Updated at 5 p.m. June 2 to correct the building for sale on 10th Avenue South is the former Metro Auto location, which has moved to another location.

Roadhouse Diner

Roadhouse Diner is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week.

They’ll be celebrating on June 4.

“While the world has changed since 2015, Roadhouse has remained true to quality, hospitality and dedicated to giving customers unique burger creations that have made them a state-wide favorite,” according to the diner.

Jason and Tara Beam opened Roadhouse Diner on June 1, 2015.

Since CNN featured the one-day special offering ‘McFly Burger’ for Back To The Future Day in 2015, the Roadhouse has developed over 300 quirky and unique burger specials that customers had fun with, savored and enjoyed.

Over the decade, Tara has competed against other burger chefs on Food Networks Guy’s Grocery Games and won the competition.

Roadhouse celebrated it’s 500,000th burger sold in June 2024.

Their beef is sourced from McCafferty Ranch just outside Belt, and their signature buns are baked fresh every day by Great Harvest Bread Company.

“As we look back on our first ten years, Tara and I are grateful to our helpful family, faithful customers, our hard-working staff and local vendors for coming together with us to make Roadhouse Diner a place that friends and family can get a great meal experience. We hope you’ll join us Wednesday to celebrate our anniversary with new menu items and other fun stuff going on at the diner” Jason Beam said in a release.

Roadhouse Diner is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. offers in-house dining as well as take-out and delivery.

Broke Axe

Broke Axe Throwing is moving into 613 Central Ave. next to Snits downtown.

Their storefront will be by appointment only for June and closed after that for the move.

Broke Axe is currently located at 701 River Drive S.

NeighborWorks Week

Every year during the first full week of June, NeighborWorks organizations nationwide celebrate “NeighborWorks Week” to showcase their work and community partnerships.

NeighborWorks Great Falls is holding five different events in honor to celebrate.

• Annual Most Improved Awards, which recognize businesses and individuals that showed their commitment to improving Great Falls in the past year. The ceremony is 4 p.m. June 5 at the Station District Bar and Eatery. This year’s award recipients are: Lender of the Year- Mike Banks; Realtor of the Year- Abby Williams and Polly Pearson; Volunteer of the Year- The Community Beautification Association; Homebuyer Education Partner of the Year- Jackie Owens; Business Partner of the Year- NorthWestern Energy; Best New Building- The Station District; Be Re-Adaptive Use of Space- Sidequest Arcade Bar/Big Dipper; Most Improved Residential Property- Garrett Rice; Most Improved Rental Property- Elmore Roberts Apartments; Most Improved Commercial Property- Fresh Rescue Kitchen. RSVPs are encouraged at nwgf.org/event.
• June 9: Baatz Block Apartments tours that begin about every 15 minutes from 3-5 p.m.
• June 10, all are invited to the current owner built homes site at 2121 23rd Ave. S. The newest 10 homes are almost completed and it’s an opportunity to walk through the different floor plans, see how each homeowner makes their home uniquely theirs and hear from the homeowners themselves about their experience. The tours are self guided from 3-6 p.m.
• June 11: NWGF and Downtown Great Falls are teaming up to offer a “Mural and Brew” tour to celebrate the overlap between NeighborWorks Week and Craft Beer Week. This tour will highlight various murals downtown while stopping for beverages along the way from 3-6 p.m. Spots are limited so RSVPs are required at nwgf.org/event.
• June 12, wraps up the week with “Impact Tours.” There will be two bus tours offered, one at 11 a.m. and another at 3:30 p.m. The 75 minute tours give a comprehensive but fun look at some of NWGF’s projects from rentals, to rehabs, to new construction. Spots are limited so RSVPs are required at nwgf.org/event.

For more information on NeighborWorks Week or the upcoming events, call 406-216-3504.

Taco Takedown

The Taco Takedown is 6-9 .m. June 6 at the Heritage Inn. Tickets at $45.

Summer library bash

The Great Falls Public Library is hosting their summer bash from 3-6 p.m. June 7 in Library Park.

The event includes:

• Papo’s food truck
• Ice Box ice cream truck
• Toast, an acoustic duo, performing
• Carol Bradley, local author, will speak about the importance of literacy
• non-profits will have informational tables

Elevation 3330

After about six years, Elevation 3330 is closing on May 29.

The bar opened in April 2019 in the Strain building and added the suspendlet.

Longtime friends opening Elevation 3330 in downtown Great Falls [2019]

Elevation owners, including Brandon Cartwright, have leased the space from Madill since February 2018.

Cartwright made about $600,000 worth of tenant improvements to the space on the second floor of the building before many of the other second floor tenants had moved in.

In January, Jason Madill, the building owner, filed a lawsuit against Cartwright and his partners over unpaid rent and insurance. Madill alleged that Elevation hadn’t paid full rent for several months and didn’t provide proof of liability insurance as required under the lease.

“Suspendlet” coming to second story of Strain Building; two more pedlets planned downtown [2018]

Cartwright told The Electric that he’d been negotiating terms for a new seven year lease with Madill for the last several months, attempting to work through issues, including non-functioning bathrooms and lack of water due to plumbing issues that he said were Madill’s responsibility.

He said that discussions were ongoing, but they hadn’t come to an agreement, as Madill had proposed significant rent increases.

“We don’t want to leave, but we are leaving,” Cartwright said.

Panera

Panera Bread submitted a building permit application to the city planning department on May 23 for the property at 1322 10th Ave. S., the former JB’s.

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

The plan is to demolish the existing restaurant and build a new Panera.

The property was purchased by Pan Montana, the Panera franchise in Montana that owns the other locations in Billings, Missoula, Kalispell and Helena.

Great Falls Fire Rescue told The Electric last week that they’d secured permission from the property owner to train on the existing building before demolition.

GFFR conducting training with soon to be demolished structures; working to get new training center

Farmer’s Market

The Great Falls Farmer’s Market opens June 7 in the Civic Center parking lot and surrounding area.

Safety Town

Registration is open for this summer’s Safety Town at the Skyline Early Learning Family Center.

There are a limited number of spots and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis for students entering kindergarten in the fall.

The registration fee is $200.

Students learn, have fun at Safety Town [2023]

• Session 1: 9 a.m. to noon.
• Session 2: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sessions take place under the guidance of a certified teacher, project coordinator and teen volunteers.

The sessions are all held at the Skyline Early Learning Family Center, 3300 3rd St. N.E.

Applications and registration fees are received at the Career and College Readiness Center, Great Falls College.

Sign up to volunteer here.

Clearwater Credit Union

Clearwater Credit Union is requesting $50,000 in downtown tax increment financing funds toward the demolition of the old Hardee’s at 101 1st Ave. N. where it’s building a new bank.

Construction is planned to begin this summer and take about 15 months for the estimated $3.8 million project, according to their TIF application to the city.

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

The Downtown Development Partnership is reviewing the application during their May 28 meeting and the request will go before the City Commission for final approval.

Clearwater is planning a building that will “hold the corner” of 1st Avenue North and Park Drive since “the city has expressed a desire for Clearwater’s building to hold the corner, because it matches the urban design model of the downtown area and Clearwater wishes to have their project be a benefit to the urban fabric of downtown Great Falls,” according to their TIF application.

Business Bites: downtown Hardee’s sold; Mrs. Wright’s Pastys closing; Honey Hippo has new owners; Hi-Line Climbing offering free climbing; Miss Linda’s, Montana Youth Symphony have upcoming events; Cascade 66 Race; Special Olympics Montana numbers; Korean War online exhibit; Safety Town; and more [2024]

The planned building is wrapped on both street sides with a low planter bed fully within Clearwater’s property, but on the Park Drive side, the planter encroaches on the Montana Department of Transportation right of way. MDT is requiring Clearwater to widen the sidewalk along Park Drive from five feet to eight feet, according to the TIF application. Clearwater has opted to widen it to 10 feet.

A significant portion of the alley will also be repaved as part of the project.

Clearwater also plans to apply for additional TIF funds toward the Park Drive sidewalk expansion, alley reconstruction, pedestrian downtown street lights and the planter bed in the right of way on Park Drive, according to the application.

Gibson Hotel

The Gibson Hotel was recently recognized with a “Best of Choice” award from Choice Hotels International, Inc.

“The designation is awarded to the top hotels within the company’s domestic and international portfolio, representing a tremendous accomplishment. As one of the top tier properties operating under the Ascend Collection flag, the hotel has demonstrated an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to superior service. Award criteria are evaluated by Choice Hotels through its official property ranking reports,” according to a release from Choice Hotels.

“Over the years, we’re seen it all-the good, the bad and the truly unforgettable. We’ve had guests who arrived as strangers and left as lifelong friends, employees who truly became family and moments of service that defined what hospitality really means. Downtown is our home and we love being part of the community. Some days, it’s about welcoming weary travelers. Other days, it’s about running outside to help a neighbor in need. No matter the situation, we’re here for the people who walk through our doors,” according to The Gibson Hotel.

Business Bites: Linda Michaels gets grant; The Wild Hare happy hour, brunch; Baatz building cleanup meeting; new bar; Rib and Chop progressing; The Gibson opening; TroyStrong blood drive [2023]

Mattress Firm

The city issued an interior remodel permit on May 29 for the former Mattress Firm on 10th Avenue South.

Hanger Clinic, which specializes in orthotic and prosthetic care, is remodeling the space for their clinic.

Parking lot party

Savage Motorsports is hosting a parking lot party open house at 4910 10th Ave. S. on June 14 from noon to 3 p.m.

Swing & Meat

Swing & Meat opens June 1. They’ll be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. at 1210 9th St.

They’ve got golf, hunting and multisports simulators, VR and tabletop games.

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

Summer programs at The Square

Summer classes and kids camps are open for registration at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art.

Great Falls Craft Beer Week

Great Falls Craft Beer Week is coming up with the golf tournament on June 13 and MT Brew Fest is June 14.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help with the activities.

Sign up here.

Volunteer training is  June 4 at the Sip n’ Dip patio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. or 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Funseth Dental

Funseth Dental is open and accepting new patients.

Dr. Cole Funseth has acquired Great Falls Caring Dentistry and will continue operating at the 114 13th St S location.

Funseth is a Great Falls native and graduated from Carroll College and the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

After spending time in the world of public health, he said he’s excited to continue to serve the community.

For an appointment please call (406) 454-3711.

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

North Star

The city issued a permit to remodel the existing building at 4000 North Star Boulevard for a distribution warehouse. The property owner is listed on the application as GFA, LLC.

Town Pump

Town Pump has applied for a permit to build their new casino at 1525 3rd Ave. N.W., the former Best Wok location.

The city approved a rezone of the property for the project last year.

City approves rezone for former Best Wok property [2024]

Coffee Republic 

Coffee Republic is building a new location at 1000 Central Ave. W.

The company submitted a permit application to the city planning office in 2024 that was since approved and work is underway.

Business Bites: second locations for Wendy’s, Coffee Republic; Old Chicago planning summer opening; traffic signal box art; housing; MSU nursing school; MT41 casino opens; new diner; and more [2024]

TroyStrong blood drives

Eight TroyStrong Red Cross blood drives are scheduled across the state in June, including Great Falls on June 19.

In 2017, when he was two, Troy Ross, of Great Falls, was diagnosed with a rare immune disease and airlifted to Seattle, launching years of hospital stays, medical tests, procedures and medications.

Nearly three-quarters of Troy’s blood supply had to be replaced. Troy is now a healthy 10-year-old. To pay it forward for those blood donations, each summer Troy’s family holds blood drives across the state.

To date, these 65 drives have collected 1,500 units of lifesaving blood and brought 300 first-time donors through the door. These drives come at an important time as it is traditionally harder to collect blood in the summer as people become busy with vacations and activities, according the American Red Cross of Montana.

Schedule an appointment to donate at one of these drives by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering the
sponsor code TROYSTRONG or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767). A blood donation takes less than an hour,
and a single donation can save more than one life.

Metro Auto

The former Metro Auto building on 10th Avenue South is listed for sale for $1.75 million.

Metro Auto is now now located at 1124 24th St. S.

Stray Moose

The Stray Moose building in Black Eagle is listed for sale for $2.5 million.

The building is on a 4.64 acre parcel leased from Cascade County.

Windy City Liquidations

Windy City Liquidations opens June 2 at 624 Central Ave.

They’ll be open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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.