Restaurant customers staying closer to home
Restaurant customers staying closer to home
06:37 PM MDT on Monday, August 18, 2008
Story by Joni Shriver / KTVB
BOISE -- Another Downtown Boise restaurant is closing its doors and community leaders say as Boise’s population shifts west, so do the businesses.
After five years, Satchel’s Grill on Bannock Street is the 5th restaurant since April to be closing its doors in Downtown.
"And with the sagging economy you know it started slowing down for a lot of Downtown restaurants last spring, and so that's been over a year now and we're at a point now where we just can't keep our heads above water now," said Dominic Delaquil, Satchel's Grill owner.
The Milky Way, Mortimer’s, Andrae's and the 8th Street Wine Company have all announced their departures from Boise in the past six months.
But across town it is a different story.
"Several of the restaurants that have closed in Boise have opened in Meridian. Louie’s Restaurant, Gino's is relocating in one of our mixed-use developments in Bridgetower, so you are seeing them recognize where the population center is and they’re listening to their patrons as well, come closer to where we live," said Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
In Downtown Meridian, locally owned Andrew’s Rib Shack is a new fixture.
"People don't necessarily want to drive a long way to go to the restaurant. They’re choosing restaurants closer to them," said Saundra McDavid, Andrew's Rib Shack owner. "I haven't seen the major restaurant closures like we've seen in the Boise area."
There are 80 restaurants in Downtown Boise.
The city's Downtown Business Association says even though six restaurants have closed in the past year, 10 new restaurants have opened their doors.
Meanwhile, a group of loyal Satchel's fans are organizing a last ditch effort to save the restaurant.
They’ll meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Satchel's to talk about finding investors to keep the restaurant open.
