‘Smashed’ Grilled Cheese & Wings restaurant opens in Rexburg
Published at | Updated at
REXBURG — A new hamburger or pizza place wouldn’t raise much ado in Rexburg, and that is exactly why Jon Humes decided to open a grilled cheese joint.
Smashed, Grilled Cheese & Chicken Wing Joint, located on Main Street across from Taco Bell and near the Romance Theatre, opened its doors on April 28.
“When this opportunity became available…it really became what would do well in this market, and what does Rexburg need?” said Jon Humes, owner of Smashed. “So I thought, what’s fun, that targets the college kids but that the locals will like?”
Humes, who is originally from Arizona, came to Rexburg in 2015 to attend BYU-Idaho, but plans changed.
He didn’t end up in school, but got engaged and opened the grilled-cheese joint.
To add diversity and draw a bigger crowd, he decided to include a chicken wing element to the menu. Salads, french fries and desserts are among the other foods offered at Smashed.
The goal of Smashed is to offer a fun, casual and well-rounded atmosphere for college students and families of all ages. The store design is unpretentious and playful.
Smashed breaks usual convention by offering free drinks to college students and instead of taking a number or your name to identify your order, you take one of a variety of knick-knacks and toys, including a racecar, a Tonka truck and a Cinderella figurine.
“We want everyone to be welcome and find purpose or value here,” Humes stated. “The goal is that you will be served to whatever atmosphere you want.”
Patrons seem to be catching the vibe that Humes and Smashed is throwing out there.
“(It) is a refreshing break from your standard, run-of-the-mill food joint,” said Preston Belnap, a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho and eastern Idaho native. “It’s the Subway of grilled cheese sandwiches, but better.”
Humes had only good things to say about the community’s response.
“It’s been really steady. Rexburg has been a fantastic place to open a business. It really is America’s family community,” he said.
Despite only being open for two weeks, Smashed already has its returning customers, many of whom have come back several times.
Smashed is located at 12th West Main Street and is open 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.