Not a joke: Pocatello A&W to close this week
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POCATELLO — What many initially thought was an April Fool’s joke circulating on Facebook has turned out to be true. The A&W restaurant on Arthur Avenue is closing its doors.
The business will serve its final customers on Friday, according to general manager Reed Rollins.
Rollins told EastIdahoNews.com that the crew of 14 learned of the closure on April 1, but it was no joke.
“Once the word got out on social media, our phones were ringing like crazy asking us if this was an April Fool’s joke,” Rollins said.
The restaurant opened in June 2016 under owners Chet and Kathy Willie, who were known for giving back to the community and offering second chances to employees who needed them.
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The couple was active and giving in the community, and also owned Willie’s Pit Stop and Willie’s Benton Street Chevron in Pocatello.
Chet Willie died in 2018, and the restaurant was later sold. Rollins said the business struggled to regain its footing in the years that followed.
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“With Chet passing, and then after COVID, we just never really came back strong,” he said.
He added that rising food costs and franchise fees also contributed to the decision to close.
Rollins said many of the restaurant’s employees have been there since the beginning, making the closure especially difficult.
While nothing has been confirmed, Rollins said he has heard the building’s owners may consider opening a Popeyes or another chicken restaurant at the location.
“It’s a shame that we’re closing. The community has been great,” Rollins said.
Efforts to reach the current owner for comment were unsuccessful.
A&W is one of the oldest fast-food chains in the United States, founded in 1919 and known for its classic drive-in roots, burgers, and signature root beer served in frosty mugs.
Pocatello has been home to multiple A&W locations over the years, including restaurants on Garrett Way in the 1950s and 1960s and on Oak Street in the 1970s and 1980s.