For Tami Streiff, The Junction is part of her past —and now her present.
Streiff said that she tended bar at the small log building at the corner of Highways 11 and 71 when she was 18. Now, exactly 20 years later, she and her husband, John, are the new owners.
She, like many others, also remembers riding her bike there as a child, getting candy and pop. She said that it has served as a gas station at different points, as well as the restaurant-bar that it is today.
But, Streiff said, it has always locally been known as The Junction, regardless of what it was named at the time. So when it came time to name the business, she said that there was no doubt that they would stick with what, she said, most locals would call it anyway.
“It’s always going to be The Junction no matter what we call it,” she said. “For the people who grew up here, it’s The Junction.”
The building and several of its decorations are well known to the locals, Streiff said.
Above the back of the bar hangs the Guiness Book of World Records’ longest chain carved out of a single piece of wood, an artifact from Fred Pihulak, which resumed its spot in The Junction on the day of the reopening. The second longest chain is also on display.
Streiff said that folks were glad to see the chain back behind the bar where they remembered it being.
But, some things are changing in the familiar building. The couple extended the bar by adding a horseshoe-shaped extension in the middle of the straight bar.
The decor includes weathered barn doors and other “old-style” items, which Streiff said family, friends and customers have been more than willing to share with them.
“Every piece in here is virtually from someone who means something to us,” she said. “It’s like gold to me, I love it.”
The Streiffs are seasoned business owners. John Streiff is the owner of King of the Road Entertainment and has worked at his family’s shop, Streiff Floral.
“He’s always worked for a family business,” Tami Streiff said.
Streiff said that she works at the Boise mill and will work at the bar during her time off. So the Streiffs plan to share the shifts at the bar.
“The opportunity became available to us at the right time,” Streiff said. “We jumped all over it.”
She said that in less than one week of taking possession, the Streiffs have reopened the building that had previously sat vacant for eight months.
“I love that we’re getting people back who wanted to see it open again,” Streiff said of many long-time customers.
And, although it may be outside of the city, the Streiffs are not worried about business.
“Geez John, it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Streiff recalls telling her husband.
“No, Tami, it’s in the middle of everywhere,” she said he replied, mentioning its proximity to the Falls, Littlefork, Loman, Birchdale, Big Falls, to name a few.
One way of counteracting the distance from town is by offering free cab rides, which she said they are considering.
They plan to have a menu ready before their July 31 - Aug. 2 grand opening weekend celebration and begin to offer food.
For the celebration, horseshoe games, a corn feed, karaoke contests, drink specials and giveaways are scheduled.
