Diner Proposed to Serve Airport, Call Centers, and Idaho Falls

Another aspect to consider is the growth of our city and the growth of our airport. I am surprised an eatery like this does not exist in this area.

Also I forgot to mention the numerous businesses along Skyline that would probably frequent this diner, and the neighborhood within walking distance. This diner would probably attract families to walk over for dinner or a shake.

I haven’t had a chance to look at the exact design Joe, but I LOVE the idea.

This is one area where McNeil, as much as they frustrate me with their lack of clear info about T.C. and the 13 story tower, make me happy. I think in a lot of ways they have encouraged local people to think of additional goods and services not currently being met.

Have you ever thought about the the restaurant business for yourself?

I know someone mentioned the close gas station off of Granview, but I know that station won’t be sold for anything but another fuel station. Essentially, INL has a major say in who buys it as bio-fuesl (or other) that INL develops, they want pumped there.

Additionally, to be really useful and make some $, putting a restuarant/diner/eatery near where 800 people work daily, plus not only airline passengers, but those who may meet them or take them for their flights, and the airport businesses staff all would be much more likely to eat closer to the airport, IMHO.

One thing I’d consider, which I do believe you mentioned, but perhaps not quite on the scale I’d suggest, is having catering be a larger part of the business. Physically, it doesn’t take up more room for sit-down customers.

But more importantly, we know the Centers Partners recently landed a contract from a Fortunate 500 Business, as they have with other contracts. Higher end catering would allow for business discussions to occur in a more relaxed environment.

Quiet board rooms, confernce rooms etc. which can easily be converted to a private area to have lunch or dinner, while discussing business is often preferred by some clients. Sometimes those in charge want to interact with employees more, or just get a feel for how business is conducted by a local company.

There is a HUGE GAP - especially on the west side for quality catering to meet some of these needs.

Additionally, one group not really mentioned here, but should be considered, are the private air terminals. This is not about FVS - there are about 100 private planes and many terminals with private quarters at the airport leased to many businesses and/or individuals that may surprise some.

At other airports, for those who fly on private planes/jets/helicopters, there is often local catering for the flight crew, let alone the passengers. Additionally, it’s my understanding that some of the private terminals have meeting rooms in them. Once again, catering lunch service to those who fly in for business and wish to remain close to their aircraft, perhaps due to time constraints or whatever, would be a huge plus.

The private catering of privately owned aircraft MAY be done; however, on the web pages where that type of info is usually listed, I still cannot find it for Idaho Falls.

If someone really thinks about this idea, it would be worth it to learn more not only about the commercial airport traffic, but the private flights as well.

And if someon is willing to do the work to start this type of catering service (even prior to a diner being built), I’ll be happy to give you the correct spelling of my name for my “Finder’s Fee or Business Suggestion Fee.”

This is an untapped market waiting for either a group of people or someone to met the need.

Overall, I really, really like this idea of a eating establishment in the area shown above!

And the map makes this so much easier for those who aren’t familiar with the area to hopefully visualize it more easily.

I use to work over there and my husband currently does. I agree that something needs to be done because the area is horrible for traffic at lunch time. However, judging by where you are suggesting to put the building, I don’t believe that they can.

I worked over in that area before and around the time that the over flow parking lot was put in for the Qwest/CP employees. It took a long time for it to actually be approved due to the zoning around the airport. I don’t remember the exact reasoning but basically it had to do with the fact that there had to be a “buffer” around the airport in case of an accident (i.e. a plane driving off of the end of the runway).

Obviously CP and Qwest were able to compromise with the city and get the parking lot installed, but I would imagine the fight to put a building in that area would be much more in depth.

I believe that the time is rapidly approaching for the west side of IF to boom, loudly. There are still plenty of available lots and “abandoned” buildings (such as the old Ernst) that should begin to garner attention from prospective real estate investors. After all with all of the excitement generated by Taylor Crossing and their projects, the up and coming Snake River Landing, Sunnyside Crossroads, River View Plaza, and various other hotels and projects attention is turning quickly to the west side of town.

The Hitt Road/ 17th Street corridor has outgrown itself for now, regionally it only makes sense to place services near major employers (and future major employers) such as the INL, CAES, Quest, and Center Partners. Someone will see the need if they haven’t already, and will pounce on this opportunity.

Reading the Idaho State Journal this morning, they had a story on a guy in Oakley Utah who is doing this idea!

He bought a used diner back east for $27k and shipped it west. He said it seats 56 people, and estimates he will open it next May or June at a cost of about $600-700k. He could open it sooner, but he really wants to spec it out.

He noted that his will be the only diner of this type in the entire Idaho-Montana-Utah state area.

So if someone wanted to try this idea out, you’ve got a strongly recommended location, you’ve got cost estimates, google the subject and you’ll find more sellers in a minute than you’ll need.

Sure the Utah guy is spending a small fortune to refurbish his diner, but he is also doing it to create a crown jewel in his town. An Idaho Falls diner would just need to be made nice, so the cost would probably be much lower.

Please will someone do this!?!

We live by the airport and drive past the Apple Barrel many times daily. (We also encounter the awful traffic from the International Way buildup).

I don’t know how they did it, but they managed to stay in business without anyone really knowing they were there. If I drive past during the lunch hour the place is parked up and packed. At all other times it’s just about empty, in fact, it’s really hard to even know they are there (I thought they might be a little craft store or boutique, I think a fabric store was/is there). It wasn’t until the Mrs. Powell’s sign went up that I realized it probably was food related.

And not that I don’t enjoy food, because I may have personally paid the salaries of all the restaurant workers in IF/Ammon these past years, but I still haven’t stopped in to check these guys out.

Either they already have all the business they need/want, or they don’t really have a savvy marketing crew.

The packed parking lot at lunch says to me that their food must be at least acceptable. I’m going to make a more conscious effort to stop by some time.

This is a fabulous idea! I would take my family there just for the railcar diner experience.