Last week, I chose the Avery building at 1010 W. Main St. for the “Where Is It?” because I was curious about its history, and what was going on inside. It’s on Boise’s Gem Block, and the building, along with its neighbors in the Lower Main Street Commercial Historic District, were put on the National Park Service’s Historic Register in 1980.
Little did I know that a lot of you have fond memories there, not as the Avery, but as the Blues Bouquet bar and music venue. But, having been built in 1910, it has had many names.
- Originally the A.S. Tiner building, 1010 W. Main St. housed the New Boz Theater and the Manitou Hotel (which is still visible on the east-facing wall of the fourth floor). But the building was referred to as the Averyl, named after the owner’s granddaughter. Over the years, though, the “l” was dropped from the name, and it became the Avery.
- After 50 years, the theater and hotel closed in the 1960s, leaving the three upper floors empty ever since.
- In the 1970s, Blues Bouquet opened on the ground floor. It was a nightclub and bar with musical performances fondly remembered by many Hey Boise readers — but it sounds like it was a pretty wild place, so you might not remember some of the nights.
- After officially closing as the Ice Bouquet in 2015, it was purchased by Cal Elliott — a Michelin-star chef, New York restauranteur, and Borah High graduate. He bought the entire building, and hatched a new bold plan for its future.
A rendering of what the finished facade of the new Avery Hotel will look like. (Capital City Development Corporation)
Developer Michael Hormaechea, Cal Elliott, and his wife, designer Ashley Elliott, have been renovating the building and preparing to open three entirely new businesses inside. They say it’s on track to open this summer.
- The Avery will be a 39-room boutique hotel.
- Avery will be a restaurant, with seasonal menus created by Cal Elliott.
- Finally, as a nod to its original owners, Tiner’s Alley will be a tavern accessed by the alley behind The Avery.
Because of the building’s historical significance, the Capital City Development Corporation has chipped in to cover some of the estimated costs of over $14 million for restoration.
This was a real gem to learn about, and I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know if there are other renovations going on around town that I should cover.
