Idaho Falls restaurant turns glitch into partnership
If you have been to Smokin Fins lately, you probably noticed signs on the doors saying that the restaurant is not currently selling alcohol.
“It’s really funny how it all turned out,” said Kenneth Wagner, the operating partner for Smokin Fins in Idaho Falls. “Following up with the city, we came to an understanding that we had a paperwork error.”
If you look even lower at the sign, it mentions a new partnership it has.
Smokin Fins has partnered with People Against Impaired Driving (PAID) to help promote sober driving.
“Tried to turn lemons into lemonade,” Wagner said. “We decided to partner up with PAID and it immediately felt right. (It is) for something so important that needs attention.”
The restaurant and the nonprofit were introduced by friends at the Bank of Idaho.
When Smokin Fins was informed of the glitch in their liquor license, Wagner knew he wanted to turn the problem into something that could benefit the whole community.
“He called me, he said, ‘I think I have an idea. I would like to use this as a way to donate something to the community,'” said Jeff Newgard, the president and CEO of Bank of Idaho. “He threw out some organizations that weren’t as local. Then I went to Jared Phillips, who is our marketing director, and we thought of Pat Tucker and PAID.”
Smokin Fins will be donating 25 percent of all nonalcoholic beverage sales to PAID until Feb. 1. Employees at the restaurant will also be wearing pins that sport the partnership.
“I am just tremendously honored that Smokin Fins chose PAID to partner with for its local nonprofit for this effort,” said Pat Tucker, the PAID founder and president. “I think it’s a reflection of how PAID is important to our community.”
PAID supports driving not only unimpaired by alcohol but unimpaired by all forms of distractions.
“It talks about the importance of safe driving behaviors and potentially save lives because of this partnership,” Tucker said.
As for the liquor license, Smokin Fins is still working on that.
“We’re hoping on next week is when it’s all going to go through,” Wagner said. “It is a temporary, very temporary situation.”
