Future of Juniper Inn unknown
Leaving his restaurant at 11:20 p.m. like he always does, Tracy Hoth had every reason to suspect he’d have a normal Saturday night.
He proved to be mistaken as a caller informed 911 operators at 12:06 a.m. Sunday the Juniper Inn was on fire. Hoth, who was leasing the building from his father, was told about the fire by an employee who had witnessed the blaze.
Hoth went immediately to the Juniper Inn, where he saw wind blowing through the north windows, stimulating the flames.
“Oh my gosh; I couldn’t believe it,” Hoth said. “It was like a roman candle in there. To sit and watch it was devastating.”
Four hours later, the fire was extinguished, and firefighters began cleaning up hoses. They occasionally had to put out smaller flames that flared up inside the walls.
“I’d like to say how much we appreciate everyone in the valley for their patronage over the last 29 years,” Hoth said. “I also want to thank the fire department and people for all the help we received during and after.”
So, what happens next?
Hoth said he and his family are laying all the cards on the table.
“Do we want the hard work and 16-hour days?” Hoth said. But on the other hand, “There are so many memories. We love the restaurant business.”
If the restaurant is rebuilt, it is unlikely it will be in Hyde Park. Alcohol isn’t served anywhere in the city, which refused to grant Hoth a liquor license. He said when he first started, he tried to get the city to change the statute to allow liquor to be sold closer to schools.
The Juniper Inn is currently located about 2,200 feet from Cedar Ridge Middle School. The statute dictates alcohol cannot be sold closer than 2,500 feet, Hoth said. The city refused to change the statute, something Hoth says keeps customers and tax revenue away from Hyde Park. He said it’s hypocritical of the city leaders to refuse a liquor license to him because the same people likely eat at Chili’s or Tony Roma’s, both restaurants that serve alcohol.
“The whole city is dry,” he said.
–jmdo@cc.usu.edu