Call for offers
After nearly 20 years at the helm of one of Boise’s most beloved hospitality institutions, siblings and co-owners Elizabeth and Robert Tullis have announced plans to sell the Modern Hotel and Bar.
Rather than a traditional listing, the sale process will open a call for offers between Oct. 15 to Nov. 14, 2025. Managed by Story Commercial, this approach removes pricing expectations and instead invites prospective buyers to bring forward not only financial offers, but bold ideas for the property’s future.
Key Property Details
- Address: 1314 W. Grove St, Boise, Idaho
- Lot Size: 0.56 acres
- Building Size: 20,208 sq. ft.
- Rooms: 39 Boutique guest rooms
- Parking: 24 off-street spaces
- Liquor License: included
- Remodels: 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2019
- Zoning: MX-5 (mixed-use downtown)
Respond to call for offers
View full property details and submit an offer here storycommercial.com.
The Story of the Modern
The Modern Hotel began with a leap of faith. In 2006, the Tullis family saw potential in a worn-down Travelodge in a part of downtown Boise that had not yet reached its full potential. Led by siblings Elizabeth and Robert Tullis, and encouraged by their parents, the family bought the building, shut it down, and began a full transformation.
At first, the idea seemed risky. Their father, a careful businessman, worried about the investment. But their mother agreed that Boise was ready for something bold. She believed her children, who had grown up in the hospitality business, could bring that vision to life. Their father called this his ‘last love song to his wife.’ She lived to see the Modern open its doors in 2007,
This project carried family history. Decades earlier, Elizabeth and Robert’s grandparents immigrated from the Basque Country and opened the original Modern Hotel in Nampa. That hotel also served as a Basque boarding house—a true lifeline for sheepherders who spoke little English, offering them a space for camaraderie and connection. Four generations of the Tullis family have worked in Modern hotels, carrying forward the spirit of service and community care that is a defining family trait.
From the start, the Modern was unlike anything Boise had seen. There were no corporate backers or big marketing firms filling the rooms. What it had was vision, grit, and a spirit of collaboration. Elizabeth and Robert reached out to friends and artists to weave culture into the fabric of the hotel. Owners invited partnerships with groups like Opera Idaho, LED, Treefort and the Sun Valley Film Festival. Over the years, they hosted events that broke new ground in Boise, from Modern Art and Campfire Stories to the 39 Rooms Film Festival. It became known quickly as a great place to stay because of the confluence of art, hospitality and community coming together.
And soon, it had the writeups, ratings and reviews from both travelers and locals to ensure this independent hotel stood confidently as a Boise institution. Nearly 20 years later, the Modern is a cultural landmark in Boise’s Linen District. Repeated national media coverage and thousands of five-star guest reviews each point to its distinct character and exceptional staff.
Today, Elizabeth and Robert are preparing for retirement. Rather than quietly selling, they are opening a call for offers from Oct. 15 – Nov. 14, 2025. The process was chosen intentionally to welcome creativity and vision into the future of the property. The hope is that new ownership will honor what the Modern has meant to Boise, while carrying its legacy forward in ways that are uniquely their own.
The Modern has never been just a hotel. It’s a family story, a cultural landmark, and a testament to what vision and courage can bring to a city.
