This popular Boise grocery store had a bar inside — with a view. It just closed
When Whole Foods Market made its Idaho debut more than a decade ago, it introduced Boise to all sorts of grocery store bells and whistles.
But one of the most memorable amenities recently vanished at 401 S. Broadway Ave.
The River Room, a taproom on the second floor, closed July 5.
Shuttering the bar and restaurant was a business decision, according to a Whole Foods Market spokesperson. River Room employees have been reassigned at the store, the spokesperson said by email.
At its inception, the River Room was a craft beer haven. Featuring a sweeping view of the Boise Foothills outside, it launched with 16 Idaho beers and three local wines on tap, the Statesman reported in 2012.
“One of the coolest features in the River Room,” the Statesman wrote, “will be a Chill-Rite Frost Rail System on the bar that creates a crisp, dry layer of frost on the bar top to keep your beer cold.”
When its run finally ended, the River Room rated 4.1 out of 5 stars on Yelp and 4.5 out of 5 on Google.
Now that the taproom has been shuttered, the space is being used as cafe seating while additional possibilities are considered, the spokesperson said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM.