Stagecoach Inn

 Funny thing happened on a stagecoach in cowboy country. I’m David Sparks and I’ll tell you the story in a minute. Not long ago, I walked into one of Boise’s longest running and certainly most popular restaurants…The Stagecoach Inn which opened in 1959. Why did I say cowboy country? Because inside, standing around the lounge and enjoying some libations while waiting to be seated, were six guys and their wives…all the guys wearing boots, jeans, Western belts and cowboy hats. The Stagecoach was packed that night, not just with cowboys but folks from all walks of life. But I figured the cowboys would know what a good cut of beef was all about and the Stagecoach does do a record business in beef.

 Here’s the owner Rick Fraser: “My clients come there for the beef, and the prawns, we do a lot of combos, prawns and prime rib, prawns and our porterhouse, a while there it was don’t eat beef, it has too much cholesterol in it, but that’s gone by the wayside, more people are eating beef and they’re buying the porterhouses, the bone-ins are good, everybody’s looking for a nice prime rib, the New Yorks.”

I asked Rick about the term New Yorks. Why call it a New York when the beef was probably raised in Idaho. Why not call it an Idaho…or a Boise…or Twin Falls? “I’d go with that and I’d promote the heck out of that actually.” Since it was my idea, I should apply for the Director of Marketing job accept the Stagecoach with it’s great beef is packed and doesn’t need any marketing. Forgive the pun, it’s good word of mouth.