When Mountain Mike’s Pizza first announced its Idaho expansion, the California-based chain came across as ambitious, to say the least.
Revealing a plan to debut in Meridian — a restaurant that opened in early 2022 — a media release also promised a Mountain Mike’s in downtown Boise months later, with a total of four new Treasure Valley locations expected by the end of that year.
Didn’t happen.
Mountain Mike’s at 3340 N. Eagle Road settled in as the lone Idaho store, serving pies with “legendary crispy, curly pepperonis, Mountain-sized pizzas, and dough made fresh daily.”
But now — finally — that location has a pepperoni pal.
Idaho’s second Mountain Mike’s opened Jan. 25 at 51 N. Union St. in Star, the growing suburb northwest of Boise.
Like the Meridian restaurant , it’s owned and operated by Idaho franchisee Gem State Pies, which has rights to develop at least three more Treasure Valley locations, according to the latest Mountain Mike’s media release.
Founded in 1978 in Palo Alto, Mountain Mike’s is invested heavily on the West Coast. But the company — headquartered in Newport Beach — has made out-of-state expansion a priority. There are now nearly 300 locations.