Do you want to know what’s going on in the East Idaho business scene? We have what you need. Here’s a look at this week’s economic news across the valley.
BIZ BRIEF
IDAHO FALLS
Texas-based wings franchise to open in Idaho Falls soon
IDAHO FALLS – A Texas-based restaurant chain is opening its first location in eastern Idaho this month.
Wing Stop, which is known for its selection of buffalo-style chicken wings, opens at Sagewood Plaza in the building formerly occupied by Kiwi Loco at 3198 South 25th East in Idaho Falls.
Owner Jake Lindsay told EastIdahoNews.com he plans to open in late June.
“We’re trying really hard to have a smooth opening at the end of June,” said Lindsay. “I don’t know if it’s going to be a grand opening or just a heavily marketed opening afterwards once we get our feet wet.”
The renovations began in March, several months after Lindsay signed the lease for the building. Wind River Construction is the contractor for the project.
The menu will include 11 different flavors of traditional bone-in and boneless chicken wings. Some of the more popular flavors are Classic Hot, Lemon Pepper, and Korean Spicy. Other dishes on the menu include chicken strips and freshly cut fries from potatoes grown on Wada Farms in Idaho Falls.
“When I went to train in Dallas, they were thrilled the boys from Idaho came because they got their potato contracts with them,” Lindsay said.
RELATED | New and old local restaurants fall victim to COVID-19 pandemic
Kiwi Loco closed in August 2020 after five months of activity and fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lindsay is a huge fan of Wings and felt Idaho Falls was a good location for a franchise location. As the owner of Jimmy John’s in the nearby neighborhood, Lindsay says this particular location provided a good opportunity to enhance her experience as a restaurateur.
“Wing Stop is a very nighttime business, whereas Jimmy John’s is more of a lunchtime business. I felt it would be a good mix to diversify my dining options, ”he says.
Wing Stop opened in 1994 as a small private restaurant in Garland, Texas, according to BizMojo.com. It opened its first franchise location in 1997 and has since grown to include 1,500 locations across the United States. Each store is decorated with a pre-jet aviation theme from the 1930s and 1940s.
There are currently two locations in the Boise area. The Idaho Falls store will be the third location in Idaho.
Once the restaurant is operational, Lindsay says he plans to open another store in Rexburg, Pocatello and Twin Falls.
“I have a really good team – a district manager named Spencer Price and another manager named Josh Nate. They are going to help me set them up. If things are going well we will consider making more shutdowns. ‘wing, “says Lindsay.” We’ve had it for a while and we’re excited to bring Wing Stop to Idaho Falls and get started. “
Lindsay expects the restaurant to be open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday with a closing time of 11:00 p.m. or later on Friday and Saturday.
BITS BIZ
Local businesses team up for first-ever drone and fireworks show this month
BLACKFOOT – Bingham Healthcare and Idaho Central Credit Union join forces to present the Liberty Fireworks Show 2021. The companies have added a drone light show that will be paired with the fireworks to make this year’s show even more awe-inspiring. This extraordinary exhibit will take place on Saturday, June 26 at 10:05 p.m. at Jensen’s Grove in Blackfoot.
The Bingham / ICCU Liberty Fireworks Show is the closing event of the Celebrate Blackfoot Community Festival which starts at 9 a.m. and features activities and food vendors throughout the
daytime.
CEI announces plan for new technology building
IDAHO FALLS – College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls has released the latest design concepts for its new future Tech Building. The college is actively raising funds for the state-of-the-art facility and hopes to complete the project in late 2023 or early 2024. The proposed 88,000-square-foot, two-story building will house the teaching programs. current and future professional technique that advance the capabilities of the workforce and education in the fields of energy, environment and technology.
The Future Tech building will create a new walkway to campus along 25th East / Hitt Road at the traffic light and the intersection with Walmart. The site is located at the north end of the campus, expanding the quad campus to the north and connecting to Future Tech.
The estimated cost of the building is $ 40 million, from grants and money set aside by the school.
Local utility company members to elect 3 new board members this month
ASHTON – Fall River Electric members will elect three board members in June from a shortlist of seven nominees. Each year, member-owners of the cooperative have the opportunity to elect three board members who will each serve a three-year term. Candidates are running in three of the nine districts, including Rexburg / Rigby District 1, District 5 which encompasses an area of northwest Driggs through the Tetonia and Felt region, and District 6, which is the region from Ashton. All members of the cooperative have the right to vote for these candidates, no matter where they live. Voting can be done online, by mail-in ballot, or in person at the co-op’s Energy Expo on June 19 at North Fremont High School in Ashton.
The winners will be announced at the end of the business meeting portion of the Energy Expo.
Click here for more information.
IN CASE YOU MISS IT …
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New escape room helps patrons relive the Teton Dam disaster 45 years after it happened
Theater pulls out of Jackson Hole Junction as car dealership, apartments announce moving in
