Business Bites: Texas Roadhouse hiring; catalyst redevelopment project; new United Way director; library foundation funding; Lego family build; U to You; Rogue gunshop; and more
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse has a tentative opening date of Feb. 9, 2026, and the company is hiring.
The new restaurant at 1220 10th Ave. S. is 7,692 square feet at the corner of the mall parking lot previously occupied by Fiesta En Jalisco.
Business Bites: “Does anybody know what’s being built….?”
The Great Falls location will employ a staff of 210, according to the company, and those interested can apply here.
Th
Once open, the restaurant will serve dinner-only Monday through Thursday from 4-10 p.m.; Fridays from 3-11 p.m. and be open for lunch and dinner Saturdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
GFDA catalyst redevelopment
The Great Falls Development Alliance is hosting two public outreach meetings for their Brownfields Catalyst Redevelopment Project in January.
The first is Jan. 7 from 5-6 p.m. at Independence Bank, 901 River Drive N. focused on the potential redevelopment of the Falls Construction site at 1001 River Drive N.
The second is Jan. 13 from 5-6 p.m. at NeighborWorks Great Falls, 509 1st Ave. S.
The meeting will focus on the potential redevelopment of the downtown city half-block parking lot at 600 1st Ave. S., exploring possible future uses for the site and gather input on what community members would like to see added to the downtown area.
City requesting TIF funds for parking operations; recommending fine increases
The project is through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant for redevelopment planning and GFDA’s president Brett Doney told The Electric that they’re focusing on housing.
They’ve hired Cushing Terrell for the project and are looking at at least five sites for potential redevelopment.
Doney said it’s similar to a previous downtown microvisioning project that developed renderings for potential development at several locations.
Vision for a vibrant downtown Great Falls, microvisioning project designs unveiled [2019]
Doney said the goal is to lead to redevelopment and the property owner has to be willing to sell or participate in development in some fashion.
The owners of the Falls Construction site have expressed interest in redevelopment, he said.
As for the city-owned parking lot behind the Rocky Mountain Building, the city hasn’t formally committed to participating or giving up the parking lot, but there’s been recent discussion regarding whether the city would consider reducing its parking assets and releasing a request for proposals to redevelop a lot.
Doney said the plans are conceptual and could be used at other locations if a property owner said no to redevelopment.
For questions, contact Christian Nichols at CNichols@GrowGreatFalls.org
United Way’s new director named
The United Way of Cascade County of Cascade County board has named Lacey Hallett as it’s next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 5, succeeding Gary Owen, who is retiring after 25 years.
Hallet is a Great Falls native and currently serves at the nonprofit’s community impact director.
“Lacey embodies the heart and mission of United Way,” Rob Rezek, board chair, said in a release. “Lacey’s decade of boots-on-the-ground experience and visionary approach to collective impact makes her the ideal leader. We are incredibly grateful for Gary Owen’s 25 years of service and look forward to Lacey carrying forward the organization’s legacy of meaningful impact.”
Hallet has been involved in the agency’s initiatives, including Graduate to Elevate, Healthy Lives Vibrant Futures and Prosperity Matters.
“I am honored to step into this role,” Hallett said in a release. “United Way’s work brings our community together around a shared vision — expanding opportunities for our youth, strengthening healthy communities and advancing financial security. Together, we are stronger, and together we can create lasting change for generations to come.”
Hardee’s closure
We’ve been asked multiple times lately about the Hardee’s closure on 10th Avenue South.
A Hardee’s spokesperson told The Electric that:
“We can confirm that ARC Burger, a franchisee that independently owns and operates Hardee’s locations in several markets, has closed its location at 2625 10th Avenue South in Great Falls, MT. This and other closures are the result of ARC Burger’s failure to cure its defaults under its franchise agreements, despite solid sales and our continued attempts over the course of many months to reach a resolution that would keep these restaurants open. We understand the impact of these closures on restaurant employees and local communities, and we are working hard to find a path forward to reopen the closed locations. We remain focused on ensuring long-term stability and growth for the Hardee’s brand.”
Library Foundation funding
The Great Falls Public Library Foundation has approved $30,500 to the Great Falls Public Library toward the purchase of new books and audiovisual materials.
“We are deeply grateful to the Great Falls Public Library Foundation for their continued investment in our mission,” Susie McIntyre, library director, said in a release. “This funding supplements our existing budget and allows us to keep our collection fresh, relevant, and responsive. Whether someone is seeking the latest bestseller, reliable information, or entertainment for the whole family, this grant helps us deliver.”
Lego Family Build
The Great Falls Public Library is hosting a holiday themed Lego Family Build from 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 23.
The event is free and open to kids/teens ages 5-18 and their families/caregivers.
Legos will be provided.
For more information call Youth Services Staff at 406-453-0349 ext. 215 or email cmillsap@greatfallslibrary.org.
Bringing the U to You
The Great Falls Bringing the U to You lecture series kicks off Jan. 15 and is celebrating its 25th year.
Talks by Montana university professors begin Jan. 15 and are scheduled on alternate Thursdays at 7 p.m. through Feb. 26, in Heritage Hall at Great Falls College MSU.
Topics include a lunar space computer developed at MSU, dealing with grief, and what makes Montana Montana.
The lecture series is a collaborative effort of the University of Montana Alumni Association and Montana State University Alumni Foundation, organized by Great Falls alumni of both schools to connect with big ideas from our public universities.
Series passes, $25, are available at Kaufman’s downtown and can be ordered by calling 406-899-0277.
Tickets for individual lectures are sold at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for students.
This year’s lecture schedule is:
- Jan. 15: Seth Bodnar, UM president, “Inclusive Prosperity: How UM is working to drive social mobility, workforce development and economic growth across Montana”
- Jan. 29: Dr. Brock LaMeres, MSU professor, “From Montana to the Moon: The Story of MSU ‘s Moon Computer”
- Feb. 12: Mark Fiege, MSU, “What Makes Montana Montana? Reconciling the Past, Present and Future of our State in a Time of Dramatic Change”
- Feb. 26: Dr. Mary -Ann Sontag, UM, “When Grief Comes Calling: Helping Children, Teens and Ourselves”
Rogue Custom Coating and Gunworks
Rogue Custom Coating and Gunworks opened in November with limited hours at 1720 10th Ave. S., Suite 2.
They’ll be hosting their grand opening in mid-January.
The retail store carries firearms and accessories, ammunition, air guns, targets, knives, FFL transfers, personal protective gear, tactical packs and accessories, and more.
Paris Gibson Square winter classes
Winter classes begin the first week of January at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art and registration is open.
The Square’s arts education department teaches a wide variety of classes and workshops for all ages in many different media. Youth programming is built for pre-K through 12th grade, while most adult classes are designed for ages 18 or 21-plus, in addition to classes and workshops that are multigenerational.
Quarterly scholarship applications are available digitally or in person. An online form can be found here. Call the museum at 406-727-8255; visit the museum Gift Shop to inquire and apply; or contact Liz Slot, education director, at liz@the-square.org.
Business Bites: Pizza Ranch hiring; Touch-A-Truck; Skate Jam; Windsor Plywood closing;
Loenbro Expo
The first Loenbro University Welding and Inspection Educational Expo is Jan. 9-10 in Black Eagle.
The free-to-attend event is for industry professionals, students and early-career talent.
The event includes:
- up to 12 CEUs applicable toward API Inspector and CWI Inspector certifications, led by industry subject matter experts
- mentorship-focused sessions for students and early-career professionals
- networking opportunities during catered lunches and an optional evening dinner
- collaboration with local schools and programs to support workforce development
University of Providence
The University of Providence board of trustees formally declared financial exigency earlier this month.
The step gives the university the ability to make substantial organizational changes, specifically reductions in operational spending, personnel structure and academic offerings.
“The declaration of financial exigency is an instrument that empowers us to act decisively and with a mission-oriented mindset,” said Dr. Caroline Goulet, newly appointed president and provost. “Our foremost commitment is to our students. This step allows us to stabilize the institution so we can continue to provide them with high-quality education, personalized support, and a path to degree completion. Through a deliberate, phased approach, we will rebuild a strong foundation for UP’s long-term future.”
The university is implementing a three-phase plan to stabilize operations, which will involve further reductions in spending, operational consolidation, potential personnel changes and adjustments to academic offerings, according to the university.
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.
