Meridian waited all year for this large, ‘one-of-a-kind’ bar to open. It’s party time
Forget summer. With fall approaching, prime patio season is just starting.
Especially with one of the Boise area’s most highly anticipated entertainment destinations for grown-ups finally open.
Maddie’s Wine and Whiskey, 835 E. Fairview Ave., unlocked its doors last week in Meridian. With three outdoor patios. Plenty of fire pits. And no minors allowed.
The bar, located in a transformed Ultra Touch car wash, originally had hopes to open as early as May.
A few months later, it’s party time.
“We’re done,” says Talie Anchustegui, operations manager. “We’re doing it. We’re not to the finish line yet, but at least we’re a lot closer than we were.”
That finish line she’s referring to? A grand opening weekend celebration — Sept. 8-9.
Whiskey, wine, exploration
With over 60 whiskeys and 400 wine options, Maddie’s has plenty of choices for discerning palates.
But the exploration isn’t limited to alcohol.
Garage doors around the building’s exterior and expansive outdoor patio space help make Maddie’s a “one-of-a-kind establishment,” as a February media release described it.
The wide-open interior has capacity for about 250 people. The main lounge includes a horseshoe bar, a stage, lots of comfy furniture and a large wine wall. A separate sports bar, The Doghouse, offers multiple TVs and its own enclosed patio. There’s also a private events room that will double as an art gallery.
A water feature with fire flows outside, too. “In all its glory,” Anchustegui says.
Maddie’s has a permanent food trailer and a cold kitchen, so customers can nosh on nibbles ranging from charcuterie boards and salads to sandwiches and pizza. “We’re rolling with a limited menu until we get past the grand opening,” Anchustegui says, “and then we’ll be expanding on that.”
To fully appreciate the experience, curious Idahoans need to check this place out.
Soft, grand openings
▪ These are the hours during the rest of this soft-opening week: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 (with the Dave Nudo Band performing at 6 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Closed Labor Day before reopening Tuesday, Sept. 4.
▪ Maddie’s will host its grand opening on Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, with games, giveaways and wine, beer and liquor tastings. Musical entertainment will be Last Call at 7 p.m. Friday, Steady Rush at 7 p.m. Saturday and DJ and fire performances by Flo Dojo both nights.
One last reminder: You must be 21 or older to enter Maddie’s.
