The customer will make all the decisions at Top This, a yogurtstore to open about March 1 in the eastern half of Ironwood Squarenear the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Government Way. Optionswill include 15 yogurt flavors and more than 65 toppingchoices.

“It’s simple. The customer grabs a cup. fills it, tops it. Weweigh it; they pay it,” explained Sonie Combs, who owns Top Thiswith her husband, Earl. “With options of ProBiotic, kosher anddairy-certified products, it promotes a healthier lifestyle.”

The Combs are with Lakeshore Realty and also own Wigs &Things in Coeur d’Alene and are active in their community andchurch. Hours for Top This will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundaythrough Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.They’ll have six to eight employees. Watch the progress at Top ThisFrozen Yogurt on Facebook.

Hubbly Bubbly for relaxation

This place is pretty cool – not on the outside, but it sure isinteresting inside.

It’s the Hubbly Bubbly Hookah Lounge at 6288 Government Way.Located in the former Graffiti Skate Shop building (next toFrame-It and Par-Time Golf), this place is called a lounge for areason. It’s a place for people age 18 and over to puff hookahs orshishas (flavored tobaccos) and relax. It’s filled with colorfulsofas, cushions and carpets. Customers rent the hookahs (pipes) andbuy the tobaccos and smoke them in the lounge. They can also buyTurkish coffee, mint tea and soft drinks.

In this case, “lounge” is a verb or noun in the relaxationsense, not the bar-serving-alcohol sense.

“Drunk people and hot coals don’t mix,” explained owner Mus(pronounced moose) Rebahi. “Hookahs were invented in India 2,000years ago and were developed in Turkey and the Middle East.”

Flavors can be traditional, exotic or house mixes, and twopeople can share a hookah with sessions from 30 to 60 minutes.Rebahi describes the decor as contemporary Moroccan. Hours start at5 p.m. daily. Private parties and a V.I.P area are available.Rehabi has two employees here and another Hubbly Bubbly in Spokane.Check www.mybubbly.com.

Ex-Cell Property Management opens

Handling the renting and maintenance of houses for propertyowners is the business of Ex-Cell Property Management. with 20years in the business, Deanna Hughes opened last month at 1914Fourth St. The building formerly housed a pot pie business.

Originally from the Oregon coast, Hughes came to North Idahothree years ago after visiting the area as a vacation spot. Withtwo employees, Ex-Cell is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday throughThursday, 8 to 5 Fridays and weekends by appointment. Phone676-0900.

Kira’s Kiss makes, markets desserts

Healthy gourmet desserts are the emphasis of Kira’s Kiss at 314Third St. The products are high in taste and low in fat is thepromise of owner Alexandra Damsker.

The bakery should open at the end of the month with wholesaledelivery, catering and a drive-through. Chocolate, pumpkin andvanilla cupcakes will be featured. Check info@kiraskiss.com.

Here’s this week’s Tidbits:

• I got five e-mails and two phone calls expounding that KFC(Kentucky Fried Chicken) on Appleway had closed. After being openfor 38 years and serving probably tens of thousands of drumsticksand thighs and undergoing two remodels and three owners, it didindeed close. The only all-you-can-eat KFC in the area is now atthe outlet in Hayden. I’d love to tell you what the Cd’A buildingwill be – but I can’t yet.

• Fourth Street soon will be the hottest place for newbusinesses. At least three will open in the next month in Mid-Town.maybe this will make up for all the empty spaces on East ShermanAvenue.

• I wanted to whine about this earlier, but it seems like such awaste when a youth organization will raise money by getting pledgesfor the hours the members sit in a rocking chair. You’d think thosehours could be picking up litter or volunteering somewhere.

• Watch next week for an interesting education structure beingbuilt in Hayden.

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at nilsrosdahl@cdapress.com.

More about Area

  • ARTICLE: Camp All-Stars Day Camp is Feb. 21
  • ARTICLE: The front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Feb. 12, 2011
  • ARTICLE: Library district gets new name, logo
  • ARTICLE: Owner abandons sinking home

More about Bits

  • ARTICLE: European cuisine emerges in Post Falls
  • ARTICLE: Jimmy John’s coming to Coeur d’Alene

Yogurt – your way – Coeur d’Alene Press: Business