He loves downtown Meridian. His new restaurant will replace a beloved one that closed

Until it closed unexpectedly in July after seven years, Deja Brew Bistro was a beloved spot for downtown Meridian diners.

“It was,” Wayne Martin agrees.

But as the excited owner of Las Calaveras — which will take over the space next week — Martin is hoping to create a fresh culinary hit at 112 E. Idaho Ave.

Bringing a Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) theme to the space, Las Calaveras will make its public debut Tuesday. The new restaurant’s grand opening will follow Saturday, Sept. 28.

“Las Calaveras means ‘the skulls’ or ‘the skeletons,’ depending on what part of the Latin world that you’re in,” Martin explains. “Obviously, there’s a lot of gothic artwork with the sugar skulls. And the food is elevated tacos and tapas. The tacos represent the Mexican culture, and the tapas represent the Spanish culture.”

A Texas native who relocated to Idaho a decade or so ago, Martin says he’s been waiting for the opportunity to open a Meridian restaurant.

“Old Town Meridian, especially Generations Plaza area, I always loved it,” he says. “I drove through it to work every day, and I kind of have been watching it grow, and I thought, ‘If something ever pops up, I’m going to try to snag it.’ It’s been an amazing six weeks.“

Martin hired local chef Tony Knipe — formerly of Voodoo Brewing (Boise location) and Edge Brewing — to lead the kitchen. The menu focuses on small bites and shareable dishes.

The House Carne de Calavares Taco ($7) is powered by Snake River Farms chimichurri-marinated flank steak, pico de gallo, tomatillo chile crema and cotija. The restaurant also offers a Carne Molida Taco ($5), with housemade beef chorizo, Oaxaca cheese, pico de gallo and jalapeno avocado aioli.

As for tapas? Martin and Knipe’s favorites include the Halloumi BLT ($7) — with Idaho-made Ballard Cheese, arugula, cherry tomato and prosciutto — as well as the Rocky Mountain Elk Slider ($8).

Like its predecessor, Las Calaveras will stock a full bar serving liquor, beer and wine. And once the restaurant is up and running for a couple of weeks, food orders will be available for takeout.

Las Calaveras will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 9:30 a.m. (brunch) to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Ultimately, Las Calaveras is an entirely different restaurant than Deja Brew Bistro. But Martin says he hopes to keep one tradition alive that Meridian residents appreciated. For years, Deja Brew’s owner gave away free Thanksgiving meals, Martin remembers, “for the people that couldn’t afford Thanksgiving, or people that didn’t have a place. It was all volunteer-based.

“That was something we will definitely keep in our repertoire,” he says. “And then just being a part of the community as much as we can.”