New restaurants and shops coming to Orchard Park Meridian

With more than 46,000 vehicles traversing this busy intersection daily, a wide range of new development is slated to be added to the center over the next two years, according to Kekaula Kaniho, a brokerage services agent with TOK Commercial Real Estate.

“It’s an exciting project to be working on because it’s not something that has yet been done in that area,” Kaniho said. “We hope to bring a lot of new energy and fun brands to this part of the valley.”

What Kaniho is specifically referring to is The Collection, a 40,000-square-foot mix of retail and office space that will be at the core of the prosperous and popular shopping center.

“This will be a mixture of lifestyle retail with an outdoor feel to walk through from one end to another,” he said.

Because of its prime location, the center remains a strong draw for the communities of Meridian, Eagle and Star. Within a dense five-mile radius, there are more than 160,000 residents and as many as 28,000 homes, according to statistics provided by Kaniho.

“We have some of the highest demographics in the state at this particular intersection,” said Brianna Miller, a member of the TOK commercial retail brokerage team since 2011.

“I would argue this is the best retail trade area in the valley, Kaniho said. “There is a lot of disposable income and high earners in this area.”

Plus, with fewer retail options available to those living in the community of Star, the center easily attracts those willing to make the short commute to the Orchard Park site.

“Those living in Star have the disposable income but not the retail opportunities, so it’s not a big deal for them to make the quick drive up Linder to this center,” Kaniho said.

And the goal, he emphasized, is to create an atmosphere where people will come to do more than their grocery shopping. “We want to provide a site where people can spend five or six hours shopping and eating. We want to build a place where people can build community.”

With quick service retail, including Kneaders Bakery and Cafe, Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food, as well as Jacksons Food Store already filling up the outer boundaries of the center, The Collection or prime future development will be centered on plots located on the interior portions of the site just north of the Meridian Library.

“The inside core will be much different with outdoor seating, fireplaces, things for kids to play on and hang out,” Kaniho said. “It will include a mix of retail, and we want it to be a place where people can shop for everything they need in one spot and still have space to hang out and relax.”

Another key feature will be a food hall known as The West Market, which will aim to deliver prominent, premier food and beverage services.

“It will have a vibe similar to that of [The Warehouse] food hall located near 8th Street in downtown Boise, but this site will not be as spread out,” he said. “There will be both indoor and patio seating available.”
Plus, the center, featuring a prominent anchor store such as WinCo Foods, coupled with the new, modern library facility, which opened in May of 2023, serve to provide added incentives to help draw shoppers.

“For all the retail in the center, it’s always great to have an anchor like that,” Kaniho said. “Plus, having the new public library, it will cater to a larger demographic of people, from young kids to the senior population. You’re bringing together lots of different folks for lots of different reasons, but to the same place.”

And the modern architectural style the library showcases unquestionably serves as an added bonus.

“The design and intention that went into that building is sort of the launching pad that now takes it one step further going north with the development,” Miller said. “It’s going to be amazing. The architecture will be different, elevated. We don’t currently have a lot of that kind in our market.”

“It’s an exciting project to be working on because it’s not something that has yet been done in that area,” Kaniho said. “We hope to bring a lot of new energy and fun brands to this part of the valley.”

While some may not always welcome additional retail developments, Kaniho, who grew up on the Hawaiian island of Oahu before coming to Idaho where he starred on the blue turf for the Boise State Broncos, said he understands the concerns others may have about the continuous growth happening throughout the entire valley.

“Everybody is typically worried about change, and some adapt better than others,” he said. “But the reality is growth and change bring opportunities. We want to capitalize on this and deliver the best retailers and experience we can.”

Plus, he added that anyone interested in making suggestions about the types of retailers to eventually bring into The Collection can contact TOK and the real estate outfit will strongly consider any recommendation as a solid fit.

“We’ll definitely take that into account as we look to go about finding the right outfits to meet those needs and desires people have in the community,” he said.

The only question mark for the Orchard Park center was the former and now vacant location of what was the short-lived Biscuit & Hogs site. Situated just west of WinCo Foods on Linder Road, the restaurant closed in November 2024. Filling in the location is a popular area diner called First Watch. It will be the third location for the restaurant in the area.

However, with the well-situated development of Orchard Park continuing to enhance one of the valley’s prominent intersections, a location that delivers over 4.2 million retail store visits annually on both sides of Chinden Boulevard, Kaniho strongly feels it’s all about “taking the energy” present and “elevating it” through the project over the next two years.

“We feel excited about the mixture of people, the income there to support it, and the community and culture with lots of families and rooftops with young kids and teens,” he said.