‘I want my neighborhood bar back!’ This beloved Boise dive closed in March. Here’s why

Sometimes “dive bar” is a term of endearment.

Jumpin’ Janet’s seemed to have it all: Eight pool tables, a long row of pinball machines, tasty pub food, flat-screen TVs. A recent change in ownership added fresh energy to the traditional bar and grill at 574 W. Vista Ave.

Until it closed.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Jumpin’ Janet’s let Boise know that something was up. “Due to unforeseeable circumstances,” the bar wrote on Facebook, “we had to close this week. We were hoping to be able to open back up today but unfortunately that’s not the case, so we will be closed throughout the weekend as well. We will keep you updated and hope to see you soon!”

That weekend stretched into a month. Updates never came.

“I want my neighborhood bar back”! one customer commented, adding an animated image of a crying baby.

“How long we talkin’ here?” asked another.

Here’s the deal: Jumpin’ Janet’s wants to be open.

“It’s been really hard,” owner Stephnie Homer said in a phone interview. “A lot of people are like family. It’s been very difficult.”

Homer, who took over Jumpin’ Janet’s in November, is resolving some business issues, she said. “When I bought the bar, some of the paperwork wasn’t done properly, and so we just had to basically go back and redo everything. Right now, we’re just waiting on permits.”

Bottom line? Jumpin’ Janet’s no longer has a liquor license, Homer said.

She plans to reopen it soon as a restaurant serving beer and wine. “Hopefully by May 1,” Homer said.

She intends to purchase a liquor license in the future, she added.

Since buying the bar, Homer has made improvements — mainly TLC: “We’ve done a lot of work on it,” she said. “... Kind of fixed it up but not changed too much.”

“While we’ve been closed,” she added, “we redid the patio. It’s expanded. It kind of had a sidewalk patio before.”

If all goes according to plan, regulars will be enjoying it this spring. Sipping beer and wine. And eating from Jumpin’ Janet’s menu, which Homer left mostly the same. “We’ve added a couple of new things. New pork tacos, they’re really, really good.”

Until then?

“I’m just working my butt off trying to do everything I can to get it open,” Homer said. “But I want to make sure it’s done right, so we don’t have to worry about it.”

This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 4:00 AM.