Restaurant News

A Meridian staple for 20 years, this large restaurant and brewpub is for sale

It might not feel like it nowadays, but there was a time when everyone in the Treasure Valley knew about the Ram Restaurant & Brewery.

Part sports hangout, part brewpub, it’s the sort of wide-net concept that draws families, Boise State fans and — during the heyday of craft IPAs — even beer geeks.

With locations in Boise and Meridian, the regional Ram chain is a staple in the area. (Even if the allure of massive sports bars with dozens of TVs has waned over the years.)

But for how long?

The Ram’s building — and the property it sits on at 3272 E. Pine Ave. in Meridian — are for sale. The price? $3,995,000.

Don’t have $4 million to spend? It’s also available for lease.

It’s unclear what this means for the 6,456-square-foot restaurant and 1.45-acre property off Eagle Road. Is the Ram on a path to closing and being reborn as a different restaurant? Could it remain open even if a deal was made?

Candy Willcuts, director of marketing and communications for TOK Commercial Real Estate, declined to comment. An email sent to the Ram’s general feedback address was not immediately returned.

But without question, it’s a notable commercial real estate listing.

The Ram in Meridian opened in 2005. It followed the Ram in Boise, which debuted in 1996 at 709 E. Park Blvd. Both are part of a family-owned brand headquartered in Lakewood, Washington. In addition to the two Idaho locations, there are seven Ram restaurants in Washington and two in Oregon, according to the company website.

Not all Ram restaurants include breweries, even if they pour proprietary Big Horn beers. (They’ve won tons of medals, by the way, including golds at the Great American Beer Festival.) The Ram in Boise describes itself as a “restaurant & brewery.” But the Ram in Meridian is a “restaurant & brewhouse.”

Ram restaurants feature gastropub menus with hamburgers, pizzas, wings and more.
Ram restaurants feature gastropub menus with hamburgers, pizzas, wings and more. The Ram - Meridian/Facebook

Operating a large restaurant like the Ram in today’s economic climate can be a steep hill to climb. When these buildings do get vacated, it’s not unusual for them to languish for extended periods.

Will the Ram in Meridian stay open for the long term and continue to butt heads with smaller, nimbler competitors? Or is this property listing the first sign of extinction in Idaho for the chain?

Plenty of Meridian residents have fond memories inside the Ram. But, like nearly everything else in the transplant-saturated Gem State, familiar dining spots keep changing.

This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM.

Related Stories from Idaho Statesman
Michael Deeds
Idaho Statesman
Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane. 
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER