What went up in Post Falls: a 151-room hotel, 24 pickleball courts and a run of drive-thrus, side by side

The city has added about 8,100 people since 2020. Here is where the new buildings landed: the west side by the state line, the Highway 41 side, the old mill by the river and the prairie to the north.

Post Falls had 38,485 people in the 2020 census. The Census Bureau's estimate for July 1, 2025, is 46,715.

That is about 8,100 more people than the bureau's 2020 starting figure, a 21% jump in five years. The same federal numbers count 16,009 households and put the middle household income at $82,183.

People bring buildings. Here is what has opened, or broken ground, since late 2024, by side of the city. Every item is from a public report named at the bottom. Where the last report said "coming soon," we say so.

WEST SIDE: THE STATE LINE AND BECK ROAD

- Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, 498 S. Beck Road. Opened Sept. 30, 2025. It was the chain's first restaurant in North Idaho: 3,026 square feet, 96 seats and a drive-thru.
- Cafe Rio, Wendy's and Capriotti's Sandwich Shop were all listed as recent arrivals near the state line when Freddy's opened.
- Popeyes, the city's second. It was under construction in September 2025, and KREM has since reported it open.
- The Flying Pickle, 140 N. Beck Road, at The Pointe at Post Falls. An indoor pickleball club with 24 courts in about 85,000 square feet, a $5 million build-out. The owners aimed for June 2026; the last report we found, in late June, still said coming soon. Paddle maker Selkirk Sport has the rest of the building.
- 7-Eleven, Pleasant View Road and Seltice Way. Open by January 2026.
- Nom Nom gas station and store, 5231 W. Riverbend Ave. Open by June 2026.

EAST SIDE: HIGHWAY 41

- McDonald's, 4163 E. Poleline Ave. Open in February 2026, with a ribbon cutting Feb. 27. Local owners: Tim and Terri Skubitz.
- Local Market with a 16-pump Chevron, Highway 41 and Hope Avenue. Grand opening Jan. 5, 2026. It is 9,500 square feet and the fourth Local Market in the area.
- Club Pilates, 900 N. Highway 41. Opened Jan. 2, 2026.
- Kootenai Health Pharmacy, 4129 E. Early Dawn Ave. Announced in December 2025.
- Coeur Dance Arts, 4131 Early Dawn Ave. Under development in mid-2026.
- Ross Point Gas Station, 310 N. Ross Point Road. Under construction as of June 2026.

SOUTH: THE OLD MILL AND DOWNTOWN, TOWARD THE RIVER

- Hyatt Place, 1213 E. Fourth Ave. Open since January 2026 with 151 rooms on four floors. It is the first Hyatt in North Idaho.
- The hotel sits in Millworx, the neighborhood being built on the old Idaho Veneer mill site. The mill opened in 1953 and closed in 2021. Kindred and Co., Ellie Mental Health and Shift Fitness are already there.
- Nonna, Spokane Street and Fourth Avenue, across from City Hall. Four floors, about 50,000 square feet: shops and a brunch spot called Miss Dazee's on the ground floor, 33 apartments above. The builders are Laura and Kelsey Horn, a mother and daughter who both graduated from Post Falls High. As of June the target was October 2026.
- Rooted Social House, 310 N. Spokane St. Under construction as of December 2025.
- Jefe's Tacos and Tequila, in the old Bullet Bar and Grill space. Listed as coming soon.

NORTH: THE PRAIRIE

- Twenty acres north of Prairie Avenue, just east of Greensferry Road, came into the city March 17, 2026. The City Council approved its zoning unanimously on May 19. It was the fourth try at that ground since 2019. The builder is Copper Basin Construction.
- Prairie Crossing, about 50 acres at Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue, is planned as a shopping center. The city released its site review in September 2024.
- Golf: Prairie Falls Golf Club opened its 42,000-square-foot building in July 2023, a little outside the two-year window: 17 hotel rooms, six simulators, a restaurant and an events hall. In April 2026 a members-only indoor simulator business called The Golf Club was announced for Post Falls: four bays, open 24 hours.

WHY IT MATTERS

More people and more buildings do not automatically balance a city budget. Mayor Randy Westlund's draft plan says Post Falls will be $16.8 million short every year by 2035. We covered that plan, and the study behind it on which kinds of buildings pay for themselves, earlier this week.

HOW WE COUNTED

Population, households and income are from the U.S. Census Bureau. Openings, sizes and addresses are from the reports listed below. We have not walked every site; if a "coming soon" on this list is open now, tell us.