Sweet Lou’s is ready to serve you in Ponderay, Coeur d’Alene and Athol By Colin Anderson | Photo by Sara Grace Photography
It’s often said, especially from those with young children, that time flies! When Chad and Meggie Foust first left Seattle for North Idaho, their son Lou was only a year old. Today, Lou is 12, and he just started bussing tables last summer at their family restaurant—Sweet Lou’s.
After owning their first restaurant in Hope, more than a decade later Chad and Meggie are excited to be opening their third Sweet Lou’s at the halfway point between their current Ponderay and Coeur d’Alene locations. “Our first five years in Hope were very important to us. Without Hope, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Meggie explains. “We learned a lot of hard-taught lessons about running a successful business, in a very supportive community.”
The Fousts’ Ponderay and Coeur d’Alene locations were opened in buildings that were already constructed, but with their newest location in Athol, which opened April 1 of this year, Chad and Meggie built the restaurant from the ground up. The architecture and design “was inspired by the naval history of Farragut and created by the genius architect Monte Miller of Miller Stauffer Architects in Coeur d'Alene,” Meggie shares.
While the interior looks a bit different from its sister locations, guests who’ve experienced a night out at Sweet Lou’s will be treated to a very similar atmosphere, menu, and level of customer service of which they’ve grown accustomed to. There are plenty of TVs, so you can always catch your favorite sport, and the portions are plentiful while utilizing quality ingredients.
Consistency is one of the key factors Meggie attributes to their continued success and growth. That and the drive and will of husband Chad. “He never stops,” she affirms. “He's very wary of being complacent in business, so he's always thinking of how to improve and how to grow. I'm grateful for his knowledge and his energy.”
The Fousts’ goal for the new location was to create an atmosphere where you can enjoy a night out on the town, or just grab a quick bite while catching the game, all while having a great dining experience—and that’s exactly what they’ve accomplished. You’ll find fan favorites like the Tailgate Egg Rolls, Fish and Chips, and 60/40 Burger, and plenty of regional craft beers to complement the great food. It’s also likely you’ll see someone in the Foust family during your meal. “Chad and I both do our best to be in the restaurants, on the floors, as much as possible. It's the only way to maintain that consistency and know we are doing things the way they are expected.”
Since opening their doors this spring, they proved that the anticipation was worth the wait! “We are excited to now be serving the local customer base in the Athol, Bayview and Rathdrum areas,” says Meggie. “We've had a lot of support from customers in these areas, and we are pleased to be their neighbors.”
Take a seat at Sweet Lou’s. Whether you find yourself at their Ponderay, Coeur d’Alene or Athol location, you can expect the same great family friendly atmosphere, delicious menu and great service. And you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Chad, Meggie and sweet Lou.
Sweet Lou’s
601 E. Front Ave. #101
Coeur d’Alene, ID
208.667.1170
477272 Hwy 95 N.
Ponderay, ID
208.263.1381
6915 E. Athol Crossing Rd. Athol, ID 208.561.9496
