Cellular Sales, a Knoxville, Tenn.-based Verizon Wireless telecommunications dealer, plans to open soon a 2,100-square-foot retail store at the northwest corner of Appleway Avenue and Fourth Street, in north-central Coeur d’Alene.

Cellular Sales representatives couldn’t be reached for comment, but the company says in a press release that it plans to open the store later this month with a staff of 20 employees.

The site at 2605 N. Fourth had been the location of a series of restaurants, most recently Uva Trattoria, an Italian diner. The building there is under an extensive interior and exterior remodel to accommodate the Cellular Sales store.

Associated Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the contractor on the $400,000 project, and Freiheit & Ho Architects Inc., of Kirkland, Wash., designed it, building permit information on file with the city of Coeur d’Alene shows.

The Coeur d’Alene store will be Cellular Sales’ first Idaho outlet.

Cellular Sales operates 560 stores in 30 states. The company, which was founded in 1993 and claims to be one of the fastest-growing privately owned retailers in recent years, is focusing its current growth in the West, including in Idaho, California, and Arizona.

The Cellular Sales website shows its nearest operating outlet is in Kennewick.

Verizon Wireless’ website shows four other Verizon-authorized retail outlets in Kootenai County and 20 in Spokane County.