For more than five decades, the Sandpiper has been a fixture of Pocatello’s dining scene — and under new ownership, the restaurant is charting a course that honors its history while raising the bar on what guests can expect.
The Sandpiper, located at 1400 Bench Road in Pocatello, first opened its doors in 1975, making it one of the longer-running restaurants in Southeast Idaho. In 2025, Marcel Gutierrez took over as owner of both the Pocatello location and a second Sandpiper at 750 Lindsay Boulevard in Idaho Falls.
A New Owner With an Eye on Legacy
Gutierrez has made it clear that his goal is not to overhaul what generations of Pocatello families have come to love, but to build on it. His approach is guided by five core values he has laid out for the restaurant’s future: heritage, hospitality, excellence, innovation, and celebration. That blend of tradition and forward-thinking is already showing up in tangible changes at the Bench Road location.
This year, the Sandpiper added live music on the patio on Monday and Tuesday evenings — a new draw for locals looking to extend a weeknight dinner into a fuller experience. The restaurant also features a full-service bar. Gutierrez is additionally exploring the possibility of opening on Sundays to offer brunch, which would expand access for guests who prefer weekend dining.
“We want Sandpiper to be Idaho’s table for the moments that matter,” Gutierrez told East Idaho News, summing up the vision driving his investment in both locations.
A Community Institution Worth Preserving
Restaurants that survive fifty-plus years in any market are rare. In Pocatello, the Sandpiper has become part of the fabric of community life — the kind of place locals associate with milestone dinners, date nights, and family gatherings. Gutierrez’s emphasis on preserving that legacy, rather than rebranding around a new concept, speaks to an understanding of what makes the restaurant valuable to the people who have supported it for half a century.
Pocatello has no shortage of community traditions worth celebrating. The city’s Greek Festival, now approaching its own 50-year milestone, reflects the same spirit of longevity and local pride that defines the Sandpiper’s story.
Current hours at the Pocatello Sandpiper run Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Idaho Falls location is open Monday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What Comes Next
With live music already drawing new foot traffic on weekday evenings, the Sandpiper appears positioned to remain a centerpiece of Pocatello’s dining culture for years to come. A potential Sunday brunch service would mark another step in Gutierrez’s effort to make the restaurant more accessible without sacrificing the character that has kept it open since the Ford administration. Residents interested in the restaurant’s evolving schedule and upcoming events can visit the Bench Road location or follow its hours directly.
For more news from around Pocatello and Southeast Idaho, visit Idaho News for statewide coverage.