SANDPOINT — After 15 years of waiting for the stars to align, Michael Boge finally opened a Zip’s Drive-In in Sandpoint.

Boge, a Sandpoint city councilman, already owns four Zip’s in Idaho and Washington, but his dream has always been to bring one of the popular restaurants to Sandpoint. On Monday, that dream came to fruition.

Opportunities had presented themselves periodically for years, but something was always missing. Either the time didn’t feel right or the location didn’t fit with what he envisioned. Then, last year, he saw what he knew was the perfect location and decided to move on it.

“I’d been looking for property for years, and I nearly drove off the road when I saw this place,” Boge said of the Highway 2 location.

The new location is visible to east and westbound travelers on Highway 2, and is far enough away from its fast food competition to keep customers from straying to other restaurants.

Boge said that while he considers Zip’s to be fast food, customers can expect a more unique experience at his restaurant than at its competitors.

Besides the interior, which is decorated with old family photos, his grandfather’s ancient surfboard and a brand-new motorcycle, Zip’s aims to give its customers a culinary experience unique to the area.

To differentiate itself from fast food chains that use the same products whether located in Chicago or Los Angeles, Zip’s serves Walla Walla sweet onions, Monarch Mountain coffee, Litehouse ranch, Longhorn barbecue sauce and Tillamook cheese.

Boge said he doesn’t have a “box-store mentality” about his restaurants, which enables him to adapt each store specifically to its location.

Even though Sandpoint’s Zip’s is different than any of its brethren, Boge is quick to note that his newest location will feature all the favorites that his other restaurants have made so famous.

So if you’re after a Big Zipper burger or a huckleberry shake, you won’t be disappointed.

“We offer an upscale environment with fast food prices,” Boge said.

Zips is located at 1301 Highway 2 and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.