Business Bites: Building permit submitted for Chiptole; La Cocina Mexican opening in former Fox Farm Diner; Rib and Chop House coming; CVS reopens; United Way fundraising campaign; other development rumors
Updated 9 p.m. Aug. 3
Chipotle
It’s official, Chipotle is planning a location at the former Cartwheel property at 1900 10th Ave. S.
We’ve reported for more than a month that Chipotle was planned for the space and the building permit application for a Chipotle location at that address was submitted to the city on Aug. 2.
The former Cartwheel was recently demolished and the permit application estimates the new construction is valued at $850,000.
La Cocina Mexican
The former managers of the Fiesta En Jalisco announced this week that they’ll be opening their own place, La Cocina Mexican, in the former Fox Farm Diner at 1709 Alder Dr.
They haven’t released a timeline of their plans yet, but an application for a safety inspection certificate was submitted to the city on July 21 for the project.
The city planning department signed off on July 27. Other departments, including Great Falls Fire Rescue and the Cascade County City-County Health Department, also have to sign off before the certificate is issued, but staff anticipated they’d be doing that work in the coming weeks, though might be slowed due to the fair operations.
Rib and Chop House
Rib and Chop House, of Finally Restaurant Group, has signed a lease to open a restaurant in Great Falls.
The company is planning a restaurant at 21 3rd St. N with more than 5,000-sqaure-feet, 225 seats, including a 1,200-square-foot patio with seating for 40.
The company will remodel the ground floor of the Wells Fargo building.
Rib and Chop House will open next spring, according to the company.
Development Rumors: What’s real, what’s not
“We’re thrilled to bring our style of sizzling comfort food to downtown Great Falls, and are excited about this location specifically, as we feel it’s ideally situated for inviting customers in to experience our signature offerings,” Yaron Goldman, Rib and Chop House CEO said in a release.
Rib and Chop House was founded in 2001 and is owned and operated by Finally Restaurant Group in Bozeman, which also owns the Accomplice Beverage Company.
The restaurant has locations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.
Loading Zone/Playground
A reader asked The Electric last week if Benefis Health System had purchased the Loading Zone/Playground property.
Another reader told us they heard a rumor that Chitpotle was moving into the Loading Zone.
We checked.
Neither is true.
Benefis officials said they have not purchased that property.
The Loading Zone property owner told The Electric that the property has not been sold, nor has it closed.
The Chiptole is planned for the former Cartwheel property, as we have reported twice.
CVS
A reader asked why the CVS on 10th Avenue South was closed last week.
We checked and the company said, “Due to an unexpected system issue, our Great Falls store at 10th Ave. South temporarily closed on July 21 and 22. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers. The store is open and we continue to take care of our patients’ pharmacy needs.”
United Way
Shannon Hoiland has volunteered to chair United Way of Cascade County’s 2022 fall fundraising campaign. This campaign marks the organization’s 53rd year as a local nonprofit.
United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of everyone in Cascade County.
Through its annual campaign, United Way awarded grants to 30 local nonprofit programs that will help 31,133 local people this year.
Hoiland is the Great Falls market president for Bravera Bank and co-owns a landscaping business with her husband.
She’s also the Benefis Health System board vice chair and serves on the Great Falls Development Authority and High Plains Financial boards. In the past, she’s served on other boards including the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Joining Hoiland as the United Way campaign vice chair is City Motor Company President Cooper Thomas.
United Way’s annual campaign connects with area employers to donate individually and on behalf of their businesses.
A majority of these 3,000 donors gave less than $100 each, donating only a few dollars from each paycheck.
Last year, United Way broke a campaign record raising $1,236,575 to invest in local nonprofits and community impact initiatives. This year’s campaign kicks off Sept. 1.
For its annual campaign, United Way volunteers reach out to area employers to invite individuals to give and donate money on behalf of their companies. In 2022, more than 3,000 people gave to United Way, most donating less than $100 by taking a few dollars out of each paycheck to help their neighbors.
Donations can be sent to United Way at P.O. Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403 or donate online via its secure website at http://www.uwccmt.org .
