What was once a Prohibition-era billiards hall has been given new life as a social gathering spot.
Sen. Jim Risch recently named Firth's Kollets Pub as the 2024 Idaho Small Business of the Month for January 2024.
Collet's was opened as a pool hall by Grant Collet in 1930 during Prohibition. He passed the business on to his son Sam, and eventually to Grant's grandson Donnie, who continued to run it for 20 years. After prohibition, it became Collet's Bar until it closed in 2020.
When Brian and Holly Johnson purchased the building with their partners in April 2022, they had a vision to bring Colette back to life. They immediately went to work.
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“For years, this has been the place to go,” Holly said. “Nothing tasted better than a Colette burger!” Many people have fond memories of going there for a burger for lunch during high school. ”
Built in 1918, the building was in a state of disrepair and needed extensive repairs, starting with a new roof.
“Collet's is just a small part of the building, but we wanted to get it up and running as soon as possible,” Holly explained. “My first job was cleaning. It had been a smoking establishment since 1930, but it opened as a non-smoking restaurant. The walls had to be cleaned at least three times and the dim lights replaced with bright lights.”
But nostalgia is so important to Collet's that the team wanted to keep it as original as possible.
“Since Prohibition, Koretz Pub has been a gathering place for people in eastern Idaho,” Risch said in a press release. “Identified by its remarkable turquoise sign, Firth's only restaurant continues to delight diners of all ages with its delicious food, burgers and karaoke. Owners Holly and Brian Johnson, whose previous owners turned the bar into We brought Colette back to life through the necessary repairs while preserving the original carvings.”
Once the restoration began, the team poured a clear coat to expose the original floor and preserve the carvings on the old wooden bar top.
“So many people come here to find family brands and wood carvings that were made many years ago,” Holly says.
They also installed new flooring behind and below the bar, replaced the cooler, exposed the transom to let in more light, and remodeled the bathroom with a nostalgic twist.
“Collett was the first Budweiser account in Idaho, so they used Anheuser-Busch barrels to make the urinals,” Holly said. “It’s so fun to see people’s reactions when they’ve never seen it before!”
The new and improved Collet's opened in September 2022 with five employees. The company currently employs nine of his employees and the community supports them.
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“We still have great support from the locals as well as those in the surrounding area, many of whom simply sing karaoke, play trivia, play pool, shuffleboard or darts, and enjoy the non-smoking facilities. I just want to hang out,” Holly said.
Building on Collets' impressive history, the future looks bright.
“We're still doing little things to spruce up the place, but the major renovations haven't started yet,” Holly said. “That may never be the case. There's something to be said about stepping into a place and being transported back 50 years. 'Thank you for doing that.' 'Thank you for giving us a place to meet.' I often hear this phrase.”
Holly noted Colette's deep roots in the community and the joy and honor they took in restoring it.
“We are humbled by the overwhelming response and congratulations we have received for being selected for the January Idaho Small Business of the Year award,” she said.