Popular Boise Dive Bar Finds New Location Weeks After Closing

When you've been going to the same restaurant or bar for years, you feel a little lost once they close their doors. People who once considered this Southeast Boise bar "home," won't be lost much longer!

Image via Google Maps

In early March, Eastside Tavern at 610 E Boise Avenue confirmed rumors that had been swirling around the neighborhood for a few weeks. The Eastgate Shopping Center is planning to rebrand and the bar was not part of their vision. Eastside Tavern was informed that their lease was not being renewed and announced the bar would close at the end of April. In the announcement on Facebook, the management told patrons:

Fear not!! We have plans, big plans! And we don’t plan on being down for very long. So stick with us for news, memories, tears, beers (and shots! and community. We truly love you all and are looking forward to the next chapter.

Now we know a little more about what that next chapter looks like. The bar posted an update on their Facebook page on May 12 reading:

<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto">LET IT BE KNOWN</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto">Eastside Tavern’s doors will be open before the end of summer!!! Opportunities presented themselves, hand shakes where shared and ink was put to paper………..</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto">Our new home is……….</div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto">1228 S. Oakland Ave.</div><div dir="auto">Boise, Idaho 83706</div></div>

The new location is just two miles and a five minute drive from Eastside Tavern's old location. While fans of Eastside Tavern were really excited, they were also really confused. 1228 S Oakland Ave is the current home of the popular college bar, Cricket's Tavern. According to their Facebook page, Cricket's has been around for over 18 years.

Image via Google Maps

Cricket's recently confirmed that its last day will be Sunday, May 29. Eastside will take control of the building on June 1.

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What's Next for Eastside Tavern's Old Location?

When we first heard the rumor that Eastside's lease was not being renewed, the word on the street was that the Eastgate Shopping Center wanted a more family "friendly tenant." Could they have found that in Play It Again Sports? Public records show that the City of Boise has approved a zoning certificate to move the existing storefront 16' forward for a new tenant. The project's name is listed as "Play It Again Sports" and the address is indeed, 610 E Boise Ave.

Image via Google Maps

Play it Again does have a new Boise location listed as "coming soon" on their website, but it doesn't list an address. If this is the new location, it will be the second time this plaza has had a sporting goods store. Before Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy, they had a store the Eastgate Shopping Center. It closed in 2014. After the Hastings store next door to Sports Authority closed, D&B Supply remodeled both spaces and opened in November 2017.

Play it Again currently has three stores in Idaho: one on Fairview in Boise, one on Sundance Rd. in Nampa and one in Idaho Falls.

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Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart