Vision Comes to Fruition at The Boardwalk as Destination Drives Year-Round Growth and Activity Along Garden City Waterfront District

Life at the Garden City Waterfront District is entering a fresh phase as The Boardwalk, led by Vida Properties, is collaborating with Apex Brand Collection to introduce a coordinated mix of hospitality concepts, a growing calendar of recurring programming and ongoing development designed to drive consistent, year-round activity along the Boise River.

The Boardwalk was developed having this vision in mind. The talents, experience and expertise of Apex bring energy and creativity to the next phase of this project. Apex Brand Collection, led by Scott Slater and Todd Ketlinski (the award-winning group behind Hemlock and Spitfire Tacos + Tequila), is the hospitality management and brand development partner behind incoming concepts including Spitfire Tacos + Tequila, and Earlybird Breakfast Burritos.

Vida germinated the ideas behind soon-to-open Descanso on the Greenbelt, Ground Rules Sports Bar and the Peregrine Overlook Bar, with a private upper-level event venue also in the late planning stages. Apex continues to build upon these ideas in innovative and inspired ways. Apex will manage operations for each of these newcomers to the Garden City event-scape.

Apex has built its reputation on developing experience-forward concepts that blur the lines between dining and programming. That approach is now being applied at The Boardwalk, where Apex and Vida are collaborating to help shape a more layered, day-to-night experience along the Boise River Greenbelt. Rather than a single destination or peak moment, the strategy focuses on creating a steady rhythm of activity that encourages repeat visitation and longer stays.

The district's trajectory reflects broader shifts in consumer behavior, as demand continues to rise for open-air, experience-driven environments that support both planned outings and casual, repeat visits. In growth markets like the Boise region, this shift is driving increased interest in destinations that combine accessibility with consistent, layered activity.

“You can feel the difference now — people are choosing Garden City Waterfront District as a destination. You see families here for Easter events, fans coming through before an AC Boise home game, people stopping off the Greenbelt for a drink, and locals coming back for music on the weekend. That mix is what makes a district feel alive.”

Michael Talbott · Developer and Managing Partner, Vida Properties

This model has already begun to show results. A recent Easter Egg Hunt, held in partnership with local organizations including the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, drew strong turnout and marked one of the district's most successful community events to date. The Boardwalk has been working with the City of Garden City to host and organize many events that would typically be held in a town center. The partnership with the City in these types of events helps draw positive energy to the area as a hub for community activity.

Key Dates & Openings

• May 22 — Descanso on the Greenbelt Grand Opening
• May 23–25 — Memorial Day Weekend Event
• May 30 — Experience Garden City Festival (Beer & Wine Festival)
• June 2 — Spitfire Tacos & Tequila Grand Opening
• June 5 — Greenbelt Night Market Launch (weekly Friday nights through Labor Day)
• June 10–13 — Ground Rules Grand Opening
• July — Launch of Peregrine Overlook and Event Center at The Boardwalk

New openings are central to that shift. Descanso on the Greenbelt, opening May 22, is an open-air plaza walk-up bar positioned directly on the Greenbelt with waterfront views. Laid back and local, for spritzes, easy cocktails, and long afternoons that turn into sunset.

Ground Rules, opening June 10, fills a clear void for a local sports bar, delivering burgers, beer, bourbon, wings, and game day with a next-generation take on a neighborhood hangout. Timed with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it enters the market as a high-energy hub for watch parties, crowd moments, and a reimagined sports bar experience.

Four-time Boise Favorites winner, Spitfire Tacos & Tequila, opening on Taco Tuesday, June 2, will add further depth to the district's food and beverage mix with its authentically made, inauthentic tacos and agave-focused cocktails.

These new additions will complement existing food and beverage favorites Laissez-Faire Wine, Chicken In a Barrel BBQ and Negranti Creamery.

Larger activations will continue to build throughout the season, layering into the everyday rhythm at The Boardwalk, a waterfront residential community where residents and visitors naturally overlap. The Experience Garden City Festival on May 30 will bring together 18 beer and wine vendors, food trucks, a yacht rock DJ and a band, followed by the launch of the Greenbelt Night Market on June 5, a weekly Friday evening bazaar running through Labor Day.

Programming is designed to support both everyday use and larger destination moments, with live music, artisan markets, and AC Boise game-day activations driving consistent traffic throughout the week.

Memorial Day Weekend is expected to mark a major step forward for the district, with expanded live music programming, increased plaza activity, and new food and beverage concepts coming online in close succession.

Accessibility has been a key focus as the district evolves. Free parking, direct Greenbelt access, and shuttle service during AC Boise home games make it easy to arrive by bike, on foot, by car or public transport.

“We're not just opening restaurants here, we're helping build an ecosystem at an iconic property on the river. From the ground-level energy to the rooftop and event space, the goal is to create a place where people can spend real time, not just pass through. It's all designed to connect, so you can move through the plaza, up to the rooftop, and experience it as one cohesive environment. That's what makes people stay longer, come back, and ultimately transforms the district into a year-round destination.”

Scott Slater · Founder, Apex Brand Collection

Looking ahead, that pattern is expected to scale up this summer with the addition of the Peregrine Overlook, Greenbelt's rooftop bar and private venue/event space located on the upper levels of the Boardwalk, expanding the district's capacity for private events, larger gatherings, and elevated experiences. The district's calendar also includes Fourth of July plaza programming, fall market activations, Oktoberfest, a holiday market, and a December Christmas Tree Lighting.

As new openings and programming continue to layer in, the Garden City Waterfront District is becoming part of the natural rhythm of the Boise River corridor, building sustained momentum beyond any single event.

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About Garden City Waterfront District

Located along the Boise River, the Garden City Waterfront District is an emerging mixed-use destination combining hospitality, residential, and public space. Anchored by The Boardwalk residential community and direct access to the Greenbelt, the district brings together restaurants, live programming, and seasonal events to create a consistent, open-air gathering place. With new concepts, ongoing activations, and additional development underway, the Waterfront District is evolving into a year-round destination for both residents and visitors. Continued openings and future phases, including a rooftop venue and event center, are expected to further expand The Boardwalk's role within the Greater Boise market.

About The Boardwalk and Vida Properties

Owned and developed by Vida Properties, The Boardwalk is a mixed-use waterfront property located along the Boise River Greenbelt in Garden City, Idaho. Designed and developed by Michael & Nathan Talbott along with partner Lou Earlabagh over a 4-year period, Vida Properties is focused on creating connected environments that bring together residential living, hospitality, public space and community activity. At The Boardwalk, that vision is continuing to take shape through new restaurant and bar concepts, recurring programming, direct Greenbelt access and future rooftop and event spaces. As the property continues to evolve, The Boardwalk is becoming a year-round destination within Garden City's emerging Waterfront District. One might say it's Garden City's Cruise Ship on the River.

About Apex Brand Collection

Apex Brand Collection is a hospitality group led by Scott Slater and Todd Ketlinski, known for developing experience-forward concepts that blur the line between dining, design, and programming. The group's portfolio includes award-winning concepts such as Spitfire Tacos + Tequila and Hemlock, each designed with a distinct identity while contributing to a larger, interconnected platform. With a focus on culinary quality, intentional design, and community-driven programming, Apex Brand Collection is building a portfolio of concepts that drive repeat visitation and long-term market impact, spanning categories from QSR to fine dining.

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Media Contact: info@descansoboise.com