oUR sTORY

Overview…

The North Hi-Way Café is the oldest continually run café in the state of Idaho. Established in 1934, we have been in business for almost 90 years. During which we have survived through the fall-out of the great depression, through WW2, Korean War, Vietnam, 9/11, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the World Wide Covid Pandemic . We have stood strong through many wars, struggles, and triumphs. We have seen the rise and fall of times long gone, and we are proud to be a staple of our Idaho Falls community.

Our Story Continued…

The North Hi-Way Café is more then just some local place to grab your morning cup of coffee. The North Hi-Way Café is a landmark.  The café has continuously served the community for almost 90 years. When you enter the café you can see that for many of our patrons the café is a home away from home.  

Back when the cafe first started it was know as the "Flivver" shop. The shop was owned by Aaron Jones, he would setup tables in his garage so his customers could have a bite to eat while waiting for their Model A's to be fixed. Over time, the garage evolved into a full-time eatery that spanned the test of time, wars and depressions to eventually be proclaimed Idaho's oldest continually run cafe as officially noted by researchers at the state capital and celebrated by a city proclamation on June 17, 2009.

According to the Boise researchers, archives show the café opened on June 17, 1934 and though some of the exact timeline is a bit blurred, there have been four primary owners including partners Everett and Edna Morgan and Loren and Louse Schultz's; Evan and Theo Cropper who purchased the Schultz's interest in 1940 and become sole owners in the 1952. Lavar "Butch" and Darlene Warren who purchased it in 1972, running it for three decades before selling to Roxanne and Wesley Smith. The Smith's ran the café for over 2 decades and also ran several other establishments in Idaho Falls before finally selling to current owners Todd and Veronica Holverson. Todd has worked for the North Hi-Way off and on for over 30 years, and Veronica has been a part of the North Hi-Way family for over a decade. Not only are they the current owners, their love story all began right here and stands as a testament to what hard work and dedication can bring, fulfilling a life-long dream shared by the couple.

Although the official hours are 5 a.m. until 3 p.m., baking starts at 3:30 a.m. with a continual flow of patrons coming into the seventy seat diner, known for their breakfast that is served all day. In addition, the North HI-Way is also well-know for its outside catering. With caterings going out the old blue entrance, leading into the kitchen daily.

Many patrons have been coming in since they where children and now bring their grandchildren in to experience what has become a local breakfast tradition for many.  You can read about the North Hi-Way Café if you pickup the book, Historic Bonneville County by Mary Jane Fritzen.