Mama Inez to close after 30 years, but Brad Burtenshaw’s legacy endures
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POCATELLO — For more than three decades, Mama Inez has been where families celebrated birthdays, classmates reunited over lunch, coworkers gathered after long days, and generations of residents created memories over Mexican food, cold beer and margaritas.
The children of the late Brad Burtenshaw, the beloved longtime owner of Mama Inez, announced on Sunday that they have made the difficult decision to close the longtime Yellowstone Avenue restaurant.
Brad Burtenshaw, whose motto was “No bad days,” died in 2021, leaving his three children — Brandon Burtenshaw, Samantha Burtenshaw Kestler and Andy Burtenshaw — with the responsibility of carrying on the business he built and loved.
The family said Brad’s death profoundly changed their lives. Each stepped in to support the restaurant and its management team while searching for someone who could eventually take over operations.
However, despite years of trying to keep the restaurant going and find new management, they ultimately made the difficult decision to close the restaurant.
But rather than shutting the doors immediately, the restaurant will remain open through Aug. 29, giving longtime employees time to prepare for what comes next and giving customers an opportunity to stop in for one last taste of Mama Inez before it closes.
Remembering Brad
Brad Burtenshaw first opened Mama Inez in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 1992. After selling that restaurant in 1994, he moved to Pocatello and purchased the former Jake’s restaurant on Yellowstone Avenue, transforming it into one of the city’s best-known locally owned restaurants.
Over the years, he expanded the business to include Mama Inez Express in Chubbuck and Sandbaggers. Mama Inez Express closed in 2023 after 18 years of operation.
Samantha said her father “lived and breathed Mama Inez” and they (Brad’s children) hope the community remembers not only the restaurant, but the man who built it.
“When we lock the doors for the last time, I want the community to remember Brad Burtenshaw,” Samantha told EastIdahoNews.com. “He was the staple that made Mama Inez what it is today. He made everyone there feel like family.”
She said her father cared deeply about both his employees and customers, creating a workplace where many staff members remained for decades.
“It was his patrons and employees that he cared so much about,” she said. “The Cinco de Mayo parties he threw were epic and are still talked about today.”
“His legacy lives on through his employees and how he made them feel. He was a huge part of a lot of people’s lives. Even though Mama Inez will be gone, Brad Burtenshaw will not be forgotten,” she added.
Brandon said he left for the Navy shortly after his father purchased the Pocatello restaurant and didn’t fully realize how much Mama Inez meant to the community until reading the hundreds of comments shared after the initial closure announcement.
“I love reading all of the comments about people having memories from high school, the staff meeting lifelong friends and all the get-togethers that have been had by friend groups,” he said. “I’m very grateful for those comments, and it really cements to me what my dad built in this community. I’m forever thankful to all the past and current staff and our customers.”
The family also thanked the community for supporting Mama Inez through the years and for the kindness shown since Brad’s death.
“At Mama Inez, we are passionate about serving delicious meals and creating memorable experiences for our guests. We will always cherish the memories we’ve made together,” Andy Burtenshaw said.
Hope for a new beginning
Although the restaurant is closing, the Burtenshaw family hopes its recipes — and perhaps its future — will live on.
“When we lock the doors for the last time, I honestly hope that it is just a move and that someone has purchased the recipes and opened it in a new location,” Brandon said. “But if that hasn’t happened, then I’ll personally remember it as my dad’s legacy.”
Anyone interested in purchasing the business is encouraged to contact Mike Wheelock with Premier Properties in Pocatello at (208) 232-5025.
Until then, Andy Burtenshaw said he hopes the community will stop by one last time, not only to enjoy one more meal, but to celebrate the legacy of his father, a restaurateur who made everyone who walked through the doors feel like family.