Columbia Paint & Coatings Inc., the Spokane-based manufacturer and retailer of paints and coatings, has opened its third store in the Boise market, giving it 36 stores overall.


The store is located at 1396 E. Iron Eagle Drive in the Boise suburb, Eagle.


By expanding into Eagle, we will be able to provide a higher level of service to painting contractors in the entire Boise metro area, as well as attract do-it-yourself business, says Rich Younts, Columbia Paints Boise-based district manager.


Columbia Paint has operated a retail store in Boise since 1981, and opened a store in nearby Nampa in 2001.


Weve had 25 percent per-year growth just in the Boise market in the last five years, H.H. Larry Larison, the companys president and CEO, said earlier this year.


Columbia Paint posted record sales last year of $47.5 million, up 13 percent from 2002.


It manufactures architectural, industrial, and specialty paints and coatings and sells those products, along with painting equipment and supplies, throughout the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West at its own stores and through 100 dealers. It also has begun selling paint in mainland China.


Columbia Paint employs roughly 250 people, including 80 in Spokane.