COEUR d'ALENE — Denise Schmidt and her husband, Nate, have never shied away from a challenge.

After losing their restaurant on Fourth Street to a fire in 2020, the couple bounced back, reopening Schmidty’s Burgers at 1524 E. Sherman Ave. less than a year later. They transformed the white-walled, concrete space into one full of character, shaping every design choice from the flooring to the layout of the kitchen and dining space. 

Over the years, however, it was the customers who made Schmidty’s a special place, and what will be the hardest goodbye for the Schmidts when the restaurant closes for good on Saturday. 

“A lot of people we’re close with now started as customers,” she said. “That part of it has been the best, and that’s what I’ll miss the most.” 

Still, the challenging economy has weighed on the burger joint for some time, Schmidt said. Despite their efforts, it was an obstacle they couldn’t overcome, and remaining open became unsustainable. 

For most of its run since opening in 2014, Schmidt and her husband were the restaurant’s primary employees, with family and friends often volunteering to help keep Schmidty’s Burgers running. 

“Food prices just kept going up, and we always use the best quality everything,” she said. “We weren’t willing to compromise our quality to save a buck or two, and that just took its toll.” 

An influx of chain restaurants opening franchises in the area has also made the restaurant scene increasingly competitive. 

“It’s hard to compete with those,” she said. 

The couple’s decision to close Schmidty’s comes after decades spent in the restaurant industry. Schmidt grew up in family-owned restaurants in Northern California, and the couple met while working at Denny’s in Post Falls. 

“A lot of people think restaurants are easy — but there’s a lot more involved,” Schmidt said. 

The closing of Schmidty’s doesn’t quite mean retirement for the couple, who are in their 40s. 

“I wish,” Schmidt said with a laugh. 

They’ve gotten lots of calls from the community suggesting Schmidty’s become a food truck. 

“It might be an option for us, but we’re going to wait and see what the economy does before we commit to anything,” she said. 

The Schmidts, who have five children, have no plans to leave North Idaho. And though they’re still moving through the grieving process, Schmidt said they remain motivated and excited for what the future holds. 

“I’m a firm believer in that things go and work out like they’re supposed to,” she said. “Maybe down the road an opportunity will present itself, and we’ll jump on it.”