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What’s happening to old Louie’s Pizza spot? Historic building reopening after 15 years

Ever since the Louie’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant closed in 2007, the historic building at 620 W. Idaho St. has stood empty. That will soon change.

Barclay Group, a development company with offices in Boise, Phoenix and Tampa, has begun the process of remodeling and reopening the space. If all goes smoothly, three new tenants are expected to open their doors in spring 2022.

“As a native of Boise, Idaho, Louie’s used to be my favorite restaurant growing up and seeing that buildings sitting there empty for so many years was, in my opinion, a travesty,” Ryan Gaston, senior vice president of development at Barclay, told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview.

A rendering shows a early design idea for the interior of the 620 W. Idaho St building. Architect Eric Anderson said the final design will look different as tenants provide input.
A rendering shows a early design idea for the interior of the 620 W. Idaho St building. Architect Eric Anderson said the final design will look different as tenants provide input.

Gaston said not all tenants are ready to announce their names, but city filings provide a few clues as to who will be moving in. The top two floors will include a gastropub restaurant and a speakeasy called 620 Idaho Cocktail Lounge.

Spacebar, a bar known for its classic arcade games and trivia nights, will move to the basement of 620 W. Idaho St. Spacebar is now just around the corner at 200 N. Capitol Blvd. The owners wanted a larger space, Gaston said.

The building was first built in 1940 by Benito Ysursa, grandfather of former Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa. It began as The Valencia Basque boarding house and restaurant, but later housed Levi’s Alley, Les’s Stereo Lounge and Louie’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant.

The architect and developer worked with the city to ensure all exterior remodels were in line with historic codes. In the remodel, they hope to include revitalizing the exterior finishes, repairing brickwork, cleaning windows, installing an elevator and adding light fixtures and wood planters.

A new concrete pad at the door would be inlaid with the name of the bar in metal letters. They hope to change the paint colors as well. The lower dark green paint would be changed to a dark charcoal, and the upper beige paint would be changed to a more muted beige. The city has not yet approved these plans. The project is still in the design review phase.

The outdoor space behind it could get a new look too.

“The alley space hidden along the east portion of the building provides a unique opportunity for an unique seating area (and) dining experience with a similar feel to freak alley,” said architect Eric Anderson of ALC Architecture in an email.

A rendering depicts the proposed updated exterior of 620 W. Idaho St. If approved, it would have new colors, light fixtures and outdoor decor.
A rendering depicts the proposed updated exterior of 620 W. Idaho St. If approved, it would have new colors, light fixtures and outdoor decor.

Updating a building shuttered for so long with historical code limitations presented unique challenges.

“We continually face challenges with outdated systems not complying with current code and then finding solutions to bring in new systems into the building that meet current code while maintaining the historic value of the building,” Anderson said. “Identifying what can stay and what can go in a historic building always is a challenge. The city of Boise has been very helpful as we move through the design and permitting process.”

The interior will get a more dramatic remodel. It will be stripped and completely rebuilt, Gaston said. The two stories above ground cover 8,600 square feet with another 4,500 square feet in the basement. It will have higher ceilings with an open “warehouse feeling to it.” One tenant is going for more industrial, modern decor while the hidden bar will have a polished, intimate feel to it.

“We’re opening up (and) exposing all the structure, so giving the warehouse, exposed-structure look to the project,” Anderson said in a phone interview.

The building at 610 W. Idaho St that houses the Western Proper restaurant next to 620 W. Idaho St is also owned by Barclay Group.
The building at 610 W. Idaho St that houses the Western Proper restaurant next to 620 W. Idaho St is also owned by Barclay Group.

Barclay Group, which has a Boise office on West Shoreline Drive, purchased the building in 2018. It had hoped to begin remodeling last year but was delayed by the pandemic. Plans to build a large coffee shop were scrapped. They renewed their efforts two months ago, according to Gaston.

Barclay also owns and remodeled the building next door. Western Proper, a restaurant, bar and game center, opened this summer. It had been empty since 2014 when the Old Spaghetti Factory moved out.

“Having two empty buildings in the core of downtown Boise just did not make any sense to me,” Gaston said. “So that’s why we bought both of them and (it will) hopefully revitalize that whole Idaho Street.”

The developers hope reopening the building will breathe new life into that section of the block. Anderson noted that it will be open from morning to night, with one tenant serving breakfast and another serving drinks until 2 a.m.

“Between the two buildings and all the different uses coming in, it’s really going to be kind of a new area that’s revitalized and have a lot of good energy,” Anderson said.

“The exterior refresh of the building will be minor, however we think the refresh will add to the streetscape of the surrounding buildings and look current with the surroundings,” Anderson said.
“The exterior refresh of the building will be minor, however we think the refresh will add to the streetscape of the surrounding buildings and look current with the surroundings,” Anderson said.

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Sally Krutzig covers Treasure Valley growth and development. Have a story suggestion or a question? Email Krutzig at skrutzig@idahostatesman.com.