Major Boise chain restaurant closes over holidays but ‘epic’ replacement to open
A familiar fast-food destination on State Street in Boise went dark over the weekend. But something hot — in more ways than one — will brighten up its future.
Carl’s Jr. just closed its prominent, standalone restaurant at 1700 W. State St., across from an Albertsons grocery store.
Spicing up the building, Dave’s Hot Chicken plans to open there next.
Specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, Dave’s was founded in 2017 as a California pop-up. Since then, the fast-casual chain has exploded. “When a restaurant starts in an East Hollywood parking lot and ends up with nearly 1,000 locations in development, you know something epic is underway,” food website Tasting Table recently proclaimed. “Dave’s Hot Chicken has become the poster child for explosive growth in the restaurant industry, and 2025 is proving to be its biggest year yet.”
Idaho franchisees Doug and Amy Davis introduced Dave’s Hot Chicken to the Gem State with a Meridian restaurant in 2022 and a Nampa store in 2024. But Doug Davis — the man who brought Buffalo Wild Wings to Idaho before parting ways with that brand in 2015 — has always had his eye on the City of Trees.
“I will bring it to Boise,” he told the Statesman in early 2024. “I guarantee that.”
Fans of Dave’s Hot Chicken who live in the North End — not to mention Boise High School students — will have to be patient. “I hope to be open mid-August 2026,” Davis explained in a message.
It’s hard to view the Dave’s-for-Carl’s trade as anything less than a win for fast-food fans. And the neighborhood itself. The building, which is nearly 4,000 square feet, will be modernized by Dave’s Hot Chicken’s stylish street-mural look. “Our concept is a locally owned and operated franchise, deeply connected to the spirit of Boise and the North End,” according to information that Davis submitted to the city of Boise. “Public art reflects Boise’s unique character, and Dave’s street art embodies that spirit.”
The building also will be remodeled, “minimizing structural changes and optimizing existing infrastructure. The drive-thru will remain an essential service component and continue to operate under the new concept.
“In addition to the main dining and kitchen areas, the project will incorporate approximately 1,500 square feet of currently unoccupied space into the restaurant’s footprint. Consistent with the approach taken at our Meridian location, this area will be repurposed to include a climate-controlled indoor/outdoor patio as well as a new conference room and storage space.
“The patio will feature attractive garage-style doors, allowing the space to function as an open-air dining environment in favorable weather, while heating and cooling systems will ensure comfortable, year-round use.
“Interior upgrades will include new finishes, equipment installations, and modifications to meet Dave’s Hot Chicken’s prototype standards. Exterior improvements will focus on refreshed branding, signage, and design enhancements that align with the franchise’s identity while complementing the surrounding area.”
The demise of Carl’s Jr. on State Street follows the closure of another location last year at 226 S. Broadway Ave. — the first Carl’s Jr. in Boise. The year before that, Carl’s Jr. also closed at 4999 W. Glenwood St. in Garden City.
But if you’re craving a Carl’s Jr. hamburger? There are still plenty of options. The chain continues to operate Treasure Valley locations in Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Nampa.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM.