Bird scooters

Bird Scooters will be wrapping up operations in Great Falls after four seasons in the community. The company has made the decision to end service in this area.

The local fleet will be available to ride through May 21 before being collected.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support and enthusiasm from the community over the years—it’s been a fun ride. We hope folks will enjoy a few more spins before we wrap things up,” said the local management team, who have overseen the Bird fleet since its launch.

Electric scooters arrive in Great Falls [2021]

Beacon Icehouse

The Beacon Icehouse is listed for sale for $2.68 million. The property is in the county with city water and the liquor and gaming license is included in the sale, according to the listing.

Business Bites: Job Service, Epiphany Dermatology moving; student art exhibition; local yarn shop day; fundraising to save historic barn; block party; cold weather services; Give Great Falls, and more

Montana Home Journal

A familiar favorite is getting a new look. Montana Home Journal is the next chapter of Homes of the Falls, a longtime local magazine that has showcased real estate and home services in Great Falls for more than 25 years.

Now under the new ownership of Lindsey Godwin, owner of REP Space, and Nicole Marchion, owner of Intentionaire Marketing, the magazine continues its focus on all things home, from standout listings and stories to trusted local professionals, while bringing a modern, elevated feel to each issue. You can find the magazine on their website, social channels, and at distribution sites across Central Montana.

Business Bites: Old Chicago opening; McDonald’s, Homegrown Dental building new locations; wellness event; belly dancing class; disc golf tournament; Sunday Sampler; Fastsigns moves

Cassiopeia Books

Cassiopeia Books is hosting a Raise a Pint fundraiser at the Mighty Mo Brew Pub on May 12 at 5 p.m. in support of the Montana Bookstore Trail.

They’ll have raffle baskets, a 50/50 and more with swag from Aunt Bonnie’s in Helena and Reading Leaves in Townsend, plus swag from last year’s trail.

Business Bites: Take 5 oil change construction; Loading Zone demolition; Pizza Ranch update; Strunk selected for business program; new Honey Hippo location; Press Club move; art classes at The Square; leprechaun trap at GF Rec Center; Community Band concerts; Fire Within

University of Providence

The Galerie Trinitas at the University of Providence will be open May 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 9 during their Table of the King Gala.

Business Bites: Chik-fil-A files traffic study, Winco, Panera, Ocean Star Seafood, local wins Emmy Award, United Way surpasses fundraising goal, Christian bookstore opens in the mall

Food for Fines

Beginning May 12 through the end of the month, the Great Falls Public Library will forgive $5 from patrons’ fines, up to $25 in total, for every non-perishable food item they bring into the library The food will be donated to the Great Falls Community Food Bank.

Library patrons can also bring their food items to the front desk and let a staff member know they want to apply it to the charges of a child’s library account, up to $25.

Some of the items most in need, according to the food bank, are can openers, jelly, pancake syrup, cereal, rice, canned chicken, condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo) and other various snacks but most non-perishable food items will be accepted.

Business Bites: 100-acre mixed use project proposed; Buffalo Blanc opens second location; UP athletic director resigns; Clearwater, Baatz projects progressing; Benefis building senior health center

Book sale

The Friends of the Great Falls Public Library is holding their annual book sale this month at the library.

The regular priced sale is

• May 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m
• May 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• May 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The half-price sale is

• May 22 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• May 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The sack sale is May 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when patrons can purchase as many items they want for $5 in a sack they bring themselves.

Business Bites: childcare grants; Little Shell event center; Ignite 2025; Station District opening; Banff film festival; Sacagawea program; GFPS job fair; youth activities

Author Talk

The Great Falls Public Library is hosting an author talk with Leslie Budewitz at 5:30 p.m. May 13.

She’ll be discussing her new book, All God’s Sparrow, which tells stories about women’s lives, seasoned with friendship, food, a dash of history, and a heaping spoonful of mystery.

Business Bites: Candy Masterpiece closing; Thrive Cycle moving; Bloom and Bean open in new spot; Tres65 closing; Project Noel, Clear Your Stash drives; Giving Tuesday; Cascade XCELL; Safety Town; Pirates of Penzance; pedal trolley

Malmstrom contract

The 341st Contracting Squadron has awarded a contract for the missile alert facility lagoon electrical to Liberty Electric of Missoula for $385,550.

The period of performance for this award is 154 calendar days after the issuance of the notice to proceed.

Reptile Universe

Reptile Universe is opening up a store soon at 404 1st Ave. N.W.

They’ll be a retail store offering reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates for sale, along with terrariums, supplies, feeders and live plants.

The shop will also be taking in rescues, rehabbing and rehoming them, as well as offering educational shows in the future.

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

Rogue Brownies

Rogue Brownies has opened a commercial kitchen in Great Falls offering gourmet brownies.

They were previously been known as Glamma’s Brownies and have shifted from a cottage food business to working in a commercial kitchen making brownies they sell online.

They’re working out of the Fresh Rescue Kitchen, which rents the kitchen to other businesses.

Rogue Brownies doesn’t have a storefront but offers local pickup and in the coming months, they’ll have some products available in select Montana stores.

Business Bites: Tony Roma’s opens Monday; Feather Your Nest, Belles and Lace closing; Sisters Cafe open; housing rules; downtown development; new exhibit at Russell Museum

Law Day Award

Law Day is May 1 in the U.S. and in 2005, the Great Falls Pre-Release Center awarded its first Law Day award to Thomas McKittrick, then a district court judge.

Since then, the award is given annually to those who have achieved in fields such as corrections, education, law enforcement and community support.

This year’s recipient is Supervising U.S. Probation Officer Nichole Anderson and she’ll be honored at the center during a 2 p.m. May 29 ceremony.

Anderson has been with the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services for the District of Montana, Great Falls Office, for six years. The Great Falls team consists of three post conviction officers, two Indian Country post conviction/ pretrial officers, three presentence writers, one pretrial services officer and two clerks, according to the center.

Business Bites: Broadway in Great Falls; food pantry donation; NWGF expands savings program; Old Chicago remodel underway; Wheat Montana expanding; Claire’s closing; medical degree, residency programs; human trafficking program

Touro dean

Dr. Stephanie Zeszutek has been appointed as interim associate dean to lead the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana campus, according to Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish.

406 Creations and Concoctions

406 Creations and Concoctions has opened in the former Feather Your Nest space at 309 and 311 Central Ave.

They’re open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wyrd Gifts and Longhouse

Wyrd Gifts and Longhouse has opened in the mall seving hot dogs, tacos and more, plus a gift shop.

They’re open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays in the food court at Holiday Village Mall.

Great Falls Emergency Services

Great Falls Emergency Services is hosting an open house for EMS Week from 1-4 p.m. on May 19 at their facility, 514 9th Ave. S. Visitors can see their new addition and meet ambulance crews.

Got a business bite? Email it to jenn@theelectricgf.com with ‘business bite’ in the subject line and the details in text form in the body of the email.