Business Bites: Belles and Lace, Bed Bath and Beyond closing; first Arc Apartments getting ready to open; Phoenix Tea open; second Al Banco spot open; permits for new restaurants including Highway 55; Montana Credit Union expanding; Wendy’s still looking for second location
Updated 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5
Belles and Lace Bridal
Belles and Lace Bridal downtown is closing Jan. 30.
“This decision did not come easy after almost 10 years in business, and a lot of factors played into our choice to close our doors. and not all of them are negative. Sue is ready to enjoy retirement so congratulations to her and the next step in her life. And after they started up this business when she was 24, Courteney is also ready for the next adventure,” owners Courteney and Sue Ferrin wrote.
“Words cant accurately express how much each and every one of our brides means to us, all of our friends and family that make owning a business possible. You are the world to us and this is a huge thank you to y’all,” they wrote. “But it is hard. And it is your entire life. When it is time to move on…it is time.”
Brides with incoming dresses will be contacted and all dresses in the shop are 25 percent off, plus there’s a retirement sale.
Phoenix Pearl Tea
Phoenix Pearl Tea has opened in the Time Square building at 525 Central Ave., Suite M5-A.
Bed Bath and Beyond
The Bed Bath and Beyond at 1200 10th Ave. S. in Holiday Village Mall is closing.
According to a company email, the entire store is 20 percent off.
A store associated didn’t know when the store would close.
In an email response to The Electric, a company spokesperson said, “as part of our previously announced closing of approximately 150 underperforming stores in support of our current optimization strategy, Bed Bath and Beyond has decided to close the Great Falls location in the coming months. We previously shared this information with our valued Associates. While the decision to close a store is always a difficult one, Bed Bath and Beyond looks forward to serving area customers online at bedbathandbeyond.com and our mobile app.”
The Great Falls store was not included on the list of store closures released in August.
Wendy’s
Wentana, the Billings based Wendy’s franchise operating in Montana, is still looking for a second location in Great Falls.
Wendy’s franchise files suit over property deal
“We haven’t found the right one quite yet but are actively looking. We’d love to expand in that market,” according to a company spokeswoman.
Al Banco
Al Banco has opened their second location at The Commons on Central. They’re open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for the winter and will be open during the Christmas Stroll on Dec. 2.
Arc Apartments
The city planning office has issued a temporary occupancy permit for the first eight units of the Arc Apartments on Division Road.
The 216-unit apartment complex was approved in 2016 at the corner of Division and Smelter Avenue Northwest.
The developer, Farran Realty Partners, the same company that built the Talus Apartments south of Benefis Health System, received approval for the plan in 2016, but went back to the Design Review Board in 2017 due to a major change in the layout and building configuration.
Ignite 2021 highlights local business, development
Updated design of 216-unit apartment complex approved by city board [2017]
Chipotle
The city planning office issued a shell permit for the new planned Chipotle at 1900 10th Ave. S., the former Cartwheel property.
The tenant improvement permit for the same restaurant is under review, according to city planning.
Highway 55
The city has received a building permit application for a Highway 55 Burgers and Fries location on a vacant parcel behind Kobe in West Bank One. Staff is reviewing the application now.
West Bank Landing
The city received a shell permit application for a new 8,000 square foot mixed use commercial building in West Bank Landing. Staff said it’s proposed for the vacant lot where Wendy’s was interested in building and the tenants have not yet been identified, but one is likely a restaurant.
City board OK’s West Bank TIF request; restaurant, hotel planned
Wendy’s franchise files suit over property deal [2021]
In June 2022, Montana Credit Union was granted an expansion to their field of membership by the National Credit Union Administration, opening up their field of membership to 44 counties across the state of Montana.
Steve King, president/CEO of Montana Credit Union, will be retiring at the end of 2022 after 45 years in the credit union industry.
He’ll be will be succeeded by Executive Vice President John Hageman on Jan. 1, 2023. Hageman has been with the MCU since 2015.
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