Jalapeno’s celebrates 25th anniversary
By: Caroline Lobsinger
(Courtesy photo) A few of the Jalapeno’s staff pose for a group photo. The iconic Sandpoint restaurant recently celebrated its 25th year in business.
SANDPOINT — Good food and good times combine at Jalapeno’s.
It’s easy to see why, then, that the restaurant recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in business.
Jalapeno’s got its start when Chad and Shari French started the now iconic restaurant in mid-April 1993, first on Cedar Street in the old Bootery building and then adding a second location on First Avenue, where Starbucks is now located. When they bought the old Elks on Second Avenue with partners in 1998, splitting the property with the Frenches remodeling the left half of the building, they closed the first two locations and combined everything into the new property.
When the couple was looking to sell the restaurant in 2013, Chet French approached local restaurateur Justin Dick after hearing he was looking for a new project. Dick was, in fact, looking for a project to do with friend Dave Vermeer, who was then managing the Coldwater Creek wine bar.
French wanted to sell Jalapeno’s to someone local who would continue what the couple had built — a restaurant dedicated to both good food and the community.
“The opportunity presented itself and they wanted to sell it to somebody local so it worked for us to take that on and kind of continue their legacy,” Vermeer said. “That’s what we all really wanted to do.”
Vermeer, who had been in the beer and wine business for 20 years, and Dick, the owner of several other area restaurants, took over Jalapeno’s on Jan. 1, 2014.
Until they were approached by the Frenches, the pair had never considered the possibility. However, as soon as they heard what he had to say, they knew it was a perfect fit and were immediately on board.
“Being able to buy an iconic Sandpoint restaurant, to be a part of it and to carry on the legacy of what they’d built has been amazing,” Vermeer added.
When they bought the restaurant, the pair hired all the employees already on staff. They didn’t want there to be a transition and, having both been involved in the industry for a number of years, they knew the value of a great staff. Initially, they kept the menu exactly as it was — in part because it was a successful menu and because folks made a point of approaching them in the store and letting them know how much they liked Jalapeno’s and hoped it wouldn’t change.
“Getting all that local feedback, we just really, really tried to not change the menu at all,” Vermeer said. “But over the last three or four years, we’ve definitely started to introduce new items and I guess more creative type items. The menu was very set and it’s got all the classics on it but there wasn’t a lot of new or fun things on it so we’ve started adding those.”
Among those items — which are quickly becoming classics on their own right — are the Juan-tons, packed with cheese, bacon and roasted serrano peppers. “They’re like a jalapeno popper but better,” Vermeer noted.
The menu has its origins in Jalisco, Mexico, as well as San Diego, Calif., where the Frenches were from. The serrano pepper is a key part of the region’s flavors and offers a more consistent pepper flavor as well. It was natural then — and now — to base the menu on that region.
It’s amazing to think that Jalapeno’s has been open for 25 years, Vermeer said, quick to give the credit to the restaurant’s employees, many of whom have been with them for years, and to the community for making a spot for them in their hearts.
“For a restaurant to make it, we feel it’s really incredible but we couldn’t make it without Sandpoint,” he added. “We want to really thank the customers and employees who have been with us for so long.”
It’s important for the pair, said Vermeer, to be a good community partner and, as a result, they contribute regularly to various fundraisers and events.
They also recognize it is important both evolve the menu, adding it fun new trends like the Juan-ton and recognition of the community’s diverse palates, ensuring the menu has something for everyone, from beef, chicken and seafood to vegetarian and gluten-free fare.
“We have a big menu and it’s complicated but everybody has something that they like and we want everyone to be happy,” Vermeer said.
While they’ve only been a part of the Jalapeno’s story for 5 years of so, Vermeer said he and Dick feel a responsibility to carry on the traditions and legacy started by the French family.
“We’re carrying on something that was started before us and they trusted us,” he added. “We feel responsible to keep doing it right.”
Information: Jalapeno’s, 314 N. Second Ave.; phone, 208-263-2995; online, sandpointjalapenos.com; or Facebook, facebook.com/JalapenosMexicanRestaurant
