The Clearwater County Chamber of Commerce would like to introduce The Flame bar owner Brian Holt and Manager Amy Felder. Director Erica Holland was able to sit down and visit this Idaho couple who relocated from Boise in 2020 to find their new home in Pierce. Brian shared the desire to get back to small town life and own their own business. Brian also works full time for High Country Surveying and is a volunteer firefighter. Amy enjoys managing the bar and has goals of opening her own bakery in the studio they are refurbishing adjoining the bar. She says it will be a take out and special order business with hopes to grow with the bar in the future, as Brian would like to one day serve BBQ from the already designed smoker porch out back. Brian’s parents were restaurant owners in a small town when he grew up and he wanted a place with the same rustic wood construction and character for his place. He found a good starter in the Flame. After hours and truckloads of outdated clean-up, and a deadline looming to open before the liquor license expired, they opened and began their business adventure together. Being able to live in the apartment above the business was an added bonus, as they are able to manage their hours together and continue the remodeling efforts while working and serving their customers. Amy has the passion for customer service and Brian is growing into the neighborhood, getting to know their new community. Hank (their dog) is the greeter and welcomes visitors and their dogs too. Being the last 21 and older bar allowing indoor smoking on the hilltop, is one thing they don’t plan to change. The pool room stays active with regular play and tournaments. The scrolling digital photo screen on the wall beside the door displays current and past events and visitors having fun at the bar. Order up your favorite spirit from a current choice of 73 different liquors and 17 kinds of beer. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, Brian says just ask, come back and if you ask and return 3 times, he’ll guarantee to have it on the shelf the next visit. This is his “3 ask rule”. Brian also says they won’t have to close when the weather is cold, as the wood stove heat will never go out. He also says they get more visits from their family since moving to Pierce, because everyone loves it here. Brian and Amy have made themselves at home and are already involved in community events and activities and looking forward to more. Being first time owners, they have felt welcomed by their neighbors and enjoy giving back with donations to the Orofino VFW from the Veterans Day Chili Feed they host each year. In addition to the cash match Brian puts in, he also collects and recycles all their aluminum cans to donate too. Amy is excited to be part of the upcoming Pierce 1860 Days celebrations with a corn-hole tournament. During the 1st year of closures due to Covid the bar hosted a “Winter festivus for the rest of us” to bring cheer and fun to the town. They took part in the annual Pierce Winterfestival last year and are looking forward to even bigger and better things to come. The local ATV club comes in to enjoy a rest during their planned events three times a year and Brian hopes to encourage more events to attract business to Pierce. Stop in and say hello. Hank is waiting and wagging his tail.
