Pocatello Sees Business Boom

It might be a sign of the recovering economy, but Pocatello is seeing a rush of new businesses in town.

Developments are happening in Old Town, on Yellowstone Avenue and all over town. Is it a sure sign of the recession’s end? Maybe, but it’s definitely a sign that Idahoans are ready to bounce back.

But that bounce is always a risk, said Sumisu General Manager Josh Smith. The sushi restaurant was originally bite-sized.

“We were loving it, but we had a lot of people, we had to turn some people away. We didn’t want any of that to happen,” Smith said.

So the owners gathered the funds and dove in head first. Sumisu re-opened last weekend and now takes up half the block.

“It is always a risk, but we feel optimistic that the economy, the local economy, the people, they will support it,” Smith said.

Sumisu isn’t the only place with a new entrance. Nichelle Emerson and Chron Tatum just opened the doors to Castalia Chocolate Imports on Monday. They wanted to bring organic, natural and completely unique sweet treats to town.

“Like a candy shop? No. A chocolate shop. All imported. Something that just anybody can’t get,” Tatum said.

And while the chocolate comes from all over the world, they wanted to keep the shop local. It’s why they decided to open on Main Street in Old Town.

“We figured why not give back? Why not do something unique there?” Tatum said.

It’s what Bryce Mendel figured when he decided to open Mendel’s Pizzeria, also on Main Street.

“Sometimes you choose the spot and sometimes the spot chooses you. And I think that’s kind of what happened here,” Mendel said.

It was the dream of another employee to open a pizza shop in the once vacant restaurant, and Mendel decided to fund it. They’ve been working around the clock to get open by Thursday, and want to cater to the day and night time crowds.

“We got a lot of heart,” Mendel said.

The new expansions also mean new jobs. Sumisu wants to double its staff, Castalia wants to hire about five people in the next year and Mendel’s wants to bring in 15.

The all-you-can-eat restaurant, Sushi Family, is already open on Yellowstone Avenue, and King’s Discount store is preparing to move in to the old Sports Authority just down the road.