CASE STUDIES
SNAKEBITE + XVIII
What do you generally think of when you hear the word ‘snakebite’? A high-end steakhouse is probably the last thing that comes to mind, for good reason, so it may surprise you to hear that one of the hottest new places in town – the town of Idaho Falls, that is – holds that very name. Additionally, calling it ‘new’ is a stretch considering its recent ownership change and dramatic transformation. Instead, it may be more appropriate to say it was renovated earlier this year into a modernized version of the same well loved, raved about burger joint that first established its presence just down the street when commissioned in 1999.
Separate of the restaurant but in the same building downstairs is a moody speakeasy that suitably sports the name XVIII, with a meticulously crafted aesthetic as intentional as belongs to SnakeBite. Although sharing the same general space, the two different concepts confidently stand firm in their individuality without needing to blend into one for publicity or promotion.
When you take an old historic building and turn it into a sophisticated new restaurant with a downstairs speakeasy hiding in the basement – again, with separate agendas but shared ownership – the result is one pretty applaudable notion. All the credit goes to a brilliant team of varied skill and innovative vision, including two easygoing but hardworking business professionals: Justin and Kenny of 100 Proof Hospitality both brought their diverse backgrounds and business expertise to offer a hand in bringing to life what one is immediately greeted by upon walking into the establishment.
While distinct conceptions, the upstairs restaurant and downstairs speakeasy are equally impressive in design and nothing short of artistic. And yet, as much as the visual appeal speaks for itself, it’s the personality of the brand that is even louder… without having to say anything at all. The work our BSR team contributed in the design process deserves to be commended as well.
Despite a worthy final product that we can admire today, it certainly wasn’t exempt from running into some hiccups along the way in the process of bringing 100 Proof’s long-term vision to life. Starting with a 1907-built building and turning it into an updated model of the original favorite among locales was not a mission for the faint of heart. Fortunately for all players in the process, it only added to their tenacity to get the job done with greater satisfaction in their work and made for a more profound story in the end.
So What’s the Problem?
From the start, the design team knew it was about to be a beast to tackle and yet they were determined to make it happen. Although much of the conflict was expected as is when starting with antique construction over 100 years old, such as the lingering muggy, musty feeling of the building, the challenges that came with the overhaul weren’t your typical minor bumps in the road.
For the purpose of preservation, the city puts certain limitations and restrictions in place to be honored whenever new construction is initiated on aged properties. The city of Idaho Falls provided the same such guidance with 100 Proof’s project, which demonstrated their excitement for the new growth while still sending the message of their commitment to going about it the right way – with strategy and respectability. Taking the applicable measures in honoring the law-implemented standards was just another factor that assisted in conducting the redevelopment process. Not that the conservation of the novel SnakeBite was the only motivation to do so, but using a lot of re-purposed items certainly didn’t hurt in their attempt to integrate its history into the new location. Retaining most of the décor only further emphasized the same personality the original owners from 1994 had so purposefully created.
There were also all the physical imperfections (for lack of better words) that came with an old historic building. A majority of the trouble generated from the rigidity of the basalt walls which resulted in lack of stability and an uneven build into the structure. Building an entirely new structure was out of the question, so how do you makeshift something as fundamental as foundation? That was tricky enough on its own.
Snakebite needed a full bar, which challenged the original design of the building’s layout. With a good amount of work, the 60 seats they started with were quickly turned into 135, and the four or five seats in the bar area was eventually converted into a 16-seat bartop. Changing the physical layout is always a drastic feat, and SnakeBite was no exception to this norm.
XVIII, in all its authentic glory distinguished by a signature style that boldly contrasts cookie cutter quality, came with a handful of its own hurdles that spanned between a decorative rock wall and ducted hoods. A few other challenges that surfaced in the process for both the upstairs and downstairs operations, many of which our team embraced with ease, included various engineering design issues, fire suppression for hoods, having a single corridor with limited space for staff to get through, and plumbing issues that needed to be corrected before opening to the public.
The Solutions That Saved The Day
Each issue posed its different trials that needed to be addressed, but each one was greeted with a solution thanks to the utilization of resources, some creativity, and a couple noteworthy problem-solving brains from our BSR team. To think a new restaurant design is a simple task is irrational, so it’s only inevitable that challenges will arise – and more often than not, many of them for that matter. To meet them with a hunger to find resolution instead of discouragement that it’s not a smooth, low-effort process is the difference between being resilient and… not. At BSR, we know which of the two we would rather be anyway for the sake of our own dignity and character of ethic. 
It quickly went from the potential idea of a sports bar concept to what it is now: a lush burgerhouse that incorporates the charm of the original Snakebite culture delivering nothing short of quality food and some remarkable plates that the food community of Idaho Falls had been needing for a while – whether they realized it or not. But it’s not the end result that’s the biggest reason to be celebrated, rather the applaudable story of hard work proving to be the key to overcoming obstacles. In other words, we salute any success that doesn’t come quick or by sheer luck (if that even exists). Getting the opportunity to work with 100 Proof to bring this project together was a gratifying experience of just that in which all the long hours resulted in an even sweeter payoff in the end.
Not only did the building get a dramatic facelift but a whole new identity. And best of all, it now holds the ability to grow and evolve as needed to grow and evolve with the community of Idaho Falls especially with 100 Proof’s duo of separately defined facets belonging to SnakeBite and XVIII as part of their heart.
But don’t just take our word for it, even though we may be biased for obvious reasons. Do yourself a favor and go see what they’re all about for yourself – whether you’re in town or will need to plan a weekend getaway with a stop here being at the top of your itinerary. We dare you to take a bite, and sip, from both:
https://snakebiterestaurant.com/
Specializing in bar and restaurant design and supply, BSR always delivers superior service and praiseworthy problem-solving. All you have to do is hand your challenges off into your hands and we’ll take it from there!
