Remember When?

30 YEARS AGO • OCTOBER 22, 1992

THOMPSON FALLS BUSIINESSES EYE UPGRADES, RELOCATIONS

Main Street in downtown Thompson Falls is changing face these days.

Several changes have already happened, some are currently underway, and more are in the offing.

One of the major changes is the purchase of LaRock’s Bar, also known as the Hotel Bar (and further back was the Tourist Bar and before that was established as the Legal Tender Saloon on the corner of South Columbia Street and Main Street), by the Town Pump. Petitions to expedite the transfer of the liquor license to the Town Pump located at the west end of Main Street are being circulated. Town Pump manager Rick Kuburich said plans for a 25-foot addition at the west side of the present building, where beer and wine will be sold in a casino-type atmosphere, will soon be circulated along with the petitions.

Kuburich stressed that the addition will be a separate entity and beer and wine will not be available in the present building where mostly food items are sold. The name selected for the new addition is “Lady Luck Lounge & Casino.”

The new building would necessitate a move for Burger Express. Manager Jackie Hall told the Ledger long range plans are to move Burger Express (now European Connection) to the vacant lot next to the Job Service (now Little Bitterroot), where owner Bill Armstrong of Libby said a better drive-through would be built, along with more seating area inside and the addition of a breakfast menu.

Kuburich said Town Pump will be offering the LaRock Bar building for sale at commercial value.

The Mother Lode Casino (now the Highlead Saloon), formerly Ferk’s Pastime Bar & Restaurant, is in the process of a major improvement. The old Building on Mill Street, located next to Kathy’s Restaurant at the rear of the Mother Lode which formerly housed Sunshine Video and was a shoe shop in the 1920s, according to local historian Fat Brauer, has been torn down. Cleaning out the foundation of the old building was no small chore, according to Mother Lode owner Dave Schroeder, as it contained two layers of rock foundation. Schroeder and helpers are building a 1,500 square foot addition to he present facility at the site, which he said will be an addition to the restaurant, with a small bar. And yes, it will have windows…in fact, plenty of windows, Schroeder said. Plans are to have it completed before spring.

Across the street, Doug’s True Value Hardware is in the process of being spruced up with all new fixtures, according to manager Doug Shear.

The Outer Image & Gift Connection opened recently in the space formerly occupied by Thompson Falls Drug. Besides women’s clothing, the new store offers a variety of gifts including toys, fashion dolls, woodcrafter kits for airplanes and boats, colorful thermal carafes, ladles and measuring spoons; canister, candle holders and items for unique gift wrapping, and a variety of candy. A selection of exotic coffees and espresso is also offered, and can be sampled by shoppers while resting heir feet at one of two tables. The store is open Monday through Saturday, under the management of Nanette Freed and Angie Parker

Several pets have found a home in the storefront formerly occupied by Outer Image. Kathy Buck has moved her pet care business, The Parrot Hutt & Supplies, to the Main Street location in the building owned by the Heater family.