‘That just killed us’: 30+ restaurants that closed in the Boise area in 2022

Boise’s growing food scene keeps getting tastier and tastier.

But the restaurant business itself? It’s as challenging as ever. And dynamic.

Much like the previous year, rising costs, employee shortages and supply-chain difficulties hampered the industry nationwide.

And, sometimes, restaurateurs just decided to retire or move on.

Below, in loose chronological order, is a list of Treasure Valley restaurants that shuttered in 2022.

Know of other notable closures? Have a related news tip? Shoot an email to mdeeds@idahostatesman.com.

Buster’s

The Eagle location of Buster’s, 1396 E. State, St. shut down in January. Opened in 1999, it was the last Buster’s sports bar standing in the Treasure Valley. The original Buster’s appeared on Broadway Avenue in 1983 and served Boiseans for more than 30 years — until 2015. A second followed on Overland Road in Boise in 1991. It lasted about a decade. The old Eagle Buster’s now is hamburger haven Holy Cow Idaho.

Sage Cafe

Located at 2929 Franklin Road — at a truck stop — the longtime roadside diner in Caldwell shuttered Jan. 28. It had dished up home-style meals for 28 years inside the Sage Travel Plaza off Interstate 84’s exit 29.

Ed’s 50s Cafe

After nearly a decade, the longtime breakfast destination closed in Meridian at 979 S. Progress Ave. Ed’s 50s Cafe had specialized in home-style breakfast, burgers, melts and sandwiches at modest prices. The restaurant was sold and reopened as Tipsy Chef Cafe.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

Both the franchise chain’s Treasure Valley locations closed permanently in February: at 1592 E. Riverside Lane, suite 120, in Eagle, and at 505 W. Idaho St. in Boise. Local franchisee Shawn Tierney said “it was everything” that caused his wife and him to pull the plug. “We had grand plans for Taziki’s,” he explained in a phone interview. “And I think once you get kicked in the shins by something like COVID — and then the residual effects that continue to compound the problems in hospitality — you have to make a business decision. You have to say this isn’t exactly what we had projected.”

Quiznos

The last Idaho location of a brand known for toasted submarine sandwiches became toast itself. Quiznos shuttered at 2250 E. Gowen Road in Boise. It’s now a second location for local sandwich shop Fat Guy’s Fresh Deli.

Crescent Public House

After taking over the former Crescent “No Lawyers” Bar & Grill, Crescent Public House, 5500 W. Franklin Road in Boise, closed after five months — “due to unforeseen circumstances,” according to a note posted on the doors. Crescent Public House had debuted in December 2021 in the longtime sports bar space, serving “upscale pub fare with a foodie twist.”

The Hyde House

The Hyde House’s abrupt Boise closure in April drew a storm of media attention after stunned employees complained of bounced paychecks and a co-owner not returning calls and messages. The restaurant at 1607 N. 13th St., which looks like a North End home, has been reopened as Apericena on 13th, an Italian-inspired concept.

Petite 4

The French-inspired bistro at 4 N. Latah St. in Boise shuttered dinner service at the end of May. “The price of doing business in the present market has outpaced profitability,” its website explained. “... Our goal was to make it five years and step away in 2023, but taking the present circumstances, and our own mental and physical conditions in mind, we have decided to end it now.” Petite 4 has kept its brand alive with Saturday morning coffee and doughnuts on its patio, Sunday chicken dinners to-go, pop-ups and private events.

Meraki Greek Street Food

After a conflict involving a rent increase, the downtown Boise restaurant closed at 345 S. 8th St. A Clucks Nashville Hot Chicken took over the space. Meraki returned with a new location in the Interactive Learning Center on the Boise State campus. The local brand also sells its food through Crave Delivery.

Locavore

The bistro and cafe at 3110 S. Bown Way closed after a “12-year journey,” as chef and owner Christine Reid put it on Instagram. “And thanks to all of our clients, friends and family you made her what she is today! Unfortunately, our lease renewal is up and the market has doubled, food costs are outrageous, food shortages are exhausting.” Nara Ramen & Izakaya plans to open a second Boise location in the Bown Crossing space in the first quarter of 2023.

Joe’s Crab Shack

For 19 years, Boiseans had relaxed on the patio outside Joe’s Crab Shack while the Boise River gurgled past. But the longtime chain restaurant and bar closed at 2288 N. Garden St. in June. Still, the ship hasn’t sailed on that prime outdoor dining spot. Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill is slated to take over the revamped space in 2023.

Flatbread Neapolitan

The regional chain’s downtown Boise location shuttered at 800 W. Main St. on the second floor of the Zions Bank building. Why? “Simply put, the lack of humans necessary to properly staff our kitchen,” a note explained. “After having the pleasure of serving you from this beautiful restaurant for over eight years, we say thank you! We invite you to visit our other locations in Bown Crossing, the original of 17 years, and our location at the Eagle Island Marketplace, should you need your Flatbread craving satisfied.”

Kopper Kitchen

After nearly half a century, the Boise diner dished up its last home-style breakfast and finger-steak dinner. A locally owned restaurant and bar at 2661 W. Airport Way since 1977, according to its website, it served Idaho residents and airline travelers. Kopper Kitchen was taken over by its most recent owners in 2019, according to its Facebook page.

Deluca’s

Opened near the end of 2020, the upscale Italian-American restaurant called it quits at 855 W. Broad St. in June. Many Boiseans still remember the space as the former home of Ha’Penny Bridge Irish Pub, which inhabited it for nearly 18 years.

Barrelhouse Pub and Grill

The locally owned restaurant and bar has closed both of its locations. Launched in early 2020, the Barrelhouse at 5181 N. Glenwood St. in Garden City was shuttered Oct. 9. After losing access to a leased liquor license, it was unable to pour and sell hard alcohol. “That just killed us,” co-owner Jerry Miller said. A second Barrelhouse at 855 W. Broad St. in downtown Boise was shuttered weeks after it was launched in late June. The short-lived concept had replaced Deluca’s Italian-American restaurant.

Thai Basil

After a three-year run, the local chain shuttered its Boise store at 590 E. Boise Ave. The restaurant had been offering takeout food but no seated dining. Its Meridian location remains open at 3161 E. Fairview Ave., on the busy corner of Eagle Road and Fairview Avenue. “We fought really hard to keep our doors open and serve quality Thai dishes every day through COVID and takeout-only for the majority of our time here,” Thai Basil posted on Facebook. “Unfortunately with our struggle to find adequate staffing, we have decided to focus our efforts on our original main location in Meridian.”

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

The Utah-based chain closed its only Treasure Valley location, at 3450 N. Eagle Road in Meridian. That building now is a Dave’s Hot Chicken. But Kneaders plans to build a new restaurant from the ground up and open in 2023 at Chinden Boulevard and Linder Road. It will be part of the Orchard Park development, with WinCo and other businesses.

Sakana Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill

Located near the busy intersection of Glenwood and State streets, Sakana closed at 7107 W. State St. this summer. Sakana had been in that location — in Garden City, technically — since 2016. The local Asian brand still operates at 925 S. Vista Ave. in Boise and at 1718 S. Eagle Road in Meridian. The old Sakana spot has been taken over by Krung Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar.

Ono Bento

The modest but well-reviewed red food stand — which served Hawaiian plate lunches “with a twist of Asian cuisine” — had earned a perfect 5.0 rating on Yelp. But it closed Sept. 24 at Five Mile and Ustick roads “due to a family matter,” according to its website.

Jalapeno’s Bar & Grill

The Southeast Boise restaurant at 1055 S. Broadway Ave. lasted four years. Owners Irma Valdivia and Leticia McLaughlin said on Facebook that they were “ready to focus on our families and our two other locations. Simply put, we can’t be in two places at once.” Describing their Broadway run as “glorious,” the sisters encouraged customers to visit the other Jalapeno’s restaurants, which have lengthy histories. Jalapeno’s debuted in Nampa in 2006 at 1921 Caldwell Blvd. before expanding into Boise three years later at 8799 W. Franklin Road.

Parkside Market

Opened in January on the ground level of the 11th & Idaho building in downtown Boise, Parkside quickly drew raves from local sandwich aficionados. An Idaho Statesman restaurant review enthusiastically described its creations as “delicious.” Still, Parkside closed — before quickly reopening Oct. 10, rebranded as Green’s Market. It was taken over by the owners of Green Acres Food Truck Park.

Paddles Up Poke

After expanding to Caldwell in late 2021, Paddles Up Poke ended the store 11 months later at 712 Arthur St. in Indian Creek Plaza. It will be taken over by a Gandolfo’s Deli, Paddles Up owner Dan Landucci said. Since opening its original downtown Boise store in 2017, Paddles Up Poke has expanded steadily. In addition to that restaurant, Paddles Up also opened recently inside The Warehouse Food Hall at 370 S. 8th St. Other locations are inside the Education Building at Boise State University, at 3690 E. Monarch Sky Lane at The Village at Meridian, and at 1217 1st St. South in Nampa.

Sun Ray Cafe

It was the end of an era when Sun Ray Cafe called it quits in October. Since 2007, cyclists, Hyde Park shoppers, neighborhood residents and their tail-wagging pals have dropped by 1602 N. 13th St. to relax on the patio, feast on pizza and drink beer. The iconic North End eatery’s history actually goes back further — for decades. It previously was a similar restaurant called Lucky 13. (Under different ownership, Lucky 13 relocated to Harris Ranch when Sun Ray Cafe took over.) Sun Ray closed because longtime owner Dave Martin was “tired,” he told the Statesman. “Just worn out. I can’t do it any longer.” Martin said he expects a new restaurant to lease the spot and open next spring.

Pizza Pie Cafe

Pizza Pie Cafe, 2757 S. Broadway Ave. in Boise, shuttered at the end of October. The locally owned franchise restaurant, which served all-you-can eat pizza, pasta and salad buffets, opened in 2015 at the Shopko Plaza. Thanking customers, Pizza Pie Cafe announced the permanent closure “with deep sadness” on Facebook. “There are a variety of reasons,” the owners explained, “but the biggest issue is not having the staff to run the store any longer.”

Voicebox Karaoke

If you were pondering the idea of booking your next birthday party at a downtown Boise karaoke lounge, start humming a sad song. Voicebox Karaoke, 781 W. Front St., has turned off the lights. The Portland-based chain pulled the plug on its Boise location at the end of October, sharing the news on Facebook. Voicebox Karaoke offered restaurant service and, crucially, a full bar — to help give amateur singers the liquid courage to stretch for that sky-scraping Whitney Houston note.

Sizzler

A price-conscious belly filler since 1977, the family-style restaurant at 501 Caldwell Blvd. in Nampa closed Nov. 29. The cost of operating had become “unsustainable,” local co-owner Gretchen Anderson explained in an email. Anderson and her husband, Buster Minshew, continue to run the lone remaining Sizzler in the Treasure Valley. That Meridian restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 3380 N. Eagle Road. Known for its steaks, seafood and salad bar, Sizzler was founded in 1958 and still operates in multiple Western states — primarily California.

208 Pho & Vegan

Locally owned 208 Pho & Vegan, 8675 W. Franklin Road, said goodbye in early December. Owner An Nguyen shuttered the Vietnamese eatery after a run of about 2 1/2 years. A challenging economy and other factors hurt business, he said. The closure means that 208 Pho & Vegan no longer exists in Boise. The original restaurant at 812 W. Fort St. — opened in 2016 — was changed to Pho Real earlier this year. It is owned by Nguyen’s sister, he said.

Asiago’s

A familiar Italian-inspired restaurant on Main Street in Boise will close after two decades — and be turned to “dust.” Asiago’s, 1002 W. Main St., has announced that it will shutter at the end of 2022. The restaurant is slated to be replaced by a new concept called Stardust in February. Asiago’s opened the downtown Boise location in March 2002, according to previous Statesman reporting. Asiago’s Downtown, as it was called originally, was an expansion of the original Asiago’s Ristorante, which opened at 3423 N. Cole Road in 1997 and lasted a decade.

Txikiteo

Time is short for the Basque-inspired tapas and wine destination at 175 N. 14th St. in Boise. It will close after a final hurrah on New Year’s Eve. “The lease on our space in the Watercooler building is up at the end of the year, giving us an opportunity to start thinking about a new year with a new direction,” Txikiteo explained online. That “new direction” isn’t clear. “Thank you for all your support over the years. It seriously means the world to us,” Txikiteo wrote. “Watch for updates for our next adventure.”

This story was originally published December 29, 2022 at 4:00 AM.