Business Bites: Times Square, Harlos have new owners; Station District food hall update; Hallmark closing; bubble tea coming; Vintage Sellers moving soon; Denny’s not closing; First Peoples Buffalo Jump hikes
Times Square
Jason Stringer purchased the Times Square building in October.
Stringer is a Great Falls native and also owns Tree Amigos Tree Service.
The building is at the corner of Central Avenue and 6th Street.
In a post, Stringer said he’s “dedicated to restoring the building to its former glory. His vision is to breathe new life into this historic gem, ensuring it continues to be a cornerstone of the community for generations to come.”
The Blue Rose
The Blue Rose is for sale.
“Ready to retire and not work so much, wonderful opportunity for someone who wants to rock the retail business and it is super fun. Turn key operation and I will be willing to work through the transition,” owner Tracy Perry said.
Anyone interested can contact Perry at 406-231-9808.
Stadium Sports Bar
Mi Rancho is leaving the Stadium Sports Bar as they’re moving to Helena to consolidate their locations there.
Mi Rancho’s last day serving is Dec. 1.
The change means the bar is bringing back “the bar food everyone has missed and asked for,” according to Stadium.
That includes homemade pizza, wings and cheese sticks.
They’re expanding the casino have some construction as they’re also adding a liquor store.
During the transition for the month of December, the bar said customers can bring in their own food while they have a drink or play in the casino. Food trucks are welcome to use their parking lot for the month and interested vendors should call the bar.
The new bar food will be available in January.
Harlos Wax and Sugar Spa
Harlos Wax and Sugar Spa has a new owner, Lindsey Evensen, who’s been a cosmetologist in Great Falls for more than 10 years in various establishments.
Melissa Mathern, Harlos’ founder, wrote in a post that she and her family moved to Texas over the summer and since then, “we continue to get countless affirmations that Texas is where we are supposed to be. With the move, I’ve also decided to make a shift in the business world by selling Harlos and starting up something new in Texas. So the time has come for me to pass on the torch at Harlos.”
“In the workspace, Lindsey and I share an aligned vision for the future of Harlos Wax and Sugar Spa. I am confident that she will take Harlos to new heights so that it can continue to be an asset to the businesses in Downtown Great Falls,” Mathern wrote.
For those with upcoming appointments, there’s no need to make adjustments, the staff and schedule will stay as it, Mathern said.
Seed of Life Labs
Seed Of Life Labs dispensary is having their grand opening Nov. 23 at their new location at 505 5th St. S.W.
Station District
The Station District Bar and Eatery, which is in the new portion added onto the Milwaukee Station, in between the historic building and the new apartment construction, has named the four food concepts that The Electric first reported in early October.
Those concepts were explained then by Tyson Holzheimer as
- Italian deli: with pizza, charcuterie boards, salads, muffaletta sandwiches
- Mexican: barbacoa, pork carnitas and more, similar to the booth he had at the fair the last two summers
- Pan-Asian: build your own bowl, pick base and protein, plus small plates like pan fried veggie dumplings, chicken skewers and pork belly bao buns
- American: burgers, brats, chicken sandwiches, fries
They concepts now have names:
- Cascate, Italian
- Barrio Cantina, Mexican
- Yama-Asian Kitchen
- Big Sky Grill
The space also includes a coffee shop, a bar area, seating available on two floors, both indoor and outdoor seating and second-floor event space.
The food hall is expected to open sometime this winter and will be open to residents and the public alike.
The property owner is Big Sky Select Properties, which also owns the Mighty Mo building and opened the apartments above the brew pub, the federal courthouse building and the Lee Forest Building on 1st Avenue North downtown.
Big Sky Select chose OVG Hospitality, the food and beverage division of Oak View Group, to create and define the dining and hospitality experiences, including programming.
Nikki Lintz, regional manager for the property management group handling the apartments, told The Electric that they’re leasing well but not to 80 percent yet, which was a number floated at a downtown market assessment presentation on Nov. 13. She said they still have plenty of one-bedroom units available.
The building has 121 units, with a mix of studio, one- and two-bedrooms starting at $1,445 per month.
Denny’s
A local posted in the Great Falls Take Down Take Out group this week that they heard Denny’s was closing.
Michelle Parks, the restaurant’s general manager responded saying “we’re not closing! We are franchise and most of the closures are with corporate Denny’s.” She said they’re also hiring cooks.
Denny’s announced in late October that it was closing 50 restaurants in 2024 and 100 in 2025.
According to the company website, the company consists of the Denny’s brand and the Keke’s brand.
As of Sept. 25, the Denny’s brand consisted of 1,525 global restaurants, of which 1,464 were franchised and licensed restaurants and 61 were company operated. The Keke’s brand consisted of 61 restaurants, 50 of which were franchised restaurants and 11 were company operated.
A spokesperson for Denny’s responded to a media query from The Electric with this statement, “closing a restaurant is a challenging decision, one that impacts not only the team members but also the guests and local community. We work closely with our owners and their teams; Denny’s does not provide advance notice of closures to media.”
Vogue Bubble Tea and Coffee Bar
Vogue Bubble Tea and Coffee Bar is opening soon at Walmart Supercenter, 5320 10th Ave. S.
Vintage Sellers move
Vintage Sellers is moving to West Bank Landing in the same strip as Qdoba.
They’re moving in December but don’t have an exact date yet.
They’ve got wines on sale now.
Sun Prairie Village County Water and Sewer District
Sun Prairie Village County Water and Sewer District‘s board held a budget work session Oct. 29 during which the board reviewed the bond requirements for asset replacement and depreciation, as well as the last year of operation and maintenance expenses.
“With the increasing prices of [operation and maintenance] costs, as well as the issues that have been increasing from old infrasture, the district has no alternative than to raise the water and wastewater rates. This proposed increase is above the annual 5 percent allowed without holding a public hearing,” the district wrote on their page.
The board will present the proposed new rate structure during a public hearing during their Nov. 19 meeting at the district office, 1047 Grant Drive, at 6:30 p.m.
Questions or comments before meeting should contact the district office 406-965-3944.
Salvation Army holiday kickoff
The Salvation Army of Great Falls is hosting its first Christmas season kickoff with a luncheon Nov. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The theme is “Give Thanks.”
“Come join us and bring a friend to learn about what The Salvation Army does here in Great Falls and help us kick off our holiday fundraising,” according to the agency.
The luncheon is $15 per person at the Salvation Army, 1000 17th Ave. S. Proceeds from the event go toward community assistance year-round.
Purchase tickets in their office or online here.
Leslie’s Hallmark
Leslie’s Hallmark in Holiday Village Mall is closing.
Dave Simkins, the owner, said he’s closing one location each in Helena and Billings in January, and closing the Great Falls location when his lease is up in March.
Simkins said he’s trying to wind down toward retirement after 45 years and lease expirations are a good time to make those changes.
He’s actively trying to sell the business and anyone interested can call the office at 406-442-2132.
Simkins said that they’ve been in the mall for 30 years and if he wasn’t trying to retire, he’d be looking for a new location in Great Falls.
He said the store is still going strong, but mall traffic has dwindled and the ownership doesn’t appear to be doing much to attract new tenants.
Guys and Dolls
The Great Falls High Drama Club and Theater Department are hosting another weekend of Guys and Dolls.
The show runs Nov. 14-16, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Pizazz
Pizazz is hosting their annual wine vendor and food showcase on Nov. 15 from 4-7 p.m.
All of their wine vendors will each have three wines to sample and a cheese paired with each of their wines.
Chef Rhonda will be making appetizers to inspire you for the holidays.
Tickets are $50 per person.
Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees at St. Thomas Child and Family Center is Nov. 16, with doors opening at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $100, which includes open bar and buffet until the live auction starts with Christmas trees.
The silent auction offers Christmas gifts and baskets as well as uniquely themed mini trees.
Empty Bowls
The 2024 Empty Bowls, hosted by the YWCA Great Falls, is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at the University of Providence.
Tickets are $35 each, for food, good music and great company.
Learn more on the YWCA Great Falls website.
MedAchieve
On Nov. 18, 13 Great Falls Public Schools high schoolers will graduate from the MedAchieve Program through Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The students have been attending classes at Touro for the last eight weeks, according to GFPS.
MedAchieve is an after-school program designed for high school students interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
It consists of two programs: MedStart, for the first year, and MedExcel, for the second.
During each program, students attend lectures and participate in interactive lab sessions with a focus on medical science. Each MedAchieve student is paired with a current medical student from Touro who mentors them throughout the program, offering guidance for their academic and career goals, according to GFPS.
The main academic goal of MedAchieve is to provide students with a practical understanding of basic medical sciences, designed as a two-year program mirroring medical school curriculum.
Women Who Shaped Montana screening
The Great Falls High History Department with DKG Omega Chapter is showing The Story of Us: The Women Who Shaped Montana at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Great Falls High Auditorium.
Admission is free.
This series celebrates the remarkable women who have played pivotal roles in shaping Montana’s history and culture. Building on the success of the first episode, Episode 2 delves deeper into the untold stories of women whose legacies continue to influence the state today.
Directed by Kimberly Cosgrove Hogberg, The Story of Us series captivates audiences with its powerful storytelling and striking visuals, honoring the courage, determination, and ingenuity of Montana’s women.
Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with the director and featured experts, providing attendees the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about the historical importance of these stories and their relevance to contemporary issues.
Night Without a Bed
Night Without A Bed, hosted by Family Promise, is Nov. 21 from 5-8 p.m. at the University of Providence Student Center.
It’s a homelessness awareness event with interactive scenarios and representatives from local organizations.
Buffalo Jump hikes
Nov. 17 is national Take a Hike Day and First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is hosting a guided sunset hike from 4:30-6 p.m. that afternoon.
Park ranger Andy Keller will lead the three-mile hike, which begins at the visitor center and will share the history of the historic park and buffalo jump.
There is a $4 fee to join the hike and space is limited to 25 participants.
On Nov. 23, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is hosting a popular guided rock art hike for visitors who want to learn the differences and symbolism of pictographs and petroglyphs, while getting an up-close view of both types of art.
The two-hour rock art hike begins at 10 a.m. and will be led by a park ranger.
Reservations are required.
The cost for the hike is $4, and there are 20 spots available for the strenuous off-trail hike along the cliffs.
The hike is weather dependent and may be cancelled in the event of poor weather conditions.
Hikers may wish to use Yaktrax or similar micro cleats for the hike if snowy and slippery conditions occur the day of the hike.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is currently in winter hours of operation, and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Admission to the park for Montana residents is free. Non-residents pay $8.00 per vehicle.
The park is 3.5 miles north of Ulm, just off Interstate 15 at exit 270.
For questions or to reserve your spot for either hike contact First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park at 406-866-2217.
Community Rec Center
The Community Early Education Center is hosting a holiday party from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Rec Center, 801 2nd Ave. N.
The community holiday party is for all ages with an ugly sweater contest, games and prizes, and arts and crafts.
Concessions will be available for purchase.
Entry is $ 5 for children ages one to 17. Adults and infants are free.
Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with “business bite” in the subject line and the details in text format in the body of the email.
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