‘It’s awesome’: 1st-generation college grad returns to open restaurant at Boise State.
After Dan Landucci received his diploma from Boise State in 2013, he got hungry — to start a business.
Landucci, who earned bachelor’s degrees in communications and marketing, founded Paddles Up Poke. He opened his first restaurant in downtown Boise in 2017, serving customizable rice bowls filled with chunks of marinated, raw fish. He licensed a second location in Meridian in 2018. He followed that by launching a Ketchum store.
But his latest expansion — a Paddles Up Poke at BSU — might be his favorite.
Opening Jan. 13 in the Science and Education Building, the fourth Paddles Up Poke will take over a spot vacated by Freshii, a health-oriented fast-food chain. When Landucci was a student, Subway occupied that space, which borders the Boise Greenbelt. His wife, Laura, an education major, also graduated from BSU in 2013 — from that same building.
“It’s pretty cool, man,” Dan Landucci says. “This is one of the most exciting (stores) I’ve gotten to open. Being on campus, meeting the president of Boise State.
“I’m a first-generation college student, so it’s just really cool to be this involved with the alumni. It’s just awesome.
“I love Boise State.”
There’s a good chance the feeling will be mutual. Bronco fans can appreciate the proudly named Fiesta Bowl, filled with spicy tuna, crab, spicy Piranha Sauce, avocado, seaweed salad, ginger, crispy jalapeños, carrots, calapeños, cilantro, spicy aioli and sesame seeds. It’s ski season, so you also could go with the Bogus Basin bowl: tuna, salmon, crab, Piranha Sauce, avocado, seaweed salad, cucumber, ginger, onions, crispy onions, Unagi Sauce, spicy aioli, green onions, masago and sesame seeds.
Paddles Up puts its own spin on poke (pronounced “POH-kay”), a style with roots in Hawaii. In addition to serving bowls — made Chipotle-style at the counter — the rafting-themed restaurant sells poke salads, burritos — even nachos.
The menu at the BSU store will be similar to other Paddles Up locations. But pricing will be tweaked slightly. “There will just be more student options,” Landucci explains. “At Paddles Up downtown, the cheapest option is $10, where Boise State will have a $7.99 bowl to start at. Then they can go up from there.”
Paddles Up will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at BSU. When campus shuts down for the holidays or spring break, the restaurant will be closed. Summers will have limited hours.
A diehard Broncos fan, Landucci is having fun tailoring the Paddles Up Poke concept to Boise State. (That said, he couldn’t be faulted for being distracted. Laura’s due date for their third child is the same day the new store opens.)
“I got the big, light-up ‘Keepin’ It Raw at Boise State University’ sign,” he says happily, “which I think will be pretty cool for students to take pictures in front of.”
Online: paddlesuppoke.com.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 10:52 AM.