‘Scrambling,’ this revamped Boise restaurant reopened. Weeks later? Closed again
After closing in December to remodel and upgrade its concept, downtown Boise restaurant Calle 75 Street Tacos finally reopened this spring — raring to go.
“We can’t wait to see everyone in our new space,” Calle 75 enthused online.
But six weeks after the restaurant returned to action, its marketing hot sauce has gone cold.
The newly stylish eatery — rebranded as Calle 75 Taco Shop — has shuttered again.
Calling it a “difficult decision,” Calle 75 explained on social media that it decided to “pause service.”
For the time being, Calle 75’s husband-and-wife owners plan to focus on catering — and, starting Tuesday, limited restaurant business. Despite colorful upgrades to the interior, Calle 75 will restrict public access to its takeout window, where weekday lunches will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
“A few loyal team members are sticking with us,” Calle 75 explained.
‘Beautifully renovated’
So what happened?
“In early March, we lost our head chef unexpectedly,” the restaurant wrote in a lengthy explanation on social media. “We had worked and crafted a menu that was to be executed by this person. It left us scrambling and uncertain. After being closed for three months and spending money on a beautifully renovated space, we needed to start the machine again and open the revenue stream.
“We rallied; pulled together and jumped into the kitchen ourselves, determined to get the doors open. What we didn’t expect was just how tough it would be to build a team. With so many new restaurants opening downtown, the pool of experienced cooks and servers is stretched thin. From day one, we were running with a skeleton crew.
“We are committed to paying a livable wage, something we believe in deeply. But with food priced to be accessible, the math doesn’t quite work in today’s restaurant economy without significant price increases. We’re not interested in cutting corners or compromising quality just to stay open.”
‘Opening our kitchen’
Adapting, Calle 75’s owners still hope to find a way to keep the restaurant’s culinary heartbeat strong.
“We ultimately envision opening our kitchen to some young, talented and creative individuals who want to show off their taco slinging skills in our restaurant space and on the biggest stage (downtown Boise) in the Treasure Valley. This could be hosting our community partners for a short term or if the fit is right, a residency. If you are an aspiring chef who has a team and you are looking to make the jump from street vendor to brick and mortar, please reach out to us. We would love to have the conversation.”
Thanking customers, the local Mexican-restaurant brand promised that “as our community continues to grow and evolve, we will as well.”
For years, Calle 75 offered restaurants in two cities. But after a decade at The Village at Meridian, Calle 75’s small taqueria closed there in 2024.
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM.