Arlo’s Ristorante finds new location

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Nearly a month since Arlo’s was ousted from its downtown location, the popular local Italian restaurant is finalizing its move into a new building.

Arlo’s will be the latest restaurant to occupy the building located on Second Avenue and Lake Street, which has hosted eateries ranging from Greek food to sushi. Most recently, the restaurant Loaf and Ladle operated from the building until its owners moved its operation to Bottle Bay.

According to Arlo’s co-owner Tom Guscott, the moving process is a light at the end of the tunnel after a difficult month without revenue. While he’s not ready to announce a re-opening date just yet, Guscott said that thanks to a little Sandpoint help and generosity, the restaurant will soon settle in to its new home.

“It’s been a battle, and the community has really supported us,” he said. “We’re just trying to not spend money, and it’s tough to transfer a restaurant when you’re trying to not spend money.”

A move became necessary after the city of Sandpoint condemned Arlo’s original location at 330 North First Avenue. According to Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton, a series of inspections revealed that several serious structural problems plagued the building. City officials concluded that in the interest of public safety, the public had to be banned from the building. That meant that the businesses renting building space — Arlo’s and Blue Lizard Indian Art — were forced to close with a month-long deadline to vacate the building completely.

“It was so sudden, and we have no income, and our insurance doesn’t cover this type of thing,” Guscott said.