Community News

March 5, 2009, will always be one of those days that you will never forget where you were or what you were doing when a massive explosion and fire took one life and destroyed one-half of the 200 block of East Main in Bozeman. People all around the world were following the events on Twitter within minutes after the explosion and photos were flying via cell phones seconds later. Regardless of how the message was delivered, the disaster that rocked the heart of downtown Bozeman touched the lives of all who live here and who care for our community.  This article is a one-year progress report and update on the site rebuild, the specific businesses that were displaced, other businesses that have relocated downtown, and current construction projects and remodels. 

The explosion site rebuild is underway, with the American Legion Club out of the ground and making good progress in its original footprint location at 225 East Main. They plan to reopen in September. The Legion project is being financed by First Security Bank and built by Walker Construction.  There is still one available piece of ground on the exposition site that is currently offered for sale which measures 26.5 feet wide by 150 deep.  There are some surrounding buildings that sustained damage and have yet to be repaired. The Osborne Building, located just east of the American Legion and the former home of the Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company and Starky’s Deli, sustained substantial damage and is expected to be demolished.

The flagship building, known as the “F&H Building”, will be constructed with at least a two-story structure at 209 to 219 East Main Street. The building owners are Mike Hope and Ralph Ferraro, and the project team includes Locati Architects, Martel Construction, and First Security Bank.  The F&H Building will be home to the Rockin' R Bar, Pickle Barrel, and a newcomer to downtown, Santa Fe Reds. The brick, stone, and steel structure features 10,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space on the main floor and 10,000 square feet of office space on the second floor.  There are approximately 9300 square feet of the basement area. The second-story offices will have functioning balconies, and there are roll-back doors on the main level, which will allow the bar and restaurant to open up the front wall to the sidewalk during warmer months.  Santa Fe Red will occupy the main floor on the west side of the new building.  The Rockin' R, with Pickle Barrel inside, will occupy the main floor on the east.  The estimated opening date is April 2011. 

Let’s take a quick look at where the other displaced businesses are operating. Montana Trails Gallery was the first business to re-open its doors at a new location.  They moved last summer to 402 East Main, the former location of T. Charbonneau’s on the southeast corner of Rouse and Main. Lilly Lu’s opened during the holidays in the Jacobs Crossing Building, at 424 East Main, formerly the Fancy Flours location.  Tolstedt Architects has also relocated from their old space above Lilly Lu’s to 628 East Main above Fleet Feet. The Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company is currently remodeling the former Phillip’s Book Store location at 111 East Main. Starky’s Authentic Americana (renamed from Starky’s Deli) will be opening soon at 24 North Tracy adjacent to the parking garage.  Boodles is renovating the former Spanish Peaks space in American Bank at 14 North Church. Rocky Mountain Rug Gallery is operating out of the original space at 210 East Main as well as down the street at 448 West Main next to Rockford Coffee.

As for some other movers and shakers downtown, Phillips Book and Office Supply recently relocated to 115 East Main. Elizabeth and Company moved to its new location at 10 East Main in June 2009. Western Drug moved its pharmacy to Heeb’s Grocery and the Blackbird Café opened on the southwest corner of Main and Bozeman.  Other significant projects downtown include the remodel of the Western Drug building, and the new Tire Rama store on Church and Main Street. The First Security Bank remodel and expansion, which started in July 2008, is expected to reach completion by year-end. The project team includes Prugh & Lenon Architects and R&R Taylor Construction as general contractors. The bank is adding 18,000 square feet to the existing building with additions to the first and second levels and a new third floor for the HVAC system. The drive-up facility has been totally rebuilt and is scheduled to open in April. The building will stand at just over 65,000 square feet when completed.

It is incredibly noteworthy that all of the businesses that were impacted by the explosion have either relocated with doors open for business or are rebuilding or relocating in downtown Bozeman. The Downtown Business Association’s tagline “Life is Downtown” is personified in the resolve of these businesses, property owners, and their financial institutions to rebuild and persevere our downtown. Next month, I will continue to cover the happenings of downtown Bozeman with an overview of the newly adopted Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan.