When fire closed Willi B’s Saloon last July in a west Boise strip mall, its customers sprang to action.
Local bands organized benefit shows for the neighborhood bar, restaurant and music venue at 12505 W. Chinden Blvd. A GoFundMe page set up by a longtime patron generated nearly $14,000. More than 500 people joined a Friends of Willi B’s Facebook group.
But the closure, intended to be temporary, has become permanent. Willi B’s will not reopen, owner Steve Carper said in a message.
“The disaster rebuild guy estimated it would take a year to fix the Chinden location,” he said, “so I knew that wasn’t an option.”
After four months of searching for a new space that would be suitable — logistically and financially — Carper finally threw in the towel.
“I wanted to make it past five decades of service to the industry in this town, but it’s not to be,” Carper said. “… I don’t know how long I could keep working 18-hour days, anyway. After the fire, my health decided to act up again …”
Willi B’s was a favorite spot for local bands to perform.
Carper sold Willi B’s liquor license to the owners of The Funky Taco in downtown Boise — in the “nick of time,” he said. Idaho State Police’s Alcohol Beverage Control division had given him until Jan. 3 to reopen, find a new location or sell the license, he said.
Calling the community outpouring “very, very humbling,” Carper said he’s “incredibly grateful” for the fundraising support.
“The wonderful people who loved (Willi B’s) really came out in force,” he said, “and between them and all of the bands the donations summed up a very nice chunk of money.”
All told? More than $23,000, he said. But after final payroll, federal and state taxes, and paying off the balance of business insurance owed, “I had blown through what had been collected,” he said.
“Makes me sick,” Carper added. “But still incredibly appreciative and gracious, getting employees and government paid was critical; not always accomplished when a business closes.”
