Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Main Street to take on new look

Sawtooth Club will bridge gaps and build a wall

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Sawtooth Club General Manager Keri Desler oversees last-minute construction at the Ketchum restaurant. Photo by David N. Seelig

When there is a gaping hole on Main Street in a small and once lively mountain town, it's something that needs filling. A fire that raged through Ketchum in the early morning of Sept. 15 took down both Whiskey Jacques' and what was most recently a bar called Dirty Little Roddy's. It also did damage to the Sawtooth Club.

"It looks like Beirut," Sawtooth and Roosevelt Grille owner Tom Nickel said, ruefully.

When the Sawtooth Club re-opens on Saturday, Dec. 13, after repairs and renovations, the bonus will be what goes into that hole in the ground.

"I just dreamed this up," Nickel said. "We got permission from the city to put up a plywood wall from the Sawtooth north to Sotheby's. A group of individuals and businesses—Sawtooth, Roosevelt, Engleman, Webb Landscaping, George Kirk and Bob Kantor—will donate the cost to build and paint it. There will be an alcove where we'll put a grove of trees supplied by Webb Landscaping and a bench. During the opening we'll light LED Christmas tree lights."

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The whole wall will be painted as a winter wonderland by the art students of Wood River High School, The Community School and Silver Creek Alternative School.

"They were really enthusiastic when we contacted them," Nickel said. "The mural—designed by Janit Karrys, Julie Johnson and Anne Aganon of The Community School—is going to be cool. And inside there are some changes that will be fun for everyone to see."

A reopening party open to all will take place from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, and will include complimentary appetizers, eggnog, wine, beer, hot buttered rum and champagne. The painters will be at work from noon until 5 p.m. during the open house. At 6 p.m. the restaurant will open as usual.