This 3-state chain is a Boise success story. Its restaurant just closed on Fairview

Michael Deeds
·2 min read

If you live in the Treasure Valley, chances are, you know all about Gyro Shack.

The tasty, Idaho-based brand is everywhere in the Boise area. Well, almost.

Gyro Shack’s familiar standalone drive-thru building at 1050 E. Fairview Ave. in Meridian recently closed.

The reason? The chain had too many Gyro Shacks in close proximity, president Seth Brink said in a phone interview. There are two others at 5038 N. Linder Road and 3030 E. Magic View Drive. Sales spread across those three restaurants were better off handled by two. “There was just not enough separation between the three,” he said.

Founded in the City of Trees in 2009, Gyro Shack is a blend of company-owned and franchise restaurants — and an unequivocal local success story. There are Boise stores at 6871 W. Overland Road, 5602 W. State St. and 9056 W. Emerald St. The chain also has a location in Tucson, Arizona, and two more in Albuquerque, New Mexico — all products of recent expansion out of state. Another Tucson location will open in November, Brink said.

Change is in the air at the former Gyro Shack on Fairview Avenue. Signs in the parking lot tell customers that it has permanently closed and direct them to other Meridian locations.
Change is in the air at the former Gyro Shack on Fairview Avenue. Signs in the parking lot tell customers that it has permanently closed and direct them to other Meridian locations.

Opening in Arizona was “definitely an inflection point for Gyro Shack,” Brink explained in a press release last year. “We are an ethnic food brand located in Boise, Idaho, and getting new locations open in other areas of the country is pivotal for us to prove portability and show potential partners that Gyro Shack is just as successful inside and outside of our home state.”

Priced at $8.55, the popular Original Gyro is “crafted with tender slices of seasoned beef and lamb fresh off the spit,” Gyro Shack says. It’s “nestled in a warm pita and topped with housemade tzatziki sauce, ripe tomatoes, and sliced onions.” The result? “A mouthwatering masterpiece that promises to transport diners to the sunny shores of Greece with each savory bite.”

Gyro Shack also sells pitas, salads and rice bowls.

Die-hard customers are sold.

“Very fresh and delicious food,” a reviewer wrote on Yelp. “It’s nice to have a healthy option to order for takeout.”

The Original Gyro is a hit for the chain.
The Original Gyro is a hit for the chain.