Merritt's reflects on almost 46 years in the restaurant business

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Businesses across the Treasure Valley are struggling, even as we see light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.

Many are struggling to keep employees and pay the bills.

One restaurant, Merritt's, has seemed to have beaten those odds.

Merritt's has been in the Treasure Valley for almost 46 years and has managed to stay afloat during tough times.

Beckie, the co-owner of Merritt's said her father-in-law opened the restaurant in 1975 and even had a racehorse that represented Merritt's.

"The restaurant came with a racehorse, when he passed in 2013 he had a hundred wins," Merritt said.

Merritt said a lot of the restaurant's success had to do with the way they run their restaurant.

"We have not raised our prices for two years, we still have big portions, we've never changed the quality or amount of food throughout all of this," Merritt said.

Merritt said during the pandemic, she took out a personal loan, as well as relied on a PPP loan that covered three months worth of her employee's wages.

On top of being a restaurant owner, her husband travels and works with the Ag Union, which has also helped keep the restaurant afloat.

When the restaurant shut down in April, they took the time to do some re-modeling and introduced curbside to-go options on the weekends.

Merritt said despite being short-staffed during the pandemic, she is grateful for the staff she currently has.

"Staff, come and go, which we know, I do have a cook that's been with us for 20 years, one that's been with us for 17, and a waitress that has been here 7 years," Merritt said.

She said the loyal customers help keep business going, and they continue to bring in new customers.

"Some of these people are coming in with their grandparents, and they bring their kids in," Merritt said.

One of those loyal customers is 64-years-old but has been coming to Merritt's since she was 17.

"The good food, the good service, I did food service for 50 years so I know what I'm talking about, and that's what keeps me coming back," JoAnn Spitz-Duran said.

Merritt said she hopes more people will support small businesses, especially during this time.

" A lot of great help I have, with what I do have, but it's tough we get tired," Merritt said.

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