Noxon restaurant is back in business

The Hereford Restaurant is open after being closed for about three years. At one time, the business was a popular bar and steak place that fell out of favor and into disrepair. Earlier in 2020, Kim Syth and Pete Kobilansky took on the challenge and reopened the eatery on May 12. The couple hails from Sandpoint, Idaho, and commute 45 minutes to the Hereford seven days a week to make sure that everything is running smoothly.

The project to purchase and renew the Hereford stemmed from a dream of Syth's to own and operate her own bar and restaurant. The couple fell in love with the place and saw that it had great potential. Kim brought with her a plethora of experience working in the food service industry and Kobilansky loved the Hereford since he used to visit there when he worked on the railroad. "This place is just amazing," Kobilansky said in an interview.

The couple plan to clean the place up and to expand it, with goals of putting in an additional six RV spaces to the five already working and more. Only the first five have septic, however the new ones will have water and electricity. Syth and Kobilansky also want to put in more cabins and finish fixing up the two that are already on the property. Currently they have two cabins in operation: one rented month-to-month and the other rented out nightly. Reservations must be made at least a week in advance, as the cabins and RV places are very popular. In the works is also a new outdoor venue.

The restaurant has retained about 70% of the original menu and according to Kobilansky they "really want to tend to the local people, and "ean towards a steakhouse feel." Kobilansky says the restaurant is "low key," and they don't want it to be a party bar. "The locals have been awesome," said Kobilansky. He also mentioned how they have "a couple darn good chefs." The couple plan on having live music some nights and have daily specials. Some of these specials include prime rib on Saturday nights, which Kobilansly says is quite popular, and a fish special on Friday nights. The Hereford staff also participated in the Noxon Fourth of July celebrations and want to set up a food court next year. The Hereford is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week and the bar is open from 11 a.m. to "whenever people leave," says Kobilansky.