Dan Landucci: ‘a boss you can brag about’
Bronco alum Dan Landucci (BA, communication, 2013) has a longtime reputation as a community supporter. The owner of the local Paddles Up Poké restaurants, Landucci is a member of Boise State’s Lyle Smith Society and the Blue Collar Club, groups that raise donations for athletics. In 2022, after a local restaurant closed leaving its employees unpaid, Landucci covered the final paychecks for close to 20 people – all strangers to him at the time.
How local business, local athletes are helping each other
Enter Dan Landucci is the owner of local eatery Paddles Up Poke which has five locations in the Treasure Valley. He's employed several BSU student-athletes over the past few years, up to 13 at one point, and was able to see how hectic life was for them.
Idaho: We’re Digging all of these Dairy-Free Eats & Drinks
Paddles Up Poké – This is a local chain serving poke bowls and sushi burritos. Most of their menu options and toppings are dairy-free.
Local business owner donates back pay to Hyde House employees
Dan Landucci, the owner of Paddles Up Poké, has offered to donate back pay to the employees of the Hyde House who say they weren't paid for weeks.
Paddles Up Manager gets missing tooth replaced thanks to employer
A restaurant manager of Paddles Up Poke in Caldwell has a big reason to smile this Christmas.
About two years ago, Brandon Cavener went to pet a dog when it jumped out of excitement and hit Brandon in the face. The impact caused one of his teeth to snap in half, as he described. He soon went to fix the tooth with the help of insurance, but he lost his job due to the pandemic and couldn't afford to get it fixed. He was worried he was just going to have to deal with his new look.
Boise chain opens third restaurant since pandemic began? Expansion is ‘full throttle’
When COVID-19 washed over the restaurant industry in 2020, Paddles Up Poke resurfaced almost instantly. The Boise chain’s flagship store at 237 W. 9th St. pivoted to takeout. Walk-in numbers soon rebounded as patrons ordered food to-go. And deliveries skyrocketed, helping overall sales jump about 40 percent two months into the pandemic, owner Daniel Landucci says.
Boise chain to open 5th, 6th, 7th restaurants. Expansion goal? 50.
Paddles Up Poke owner Daniel Landucci raised eyebrows when he revealed his expansion hopes last year. “Fifty stores in five years in my goal,” he said. Ten months later, that dream is more than just alive. He’s paddling faster.
Dan Landucci, Paddles Up Founder honored for the 2020 IBR Accomplished Under 40 Award
They’re talented, driven and innovative. Meet the young professionals who are leading Idaho into the future.
The Idaho Business Review is proud to announce the honorees for its 2020 Accomplished Under 40 awards program. They come from diverse backgrounds and industries — including business, health care, nonprofit work, government and academia — but they are united in their commitment to excellence.
50 restaurants in 5 years is Boise chain’s goal. Nampa opens now. Soon Caldwell. Then….
While other restaurant owners struggle to stay afloat during the pandemic, Dan Landucci just keeps paddling.
After the coronavirus arrived in the spring, he tweaked the focus of the original Paddles Up Poke in downtown Boise to takeout and delivery. Business jumped 40 percent.
Best of Boise 2020
For a lot of people, sushi is as close as they’ll get to eating raw fish. Our recommendation: Go whole tuna, if you will, and grab a bowl of poké. It’s a rice bowl with a mix of veggies, all topped with generous helpings of raw fish and interesting sauces, and Boise’s swimming-est joint is Paddles Up Poké, smack dab in the middle of downtown Boise.
‘We’re perfect for a pandemic’: How is business up 40 percent at this Boise restaurant?
When the coronavirus arrived in Idaho, Paddles Up Poke owner Dan Landucci temporarily closed his Boise State and Ketchum restaurants, focusing attention on downtown Boise.
It didn’t take long to realize that his flagship restaurant at 237 W. 9th St. wasn’t just going to survive — it was going to thrive.
Top Place for Poke! Paddles Up named Best in the West by via Travel Magazine!
The typical island preparation of poke—a salad of cubed raw fish—is fairly simple: ahi tuna seasoned with sea salt, onions, sesame oil, and limu (seaweed). But as the dish has exploded stateside over the past decade, the definition of poke has expanded to include more types of fish, more spices, and a seemingly limitless collection of toppings, from edamame to Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The one constant? Fresh fish. Here are four of the best spots in the West to get your poke fix.
This growing chain wants a restaurant in every downtown in Idaho.
Dan Landucci might be a local business owner, but he has regional ambitions.
After signing a lease to open a fifth Paddles Up Poke restaurant — his first in Nampa — the 29-year-old is still hungry for expansion.
“I’m starting to lean toward — putting one in every downtown throughout the state would be cool,” he says in a phone interview.
Paddles Up Poké ready to expand again with fourth Idaho location
In just a few short years, Dan Landucci will go from opening one fast-casual poké restaurant — to four. In fact, the chain just opened its latest store last month. Now, Paddles Up Poké plans to expand again.
Press
Alumnus with a passion for poke brings a popular lunch spot to campus
Dan Landucci (BA, communication, ‘13) has always had an entrepreneurial spirit.
“As a kid, there was a rumor I put the ice cream man out of business in my neighborhood,” he said.
While the story may be more family legend than fact, Landucci did canvass his block with goodies bought in bulk and resold to neighbors in his hometown of San Jose, California.
1st-generation college grad returns to open restaurant at Boise State.
After Dan Landucci received his diploma from Boise State in 2013, he got hungry — to start a business.
But his latest expansion — a Paddles Up Poke at BSU — might be his favorite.
Paddles Up Poké to add new location on campus at Boise State
The Boise-based poké restaurant with a theme tied to the river — will soon be on the river.
The fourth Paddles Up Poké will open in the education building on the campus of Boise State University in January, owner Dan Landucci told BoiseDev.
2019 Young Entrepreneur of Year
Paddles Up Owner and Founder won the Boise Young Professionals “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” Award.
This award is presented to a young professional whose entrepreneurial vision, innovation, courage and leadership in creating a successful business has made a positive impact on their community.
Thank you for all of your support, Boise!
Click HERE to see more!
Best of Boise 2019
Paddles Up wins “Best Poke” three years in a row!
Also places 2nd in “Best Lunch” and top three in “Best Caterer” two years in a row!
Thank you Boise! We love you!
Paddles Up Expands to Sun Valley
"We've got a lot of healthy eaters out here," said Paddles Up owner Dan Landucci, speaking to BW from Ketchum, "and just that outdoor lifestyle, which is what we really try to push at Paddles Up as kind of our theme and our motto: being outside and exploring Idaho. All of our stores really push that with our customers, so actually having a store in an area where we can get out and explore Idaho to the fullest was important to us."
Paddles Up Poke’s motto is ‘Keeping it Raw’
It’s called the Sun Valley Ski Bum. But this ski bum doesn’t come with duct tape on its mittens or twin tips on its skis.
And you’ll find this ski bum not on the ski slopes but in the new 800-square foot Paddles Up Poke cafe adjacent to Hotel Ketchum.
Ketchum welcomes Boise-based poké restaurant on Main Street
A new poké restaurant has announced its grand opening this week at Hotel Ketchum.
Paddles Up Poké will open its doors at 11 a.m. Thursday, the company said in a press release.
Boise Poké Restaurant Paddles Upstream to Sun Valley
Paddles Up Poké is set to open a third location – part of a fast start for the Boise-based chain of Hawaiian cuisine restaurants.
Click HERE for full article!
Best of Boise 2018
Paddles Up is proud to announce winning Best of Boise in two different categories after being nominated for four.
Paddles Up placed 1st place for poké and 2nd place in catering. We were also nominated for best seafood and best lunch.
Thank you for all of your support and everyone that took part in this years Best of Boise.
Best of Boise 2017
Paddles Up is still a new kid on the block, but it managed to do the near-impossible in a food scene as crowded as the one in Boise: It found a niche, and did it right.
The Ultimate Boise Food Guide
As someone who’s very skeptical of the seafood options in landlocked states, I can attest to how tasty Paddles Up is. With fish that’s flown in daily, their sushi burritos and DIY poke bowls are filling and tasty.
Cheerleaders! Free Ice Cream!
Some new restaurants do soft openings. Paddles Up Poke prefers loud.
Food delivery service apps bring in big sales for local restaurants
After the food delivery service Uber Eats was introduced to the Treasure Valley last June, local restaurants that subscribed say they have seen a big jump in sales.
Paddles Up Poke opened up shop in downtown Boise last May. Owner Dan Landucci says the restaurant sells on average 300 poke bowls each day.
Asian dishes were among the top Treasure Valley restaurants in 2017
Paddles Up Poké (237 N. 9th St., 208-412-5581, paddlesuppoke.com) debuted earlier this year in Downtown Boise. The quick-service eatery specializes in Hawaiian-inspired poké bowls made with raw fish that can be customized to order, in addition to nori-wrapped burritos.
How big a splash did this new Boise restaurant make?
Things have gone swimmingly for Paddles Up Poke since the rafting-themed restaurant opened seven months ago at 237 N. Ninth St.
“We’ve been killin’ it,” owner Dan Landucci says.
Greenbelt Magazine
The phrase “paddles up” is a rafting term that means to attack the rapids head on, facing the challenges to come. For business partners and long-time friends, Dan Landucci and Jordan Tapangco, paddles up means so much more than just fun on the river. It embodies their passion and dedication for their new restaurant, Paddles Up Poké.
Nudge, Nudge, Poké Time!
Paddles Up Poke is the confluence of chill river vibe and delicious fresh fish....
Boise's Top 17 Bites - Summer 2017
Here is a good summer to do list to help you eat your way around Boise.
One Wild Week Road Tripping Through Idaho
Paddles Up Poké –This restaurant serves up poke bowls (a Hawaiian raw fish salad). It was so good we stopped back two days in a row, something we never do. That should tell you enough how good it is. If you like fish at all, make sure you stop here.
New poké restaurants specialize in Hawaiian fish dish. Paddles Up wins!
Based on my positive experience here, it appears that Paddles Up Poké is poised for a long run.
Keepin' it Raw in Boise Idaho!
When Dan Landucci was rafting last summer in Riggins, whenever they hit a rapids, the guide would yell, “Paddles up!” to put everyone in attack mode.
The phrase stuck. “I kind of took it as a life motto,” Landucci says......
Paddles Up coming soon!
Paddles Up Poke is ready to make its splash.
The rafting-themed restaurant at 237 N. 9th St. will open at 11 a.m. Monday, May 1, serving tasty chunks of marinated raw fish in bowls.....
New Downtown Boise Restaurant encourages customers to live life "Paddles Up!"
For Dan and Jordan, the sound of construction inside their new restaurant is music to their ears.
"My dream was to always open a restaurant in downtown Boise," said Dan Landucci, co-owner of Paddles Up Poke in downtown Boise....
Raw Fish and mixed Greens coming to Boise!
Popular Downtown Boise gift retailer Mixed Greens is getting a larger space -- and its old spot will quickly be turned into a new restaurant....