Idaho Pups & Ales breaks ground in Meridian

Shawn and Michelle Johnson not only love dogs, but they love their people, too. That’s why they decided to open their business Idaho Pups & Ales (IPA) ? Meridian’s soon-to-be dog park, beer and wine bar and community space for canines and their owners.

Construction just broke ground a few weeks ago on the new business, which will be located at 70 S. Outpost Lane, not far from the new Scheels off Ten Mile Road. The duo aims to open IPA’s doors in November of this year.

The Johnsons are well-versed in business ownership. They launched Escape the Crate, a dog daycare and boarding center in 2007 and in 2023 when they sold the business, the company had expanded to two locations. In 2022, they opened another business called the Bodoga, a boutique-style supply store for dogs and cats. It is located in Meridian just across the way from where IPA is being built.

“The dog community is so supportive and always looking for ways to share their experiences with their dogs,” Michelle said. “And what better way to create an even stronger community than by providing a safe, clean and fun dog park. We will be able to hold dog-related events such as breed meetups, paint and sips, art shows and movie nights. We have so many ideas and really want to create a hub for dogs and their people.”

Idaho Pups & Ales is working with Meridian-based Studio H Architects to create a 3,500-square-foot building with two garage doors that open to a 3,000-square-foot covered patio. The bar will be double-sided to provide seating both inside and outside. The park itself is about 12,000 square feet and will be turfed with K-9 grass, and will also have a water feature for dogs to splash in.

There will also be a pergola for shade and doggie play structures.

DK Constructors is overseeing the construction.

Michelle said that she is excited about the jobs that the business will bring to the area. They plan to open with 15 part-time employees and three full-time employees and aim to expand, enabling them to employ 20 to 25 people total within the next couple of years.

“We are creating a business for a diverse clientele that sees the growth of Meridian in a positive way and wants to enhance it by supporting local,” she said. “We are collaborating with other small companies including local beer, wine and coffee companies as well as local food trucks to strengthen the growth of small business in our community. We are really excited to see this project come together. We have been working on this idea for several years. It’s really cool to see our vision being shared with the dog community.”

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