After decades of ‘sandwiches, drinks ... liquor and cigars,’ Caldwell restaurant closes

A golf-themed Caldwell restaurant has closed after serving Canyon County for decades.

Orphan Annie’s Bar & Grill, 801 Everett St., bid farewell July 21 on its Facebook page. The post was accompanied by a photo of an old “Orphan Annie’s Club House” sign, which said “Golfers Welcome.” It advertised “sandwiches & cold drinks, choice wines, liquor and cigars” — plus 50-cent house rates for listening to golf game stories.

“It is a bittersweet moment,” Orphan Annie’s posted, “but now it’s time for us to say goodbye” — adding that “we have sold.” Does that mean the bar and restaurant will reopen under new ownership or with a new name or business strategy? That’s unclear.

Part sports bar, part neighborhood watering hole, Orphan Annie’s opened in 1995, according to an old Idaho Press-Tribune restaurant review. The building was rebuilt in 1999 after being gutted by a fire.

Like other restaurants in the Boise region, Orphan Annie’s recently pivoted its menu — which ranged from steak and burgers to Asian cuisine and seafood — to an increasing focus on takeout and curbside service. But any business struggles related to the coronavirus pandemic were not mentioned in the social media message to customers.

“We are looking forward to our retirement. Thank you for the wonderful memories.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 12:42 PM.