ALMANAC
Pack River Store nexus of love and flavor
Pack River Store’s love story starts with founders Cliff and Nancy Banks, above, who were married 70 years, and continues today with owners Bob and Arlene Dardine. PHOTO AT LEFT BY MARIE-DOMINIQUE VERDIER
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he story behind Pack River Store is part Sandpoint history and part love story. Built in 1975 by Cliff and Nancy Banks, this unassuming store sits alongside the Pack River where it meets Rapid Lightning Road, 12 miles northeast of Sandpoint. It serves the surrounding rural community by providing groceries, gas, and a place to shower and do laundry. But beginning 12 years ago, when a mom from California bought the ailing store, it solidified its role as a community center of sorts, that also happens to do a bang-up job in the kitchen. But back to the love story. In 2000, Arlene Dardine was in her 40s and burned out from a demanding career in the banking industry that took too much time from her job of raising two growing boys. While visiting friends who had moved to northern Idaho and settled on Rapid Lightning Road, she heard that the Pack River Store was for sale. Within two months, she became its new owner and moved here from Santa Cruz, Calif. The store hadn’t really thrived since its founders sold out and retired in 1982. Inventory was sparse. Its community spirit had dwindled. “It was so slow at first, I was second-guessing myself,” Dardine said. She started asking customers what they wanted from the store. The answer was clear: food – good food. As a business-savvy woman who loved to cook, she listened. Let’s continue the love story: Bob Dardine is a Rapid Lightning resident who lives off the grid and often patronized the store and offered to pick up items in town and make repairs for its new owner. He became Arlene’s maintenance man. As their friendship grew over the next three years, they realized they were in love – and the whole community was rooting for them. They married.
SANDPOINT MAGAZINE
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Nine years later, the rest, as they say, is history. Bob, 69, praises Arlene profusely: “She goes way beyond. She takes care of everybody. She’s mom. This is the best woman in the world.” Arlene, 56, gazes back at Bob with eyes of admiration and love: “I think we’re a good team, honey.” Meantime, the Pack River Store is thriving as never before. Its reputation as a haven for foodies has grown beyond belief. It truly feels like the Kool-Aid mom’s house. Nightly dinner specials such as prime rib, pork tenderloin with apple chutney, bleu cheese stuffed tenderloin and cream cheese chicken enchiladas tantalize customers. Special event dinners quickly sell out. Demand for catering is growing. Is there another place like the Pack River Store, with its backwoods vibe and gourmet flair? Probably not. It’s one of Sandpoint’s treasures, a bit hidden perhaps, but aren’t those the best kind? –Billie Jean Gerke
SUMMER 2013
5/8/13 8:27 AM