then a block east of US 95. As far as the Trader Joe's that was rumored to be replacing Elmer's that rumor has obviously been debunked , for now at least. The other site rumored to be becoming a Trader Joe's also has a new tenant moving in, which will report on soon.
For more info on Natural Grocers visit their web site at-
www.naturalgrocers.com
Or find them on Facebook at-
https://www.facebook.com/NaturalGrocers