Business Bites: Bison Ford sold; no, there’s no Trader Joe’s planned; city office closure; Peace Place construction; healthcare navigator at library; Bison filmmakers premier; Bird hibernation; TDS celebrating first customer; holiday events
Bison Ford
After 86 years, the family-owned Ford dealership in Great Falls sold.
The Cam Clark Automotive Group purchased Bison Ford on Dec. 1, according to Whitney Olson, Bison Ford’s vice president.
“We are so pleased to find owners committed to the same values and business practices we’ve employed over our many decades. I’m also so thankful for all our employees, customers and friends for their support in the auto business over the past 20 years,” Olson said in an email. “For current customers, your experience will remain the same – same faces, same name, same logo.”
Guitars of Montana closing
Guitars of Montana is closing its doors after 20 years in downtown Great Falls.
Bing and Pam Schmitt said that another business in the building is expanding into their space at 2 5th St. S. that will be redeveloped.
He said that they have to be out of the space by Jan. 1 so contractors can begin the remodel.
Schmitt said he hopes it works out for their neighbors and landlord.
He said they haven’t been able to find a new space that worked for them in terms of cost and what they wanted a space to do for them.
Schmitt said that he’s also turning 70 next year and that their former store manager John Laughlin was killed in a January 2022 house fire.
“We have agonized over this decision for a long time,” Schmitt said. “We do sincerely appreciate the customers and folks who have worked for us. We understand the loss of the resource for the musical community. We’ve had a lot of people say they’d rather we didn’t close. We’d rather not close either.”
Schmitt said they’re holding a liquidation sale with deep markdowns on instruments and other inventory.
Clint Reimann has been the music teacher at the shop and stepped in as manager. He said he’ll be moving to Todd’s Music and Sound at 809 1st Ave. N. to continue teaching and will honor any gift certificates for music lessons through the Guitars of Montana shop.
Schmitt said that Reimann had done a great job as the store manager for the last two years and thanked him for taking on that role.
Schmitt said that perhaps someone in town will pick up the ball and run with it to open a new music shop.
He said they’ll start breaking down the displays and clearing out the shop on Dec. 22, but will be open through the New Year’s weekend.
Fairlanes
Fairlanes, also known as S.Murphy’s Clothing Shoppe or Be a Siren Shoppe at 413 Central Ave. is closing.
“It’s been coming for awhile, like especially this last two years, we have grown our online business and business downtown as slowed way down. We can no longer pay for this huge building,” according to the shop owners.
They’re leaving the space by Dec. 20.
They’re looking for a smaller space or an office for order pickups and try-ons.
“Until then we will be online and will hopefully do some shows here and there. We’re just not sure yet! But we’re still around and can do measurements and free local deliveries and pickups for exchanges. Thank you to all of our customers and we look forward to continuing doing business with you,” the owners wrote on their Facebook page.
City office closure
The City of Great Falls Engineering and the Planning and Community Development Offices will be closed 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7 for a joint meeting.
This meeting will be for the two offices to combine their continued efforts to ensure the development process runs smoothy.
For questions, call the engineering office at 406-771-1258 or the planning office at 406-455-8130.
Both offices will be open Dec. 8 for normal business hours.
Peace Place
Peace Place broke ground in November on their new location at 519 4th Ave. S.
Since initial bids came in over budget, they’re focusing on the first floor and will break the rest of the building into phases.
The ground floor includes a large classroom area, gym area, two offices, sensory-based room, three bathrooms, and lounge areas for older kids and parents. The ground floor renovation is expected to take about four months and they’re hoping to be in the new space by March.
The second floor and playground area will be completed in future phases.
Peace Place received $375,000 in federal COVID relief funds through the city toward the project.
Healthcare Navigator
With the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace’s open enrollment now in full swing, a healthcare navigator will be at the Great Falls Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 8 on the second floor.
Healthcare navigators are trained to help people who need assistance enrolling in health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace or, if eligible, Medicaid. They can also help people who are already enrolled in the Marketplace but are having issues managing their care. Navigators answer questions, help with applications, file appeals, and more. Navigators are trained through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide free assistance to everyone who may be eligible.
Bison filmmakers premier
The Great Falls High video production students will premier their latest public service announcement for the Great Falls Public Library Foundation at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 in the GFH auditorium.
Their PSA highlights the foundation’s annual book-a-thon event for the purchasing of children’s books for the community.
Trader Joe’s
There’s a rumor floating around that Trader Joe’s is opening in Holiday Village Mall.
According to Trader Joe’s, that’s not true.
“We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year. At this time, we do not have a location confirmed in Montana,” Nakia Rohde, Trader Joe’s public relations manager, told The Electric on Dec. 5.
Bird Scooters
Bird Scooters will be hibernating for the winter this year. After seeing success in Bozeman and other snowy cities, Bird has decided to implement the policy in Great Falls this year. This provides the local fleet managers with time to make necessary repairs and perform quality control inspections. The last of the scooters will be moved into storage this week, and the community can expect Birds to reappear in March as springtime also rolls in.
Drink and Draw
Luna Coffee is hosting a Drink and Draw 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
Bring your own beverage, or coffee and tea will be available for purchase.
Drawing supplies will be provided, but you can bring your own too.
Great Falls College Community Choir
The Great Falls College Community Choir performs their winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in Heritage Hall on the Great Falls College campus. The concert is free and open to the community.
The concert will feature holiday favorites and audience members will be encouraged to sing along. It will be followed by a punch and cookie reception.
TDS Fiber will launch service on Dec. 7 in Great Falls, marking a milestone in its high-speed internet network build with an event at first customer Falls Family Fun, a new entertainment venue in Great Falls at 207 Smelter Ave. N.E.
TDS associates will walk through the first installation. The TDS network delivers up to 8 Gig internet speeds, along with a variety of phone and digital TV options. Businesses have access to up to 10 Gig dedicated connections.
Area residents can visit the website to register for service, monitor the progress of the build, and sign up for notifications about the new service. Built in phases, residents can connect to the new network once work is completed in their neighborhood. TDS is also building its fiber network in Helena, Helena Valley, Butte, Missoula, and Billings.
Holidays at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
Celebrate the holidays at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9 with free admission to the center and activities.
There’s kid secret shopping days-let staff take your kids Christmas shopping while you relax with complimentary coffee and cookies. No gift is over $10 and staff will help them shop and wrap their gifts.
Participants can create three fun holiday ornaments with supplies provided. Take two home for your own tree and hang one on the center’s tree.
All fourth graders can get their 2024 free National Parks Pass as well as a free Christmas tree permit.
The center is located at 4201 Giant Springs Road. Call 406-452-5661 for more information.
City issues permits
The city planning office issued a remodeling permit for a new Dominos Pizza store at 2412 11th Ave. South. It will be in a tenant space near the new Grand Slam Casino at the same address.
Staff also issued a remodeling permit for the existing KFC restaurant at 317 Central Ave. W., which involves closing the A&W.
Staff issued a building permit for a new marijuana dispensary, Seed of Life Labs, at 505 5th St. S.W.
JL’s Diecast, Hobbies and More
JL’s Diecast, Hobbies and More has opened at 525 Central Ave in the Times Square building on the second floor.
Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theeelctricgf.com with “business bite” in the subject line.
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