Dec 2014

Tavern Times
Visit these Hospitality/Gaming Industry Web sites:
Montana Gaming Group: http://www.montanagaminggroup.com
Montana Gaming Research & Education Fund: http://www.gamblingmontana.org
Montana
Filling
Station
– Page 12
E-mail:
pault@tashcommunications.com
Main Office:
406-782-3660
“Dedicated to Serving the Montana Tavern and Gaming Industries”
This publication endorsed by
the Montana
Tavern
Association
MTA board, panels meet
Vol. 20, Number 1
A Tash Communications Publication
Decmber 2014
Website, videos,
info cards finished
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Montana Tavern Association has a new “set
of tools” to help it build upon an already solid
organization, thanks to the work of the organization’s Public Relations Committee. The group met
for its quarterly meeting Nov. 18 in Helena.
In just over a year’s time, the group has created
an impressive social media presence with development and launch of a new website, a new Facebook
page, and two new on-line videos that describe the
MTA and its benefits, as well as the liquor control
system. In addition, the panel has created two information cards and a brochure that also highlight the
MTA and its benefits.
The goal of the information is two-fold – to educate the public, state regulators and lawmakers on
the important role Montana’s taverns and its liquor
control system play in our communities, and to help
increase membership and presence of the MTA.
“We have all the tools to help build membership,” said Bobby Lincoln, the panel’s chairman.
“Now we have to use them.”
MTA lobbyist John Iverson agreed.
MTA members, he said, “have to talk to their
neighbors, talk to their friends … to help recruit.”
See VIDEOS Page 6
DAVE JESERITZ of the state’s Gambling
Control Division reviews regulations
Paul Tash photo
regarding firearms on licensed premises
for the MTA Executive Board last month.
SBA, weapons information heard
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Executive Board of the Montana
Tavern Association heard presentations on
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
loans and assistance and on the legality of
concealed weapons in taverns at its quarterly meeting Nov. 18 in Helena.
The SBA’s Wayne Gardella reviewed
SBA loan and technical assistance available to tavern owners. He said the SBA
acts as loan guarantors and last year backed
$110 million for 307 loans in Montana. He said
“20 to 30” of those loans were in the hospitality industry.
Gardella said tavern owners can use SBA
loans for a variety of purposes, including refinancing, expansion or purchasing real estate.
Refinancing, he said, allows business owners to “stretch out debt,” such as high-rate
credit card debt, or to help finance a loan when
See BOARD Page 10
Century releases cash-securing products
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
Billings-based Century Gaming
Technologies has recently launched
two products for gaming machine
operators to help them improve the
cash-handling security “of one of
the last cash businesses in
America.”
The Secure Pay dispensing safe
and the Accu-Count cash-counting
system can be linked to the company’s successful i-Rewards player
reward system, but can be used
independently as well, said company spokespersons Jeff McNeish
and Polly Poindexter. McNeish,
Century’s software development
coordinator, and Poindexter, its
senior senior account representative, were enthusiastic when
reviewing the products recently
with the Montana Tavern Times.
The Secure Pay safe and its
See SECURE Page 2
Change service requested: 914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
P A I D
Permit No. 93
Livingston, MT
Paul Tash photo
JEFF MCNEISH, Century Gaming Technology’s software development
coordinator, demonstrates the software application that runs the new
Secure Pay dispensing safe, which the company just released, at company headquarters in Billings recently.
Montana Tavern Times – 2
December 2014
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 3
Secure
from Page 1
technology, McNeish said, “bring
peace of mind” to gaming-machine
operators “never before available
in the Montana marketplace.”
The key to Secure Pay,
Poindexter said, is its ability to
“communicate with the machines”
through the Tier 1 software
accounting system and the ubiquitous SAS (Statistical Analysis
System) program used by the state
for data analysis and reporting.
The safe is controlled through a
kiosk, where pay-out tickets can be
scanned or their numbers validated. The process virtually eliminates
fraudulent tickets because pay-out
tickets are validated against the
gaming machine.
The safe itself is virtually
impenetrable, McNeish said. The
safe features a dual-locking system, is too heavy for one man to
lift, and can be bolted to the floor
for extra security. McNeish said he
expects the safe to earn such a
strong reputation that thieves won’t
even attempt to break in when they
see the Secure Pay logo.
With the Secure Pay dispensing
safe, McNeish said, “Gaming cash
is only accessible for what it was
intended – paying players quickly
and accurately – while minimizing
exposure to external and internal
theft.”
Poindexter said the system is
“really easy to use,” and the safe is
small enough to fit under nearly
any counter or cabinet.
Other features of the safe
include:
• A state-of-the-art tracking
mechanism that minimizes rejected
bills and prevents dispense errors,
ensuring an accurate payments;
• Bulk dispensing capability;
• An alert system that warns
when the dispenser is getting low
on cash;
• Automatically emailed reports
and real-time activity display.
• Automated reporting of meter
data to the state Gambling Control
Division.
Secure Pay also features an
ability to gather and report video
gaming machine actions and play
data in real-time directly from the
machines, McNeish said, “providing an invaluable casino management tool not available in any
other product available to the
Montana market place.”
“The days of waiting a full
business day to analyze casino performance are a thing of the past,”
he said.
“We’re very excited about this
product and associated technology,” he added.
The Accu-Count cash-counting
system benefits the “back-office
side of business,” McNeish said.
Paul Tash photo
KATIE CLIFFORD, owner of the new Casino 8 in Billings, shows
her setup for the Secure Pay dispensing safe. The safe itself is
hidden in the cabinet, with only the dispensing slot visible.
The system virtually eliminates
internal theft, he said, because the
cash is “quickly and easily reconciled with gaming meters” using
proprietary software.
Other automated safe guards
minimize the ability to “fool the
system,” he said.
Poindexter said cash-counting
summaries can be emailed immediately, which is helpful for off-site
or multi-operation owners and
managers “who can’t be there all
the time.”
The PC-based application can
also be accessed remotely, allowing someone “sitting on a beach”
to check on “snow-bound” operations, McNeish said with a laugh.
He added that Century will
provide training and on-going support for the hardware and software.
The software programmers are
“Billings-based” to provide instant
trouble-shooting should the need
arise.
The Accu-Count cash-counting
system, which includes a Cummins
Jetscan currency counter, also features emergency-drop capabilities
that allow establishments to replenish cash reserves during business
hours.
“It’s an airtight and simple system,” McNeish said, “that saves
time and headaches.”
And it basically eliminates
human error in cash-counting,
Poindexter said.
Montana
gaming operators will really
benefit from the
Secure Pay dispensing safe and
the Accu-Count
cash-counting system, the two Century
reps said.
“We’ve really secured the
entire cash chain of an operation,”
McNeish said.
MILODRAGOVICH, DALE, STEINBRENNER
Attorneys
P.C.
Liquor License Transfers, Gaming Applications,
Real Estate, Business Sales, and Estate Planning
GERALD W. STEINBRENNER
(406) 728-1455
Fax (406) 549-7077
E-Mail: fishlaw@bigskylawyers.com
www.bigskylawyers.com
P.O. Box 4947
620 High Park Way
Missoula MT 59806-4947
Montana Tavern Times – 4
Tavern
Times
December 2014
Opinion/Editorial
Merry Christmas from the MTA office
T
By Chris Caldwell
MTA Administrator
Christmas is just weeks away!
We at the MTA office wish you a
joyful and safe holiday season.
We remind you to drink responsibly and to take advantage of your
local tavern associations’ designated driver programs and free
taxi services in your community.
Our Nov. 18 MTA Executive
Board meeting was informative –
much was discussed with the
Legislative Session only a month
away. Guest speaker Wayne
Gardella of the Small Business
Chris Caldwell
Administration shared with the
the status of a particular bill should contact
board the many options available to tavern
your board representative or call me or visit
owners with the SBA. MTA members can
our website at www.montanatavernassociacontact their MTA Executive Board repretion.com.
sentative or the MTA office for details.
We are happy to announce that we have
The 2015 Legislative Session begins
just launched our new website and
Jan. 5. As we do each session, the MTA
office will maintain a list of proposed legisla- Facebook page. We invite you to visit the
tion that could affect the hospitality industry. website and like us on Facebook. The webThe list will be frequently updated and post- site is full of good information and member
resources.
ed on our website. Members interested in
The next MTA Executive
Board meeting is Wednesday,
Jan. 28, at Jorgenson’s in
Helena.
That evening, MTA will hold
its legislative reception. The
reception is a great opportunity
for our members to meet or
become reacquainted with their
state legislators and talk about
issues important to them. All
members are encouraged to
attend both the board meeting
and the reception. Please notify
me if you will be able to attend.
The MTA wishes to thank
our corporate sponsors for their
support. Hub International, Cascade County
Tavern Association, Century Gaming
Technologies, GTECH, Amusement
Services, Gallatin County Licensed
Beverage Association, Tri-County Licensed
Beverage Association, and Young’s Market.
If you have a question or need information, call me, (406) 442-5040, or email me,
mttavern@gmail.com. MTA members, leave
a message on our hot line, and I’ll call you.
he Montana
Tavern
Association will
host its popular
legislative reception Wednesday,
Jan. 28, in Helena.
Website offers new and improved functions
By Lisa Skates
Liquor Control Division
The Montana Department of
Revenue has launched
improved website functions for
liquor licensees and the public.
Improved functions include a
more user-friendly tool to help
licensees, servers and sellers
verify their alcohol server training as required by the
Responsible Alcohol Sales and
Service Act. Users will now be
able to print out a ‘training verification’ for any server or seller
reported to the department as
completing a state approved
server training program.
To conduct a search, the
person’s name (first and last)
and date of birth need to be
entered. The system will search
for all like names that have the
Write us
T
Lisa Scates
same birthdate. This soundex
search makes it easier to locate
a record that may be spelled
differently in the system.
Licensees and the public
he improved
functions provide the public and
licensees with a
valuable tool, while
streamlining the
process.
may now order FREE training
materials by using the new
shopping cart function. The
department has a variety of
training materials for licensees
The Montana Tavern Times welcomes letters to the editor.
Letters must include the writer’s name and address. Word limit is
300. Email your letter to pault@tashcommunications.com. The
Times reserves the right not to print letters it finds objectionable.
to assist them in their responsible alcohol sales and service
practices as well as items for
the general public. Orders are
mailed out within two weeks.
Need to find a server training class for the state’s responsible alcohol sales and service
training program called Let’s
Control It? Our new calendar
allows users to search for a
class by month, city or county.
Users can also find a list of
other approved training
providers on the website.
Visit www.AlcoholServer
Training.mt.gov and click on the
appropriate tab for the function
you need to use.
The improved functions provide the public and our
licensees with a valuable tool
while streamlining the process.
We hope that our liquor
license holders and the public
find these functions useful. We
thank you for your patience as
we launch this new system as
there are bound to be some
clichés.
Please feel free to call me at
(406) 444-4307 if you have any
questions on accessing the new
system functions.
December 2014
Tavern
Times
Montana Tavern Times – 5
Opinion/Editorial
Rules on carrying weapons can vary
By Dave Jeseritz
Gambling Control Division
In this month’s article I will
pass along some of the highlights from a recent presentation I made to the Montana
Tavern Association on
Montana’s laws pertaining to
concealed weapons and open
carry at its meeting in Helena.
Concealed weapon
defined
recreation or protection;
those carrying arms on their
own premises or own home or
place of business;
a legislative security officer
in the state capitol who has
been issued a permit.
While I won’t go into detail
in this article, if a person is
interested in receiving a permit
to carry a concealed weapon
legally, they must apply for and
For definitional purposes,
"concealed weapon" means a
handgun or a knife with a blade
four or more inches in length
that is wholly or partially covered by the clothing or wearing
apparel of the person carrying
or bearing the weapon. For a
more specific definition, refer to
Montana Code Annotated § 458-315.
Concealed weapon
restrictions
Under MCA § 45-8-316, it is
a misdemeanor criminal offense
for a person (without a permit)
to carry or bear concealed upon
the individual's person a dirk,
dagger, pistol, revolver, slingshot, sword cane, billy, knuckles
made of any metal or hard substance, knife having a blade
four inches long or longer,
razor, not including a safety
razor, or other deadly weapon.
Exceptions to this law are
made for:
any peace officer of the
state of Montana or of another
state who has the power to
make arrests;
any officer of the United
States government authorized
to carry a concealed weapon;
a person in actual service as
a member of the National
Guard;
a civil officer engaged in the
discharge of official business; a
probation and parole officer;
an agent of the department
of justice or a criminal investigator in a county attorney's
office;
a person who is outside the
official boundaries of a city or
town or the confines of a logging, lumbering, mining, or railroad camp or who is lawfully
engaged in hunting, fishing,
trapping, camping, hiking, backpacking, farming, ranching, or
other outdoor activity in which
weapons are often carried for
Dave Jeseritz
meet all the requirements under
MCA § 45-8-321. Please consult with your local sheriff’s
office for more information
regarding the permitting
process.
What I will touch on briefly
however, are the restrictions for
a person with a concealed
weapons permit (or CWP): A
permit holder cannot:
1. Be intoxicated while carrying a concealed weapon
(MCA § 45-8-327);
2. Carry a concealed
weapon in state or government
offices or buildings; schools;
banks, credit unions, or savings
and loan institutions;
3. Carry a concealed
weapon in a room in which
alcoholic beverages are sold,
dispensed, and consumed
under a license issued under
title 16 for the sale of alcoholic
beverages for consumption on
the premises;
4. Carry a concealed
weapon on a train.
Local governments are
allowed to regulate the carrying
of both concealed and unconcealed weapons in certain
areas, including public assemblies, public buildings, parks,
and schools. Please check your
local regulations.
County sheriffs can provide
information on where concealed
weapons are prohibited in their
counties. Montana state law
contains no prohibitions against
carrying a weapon in a motor
vehicle.
Open-carry state
Montana is an open-carry
state, which means a person
may carry an unconcealed
weapon in a city, town, logging
camp, county, etc., without
L
ocal governments can regulate the carrying of
both concealed and
unconcealed
weapons in certain
areas.
needing a CWP. Those persons are not prohibited by law
from entering into a location
where alcoholic beverages are
sold, nor do they have the
same restriction as a CWP
holder regarding intoxication.
Check local laws for rules.
Here are a few frequently
asked questions regarding
CWPs:
Do I need a CWP to carry
a weapon concealed at my
own home or business?
Generally no, unless some
other law prevents carrying at
that location.
Do I need a CWP to carry
a weapon while hiking or
hunting?
No. You may carry a concealed weapon without a CWP
while lawfully engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, camping,
hiking, backpacking, farming,
ranching, or other outdoor activity in which weapons are carried for recreation or protection.
Do I need a CWP to carry
a concealed weapon outside
of town?
Generally no. You may carry
a concealed weapon without a
permit if you are outside the
official boundaries of a city or
town or the confines of a logging, lumbering, mining or railroad camp.
I don’t have a CWP. Can I
still carry a firearm as long as
it is not concealed?
Generally yes, but there are
various state and local laws
prohibiting carrying of a
firearm – concealed or unconcealed – in certain places or
under certain circumstances.
Can the owner or proprietor of a residence or business prohibit carrying of a
weapon if I have a CWP?
Yes, the owner or proprietor
of a property may prohibit all
weapons on that property.
A Tash Communications Publication
Tavern Times Business and News Office:
914 Holmes Ave., Butte, MT 59701
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Office phone: 406-782-3660 • Cell: 406-491-0100
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Phone 406-494-5736
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This publication has been endorsed by the Montana Tavern Association
Montana Tavern Times - 6
December 2014
Videos
With the new online and print
material, the MTA now has “an
opportunity to tell our story …
how our businesses play an important role in the social fabric of
Montana,” Iverson said, so that
lawmakers, regulators and the public “have an accurate picture.”
“The media project does a
great job telling our story,” he said.
“It’s a great product.”
The new website is “optimized” for computer, I-pad or
smart phone. It also includes links
to the new videos, a pour-cost calculator, business education
resources, legislative updates, and
digital copies of the Montana
Tavern Times. The website address
is www.montanatavernassociation.com.
The Facebook page will highlight different taverns throughout
the state.
The committee also agreed to
produce a third video to feature the
history and benefits of gaming in
Montana.
Now that communications
material has been produced, MTA
President Mike Hope said the time
is right to “rebuild some local
MTA organizations” that are not
very active. (Note: The state MTA
is comprised of several county
chapters throughout the state).
The PR committee identified
some less-active local organizations, and Hope, Iverson and others
agreed to contact them to see how
the state organization can help
them revitalize operations and
rebuild membership.
“We need to hold ourselves
responsible and follow up with
these organizations,” Hope said.
“Our dues are a bargain.”
Hope also lauded the committee, lead member Janet Prescott,
MTA Administrator Chris
Caldwell, and Iverson for their
work in producing the communications material.
“It was a fantastic effort,” he
said.
In other action, Caldwell told
the panel that ticket sales improved
drastically this year for MTA’s On
the House*Pitality promotion, the
organization’s main fundraiser.
Tickets sold totaled 2,160, compared to 1,300 last year.
“The incentives (for ticket sellers) worked well,” Caldwell said.
Iverson said some unique
advertising helped ticket sales as
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
The Montana Tavern
Association’s Legislative and
Gambling Committee discussed the
recent election and the upcoming
legislative session at its meeting
Nov. 18 in Helena.
MTA lobbyist John Iverson
told the group the makeup of the
new Legislature following the Nov.
4 election is sound, with some
bright new legislators joining many
experienced ones.
“I’m looking forward to working with all the legislators in the
next session,” he said.
The committee reviewed a list
of legislative items that could
affect the state’s tavern businesses,
which Iverson will be working on.
Among them is a compromise
bill proposal that will allow breweries that want expanded retail
privileges the opportunity to get
them, and will allow taverns the
opportunity to begin brewing their
own beer, if they choose to. Tavern
owners, brewers, and many other
industry partners have been working since the end of the last legislative session on a unified plan to
present to the 2015 Legislature.
They have agreed on a proposed
bill, which is currently being drafted.
from Page 1
Paul Tash photo
MTA PRESIDENT Mike Hope
makes a point during a PR
Committee meeting last month.
well. Committee member Chad
Bachmeier had donated advertising
space for the promotion through
his Off-the-Wall advertising company, which offers bathroom
advertising in hospitality businesses throughout the state.
“I think we should see another
jump next year,” Iverson said.
The On the House*Pitality
fundraiser entitles buyers of a $20
ticket to the 60 free drink tickets
from taverns across Montana. In
addition, the ticket automatically
enters the buyer in the “Football
Mania” sweepstakes, where players participate each of the 17
weeks of the National Football
League season with randomly chosen NFL teams. Each week the
ticket holder’s card lists three
teams, and holders of the eight
highest and three lowest team point
totals win cash prizes.
Tavern owners who have sold
the tickets to their customers do so
to create some extra traffic and
interest in their bar. Ticket buyers
come back each week to see if they
won.
Committee reviews election, legislative agenda
Cascade County
Tavern Association unwraps its ...
Annual Christmas Dinner
Wednesday, Dec. 3,
Great Falls Civic Center
$150 per couple with one chance at the big raffle prize,
half-table for $500 for 4 people and 4 tickets,
full table for 8 for $1,000 and get 8 chances in the raffle
Hosted cocktails 6-7
Dinner served 7:30
• Silent Auction • $1,500 Cash Raffle • $8,000 more in Cash Prizes
For tickets or more information
call John Hayes at 590-5646
or Mary Jane Heisler at 868-1865.
Tickets also available at the door.
“This compromise is a common-sense solution that makes
sense for Montanans, creating
growth opportunities for both
brewers and taverns,” Iverson said.
“I think the legislative and executive branch will be excited to see
the participants in our industry sitting down at a table and finding
common ground.”
In other action, the committee
agreed to develop a template for a
“Server Training Agreement” that
tavern owners can use. Tavern
owners would require alcohol-serving employees to sign the agreement that would say they have the
required server-training credentials.
The group said signed servertraining agreements could help in
defense against a lawsuit based on
alleged over-serving or underageserving.
Later, member John Hayes
updated the committee on new
horse-racing simulcast machines
that are now being placed in rural
locations across the state. He said
23 of the machines are “up and
running,” with several more ready
to go in the next few weeks.
Fifty-one locations in Montana
are licensed and approved by the
Montana Board of Horse Racing to
have the machines manufactured
by SocialGaming, Hayes said.
The machines, which can only
be sited in rural locations, simulcast live horse and dog racing, he
said, and don’t accept credit cards.
The locations do not receive any
money for hosting the machines.
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 7
• Karoake 7 nights a week 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Large Variety Poker & Keno Machines
Queen of Hearts
• Packaged Liquor To-Go
Card Club
• Great Drink Prices
Best Live Poker Action in Town
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crystalloungebillings.com
101 North 28th Street • Billings, Montana • 406-259-0010
Let those who serve the Montana Tavern Industry
wish you a Merry Holiday Season ...
and a very prosperous New Year!
Montana Tavern Times – 8
December 2014
25 DAYS OF
Sunday
7
Fleetwood
Gaming
Season’s Greetings from
Montana’s Premier Gaming Company
1-800-823-4321
14
May your holiday
season be
blessed with peace,
love and great joy.
Happy Holidays!
Happy
21 Holidays
John Hayes
“Your Insurance
Professional for the
Tavern Industry”
Hayes Insurance
Agency
1-406-590-5646
Monday
1
Best wishes to
our friends this
holiday season.
Have a prosperous
New Year!
8
May the Holiday
Season bring tidings
of great joy to you and
yours during this special
time of year. And, here’s
hoping 2015 will bring you
prosperity and success
beyond your wildest
dreams.
Your friends at
MONTANA
COIN MACHINE
OPERATORS
ASSOCIATION
15 Young’s
Market
Tuesday
2
9
Merry Christmas!
16
Our sincere wishes for a
wonderful Holiday Season for all those
involved in the tavern industry. We look
forward to serving you in 2015.
From the industry pacesetter.
Mike Farago (State Manager) 406-240-3190
Jeff Armstrong (Eastern MT) 406-670-9526
Matt Brumfield (Western MT) 406-360-3807
Brittni Frampton (Central MT) 575-642-6969
22
May you enjoy
a wonderful
Holiday Season
Take advantage of our
50-plus years of
experience in 2015.
(406)-452-7301
23
Seasons
Greetings!
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 9
CHRISTMAS
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
To all our
friends and customers,
Amusement Services wishes
the best for the Holidays
and the New Year.
10
To my friends
and customers in
the tavern and casino
industries, sincere wishes
for a joyful Holiday Season
and Prosperous New Year!
Ronda Wiggers
Public Relations
Friday
11
Wishing you
and yours a joyous
Christmas!
Saturday
6
“Focused on the interests
of the gaming industry.”
12
5
Have a
wonderful
Holiday Season
and a happy,
prosperous
New Year!
The officers and members of GIA
wish all our fellow tavern owners
and those dear to them
a magnificent
Holiday Season
and a
Very Prosperous New Year
13
406-899-5659
rondawiggers@bresnan.net
17
Merry Christmas!
and a happy
and joyous
New Year!
18
Big Sky
Restaurant
Supply, Inc.
Happy
Holidays!
Serving all your bar
and restaurant supply
needs in
western Montana.
1641 South Ave. West,
Missoula
406-721-2157
24
25
The best of
joy, the best of
cheer for Christmas
and the coming year!
Happy Holidays
New Year
Tavern Times
Montana
pro spero us
an d a
from the
19
20
Our special
thanks for
a wonderful year!
Holiday Best
Wishes to all.
Montana Tavern Times – 10
Board
from Page 1
a “balloon payment is coming
due.”
Expansion can include remodeling and renovating.
“Banks like expansion,”
Gardella said, because it involves
“existing businesses with generally
good financials.”
One of SBA’s jobs, he added, is
to “push your bankers” to qualify
prospective lenders for loans.
“Virtually every bank in
Montana has an SBA loan program,” Gardella said, adding that
the SBA application process “is
absolutely no different” than regular bank applications.
The SBA’s capital program,
which is used generally to purchase real estate, is “absolutely
amazing,” he added. The program
can secure a “20- to 25-year fixed
loan” at competitive rates, he said.
“It’s a lot less expensive than
rent,” Gardella said.
SBA loans can be tailored to
most any situation, he said, using
rates generally less than the “rack
rate.”
“Take advantage of it,” he said.
In addition to loans, the SBA
provides business owners a variety
of technical assistance, Gardella
said.
“If you’re looking to buy, for
example, we’ll work with you,” he
said. “We know the bankers.”
Even for businesses “hurting a
bit,” he said, “we can come up
with a solution.”
“We’re your friend. We have an
open-door policy.”
Part of SBA’s mission,
Gardella said, is to maintain and
strengthen the economy, and that
includes loaning money to help
small businesses.
“We rely on you guys to help
us with capital and to create new
jobs,” he said.
The Executive Board then
heard from Dave Jeseritz, the chief
of the Department of Justice’s
Investigations Bureau. Jeseritz
reviewed current law and regulations relating to firearms in liquorlicensed establishments. Generally,
Montana law prohibits people from
carrying a concealed weapon into a
tavern, even if they are permitted
to carry one, he said. Interestingly,
however, state law does not prohibit people from carrying a
firearm openly into a tavern, he
said.
Gun owners need a permit to
carry a concealed firearm, Jeseritz
explained, which is defined as a
hand gun or knife with a blade
over 4 inches “wholly or partially
concealed by clothing.” Montana
law provides several restrictions to
concealed weapons, and carrying
one into “any place where alcoholic beverages are sold, dispensed
and consumed” is prohibited, he
said.
However, Montana “is an
open-carry state,” he said, so it
doesn’t stop people from carrying
Tavern Timetable
Dec. 3
Dec. 11
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
— UPCOMING EVENTS —
Cascade County TA dinner, Civic Center, Great Falls
Gaming Industry Association, Best Bet, Helena
MTA Executive Board, Jorgenson’s, Helena
MTA Legislative Reception, Jorgenson’s, Helena
— STANDING DATES —
2nd Tues. of month
1st & 3rd Wed. month
Second Tue. of month
Quarterly (call)
1st Thurs. of month
2nd Wed. of month
2nd Wed. of month
2nd Tues. of month
1st Tues. of quarter
3rd Thurs. of month
Last Tues. of month
2nd Thurs of month
2nd Thur. of month
2nd Wed. of month
Last Wed. of month
1st Mon. of month
2nd Tues. of month
1st Tues. of month
Carbon/Stillwater TA 237-9844
Cascade Co. TA 453-9567
Central Montana TA 868-4693
Flathead Co. TA 270-8069
Hi-Line TA 265-9551
Lake Co. TA 883-2553
Lincoln Co. TA 293-4493
Miles City TA 234-3164
Missoula Co. TA 728-0030
Park County TA 222-0665
Ravalli Co. TA 821-1853
Richland Co. TA 433-4354
Sheridan-Richland-Daniels 474-2358
Silver Bow TA 494-6062
Southwest Montana TA 835-2150
Toole Co. TA 434-2442
Tri-County LBA 475-9560
Yellowstone TA 656-3991
guns openly into taverns. Jeseritz
said, though, that individual taverns have the right to prohibit
open-carry firearms on their premises.
Some places where open-carry
firearms are restricted include
school buildings and federal buildings. In addition, local restrictions
often prohibit open-carry firearms
in public meetings, publicly owned
buildings, parks and school
grounds.
Places where concealed
weapons are banned, he said,
include:
• School buildings;
• Buildings owned or leased by
the federal, state or local government;
• And financial institutions.
Jeseritz also said local regulations may restrict carrying concealed weapons at public meetings
and in public parks. Montana has
no prohibitions against carrying a
weapon in a motor vehicle, he
added.
Convention successful
In other business, Janet
Prescott, chairperson of the MTA’s
Budget and Finance Committee,
reported that the 2014 MTA
Convention and Trade Show, held
in September in Bozeman, was
“hugely successful.”
The convention had 277 registrants and 73 trade-show
exhibitors, she said.
She said profits from the organization’s main fundraiser - the
House*Pitality promotion –
jumped significantly from last
year.
“We’re doing really well,” she
said.
Bobby Lincoln, chairman of
the MTA’s Public Relations
Committee, told the Executive
Board that the group’s communications efforts have “come to
fruition,” with the development of
several print and online projects.
The material was developed to
educate the public, state regulators
and lawmakers on the important
role Montana’s taverns and its
December 2014
liquor control system play in our
communities, and to help increase
membership of the MTA.
In the last month, the committee has launched of a new website,
a new Facebook page, and two
new on-line videos that describe
the MTA and its benefits, as well
as the liquor control system, he
said. In addition, the panel has created two information cards and a
brochure that also highlight the
MTA and its benefits. (See related
story on the PR Committee).
MTA lobbyist John Iverson
played the online videos for board
members, who applauded the
efforts.
Iverson told the board that the
MTA “has the ability to continually
update the videos … to keep them
fresh.”
“We all need to work to get
this information out there,”
Lincoln said. “We’ve invested in
the content.”
MTA President Mike Hope
agreed.
“The tools are out there,” he
said. “It’s time to use them to help
build membership.”
In other action, the Executive
Board:
• Set the MTA’s legislative
reception for Wednesday, Jan. 28,
at 6 p.m., after the Executive
Board’s next meeting, at
Jorgenson’s in Helena;
• Elected Bruce Enott chairman
of the board, and Steve Morris vice
chairman of the board;
• Heard a report from Chris
Caldwell, MTA administrator, who
said membership is up from last
year in all categories – regular,
gold star, associate and corporate.
• Heard from National Director
and American Beverage Licencees
President Harry Klock, who is
working to get the ABL’s fall
meeting next year in Helena, prior
to the MTA convention;
• And saluted longtime MTA
member and former president
Darrell Keck upon his retirement.
Keck recently sold the Dixie Inn in
Shelby.
Buying or selling
your business? I can help!
• Specializing in putting buyers and sellers
together for merger and acquisition of businesses
• Past beer and wine wholesaler in Montana and
Arizona
• 22 years experience in alcohol-related businesses
• Seeking listings in Tavern, Restaurant and
Gaming Industry
“I’m looking forward to meeting many of my old-time
friends and getting to know new acquaintances. If I’m
given the opportunity to work for you, I don’t believe
you will find anyone who will work harder than I will.”
404 N. 31st Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 7225
Billings, MT 59103-7225
Cell: 406 425-0180
E-mail: lyle@lbstratus.com
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 11
Remodel pumps up Filling Station
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 12
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
A full-out remodel in the middle of a recession isn’t advisable
for most small businesses, but Kris
Martin, owner of the Filling
Station in Seeley Lake, figured she
didn’t have a choice.
The expense of a remodel
might pull her under, but her business would surely bleed to death
without it.
“I think it saved us,” she said
of the 2009 remodel during an
interview recently with the
Montana Tavern Times.
…
Before life in Seeley, Martin
lived all over the country. A selfdescribed “military brat,” Martin
moved many times growing up, as
her father led the customarily nomadic military life. At 21, she
moved to Lake Tahoe,
CA, where she worked
as a card dealer. Later,
she worked as a dice
pit boss at the Crystal
Palace Casino in the
Bahamas, where she
also trained dealers.
In 1997, however,
Martin and her husband at the time wanted a change.
“We traveled
around until we found something
we wanted to do,” she said. “We
were hanging out in Missoula, and
our real estate agent brought us out
here.”
The up-for-sale Filling Station
– a rustic restaurant and bar with a
few gaming machines in the corner
– was the “first place we saw,” she
said. She immediately felt at home.
“I liked sitting at this bar. I
thought, yeah, this is comfortable.”
The real estate agent then
showed them “a couple hundred
other places,” she said with a
laugh, “but we came right back
here.”
They purchased the Filling
Station in September 1997 from
Don Larsen, who developed the
establishment’s iconic gas station
motif, which includes historic gas
station memorabilia and several
decorative gas pumps. In fact, one
small gas pump holds a few of the
bar’s beer handles.
…
Life and business were good
initially, but Martin and her husband divorced in 2005. Then the
nationwide recession hit in 2008.
“The recession was devastating
to this town,” she said. “We put
everything that we had, and didn’t
have, into this place.”
And Martin had a decision to
make – keep the status quo and
KRIS MARTIN and George
Welch stand behind the bar
at the Filling Station in
Seeley Lake recently. The
small, green gas pump at
right holds some of the bar’s
beer handles. The couple
took on a major remodel of
the bar, restaurant and casino during the last recession
that has paid off. The second photo shows the new
exterior.
Paul Tash photos
hold on for as long as possible, or
take the aggressive approach and
invest in the place to attract more
business.
She took the aggressive
approach, knowing full well she
could lose everything, or almost
everything.
“They can’t take away my
birthday,” she said, laughing. “I
decided, I’m going for it.”
After a local bank “honored me
with a loan,” Martin and her
boyfriend, George Welch, threw
themselves into an extensive
remodel in November 2009.
“We gutted everything,” she
said.
Welch, a local who gave up his
log-home business in 2008 to join
Martin in running the Filling
Station, provided some building
expertise.
The renovation included
shoring up the restaurant floor,
which originally was a boxing
ring, Martin said. The entire north
side of the building was expanded
to add much-needed square footage
and a new, separate casino and two
new bathrooms, with beautiful new
flooring everywhere. A corner of
the bar now has a karaoke stage, a
place where bands can also play.
The work took four months,
but Martin and Welch kept the
place open “as much as we could”
during construction.
“We still did a
Christmas dinner on the
pool table,” Martin said.
With the renovation
completed in February
2010, the Filling Station
boasted a great new look,
but kept its traditional,
friendly atmosphere. The
combination helped
Martin and Welch not
only survive the recession, but successfully grow their
business.
…
Seeley Lake is a town of about
1,600 souls on the southern end of
the mile-long body of water that
it’s named after. Located about 50
miles east of Missoula on Highway
83, Seeley Lake sports a variety of
activities year-round, but businesses make the most hay in the summer, when tourists flock to the
beautiful Seeley Swan Valley for
water recreation, hiking, biking
and camping.
“Our summers are everything,”
Martin said.
Because Seeley Lake isn’t a
“full-out resort town,” Martin
works hard to promote business all
year long.
For example, the Filling
Station hosts a beach party the first
Saturday of March.
“There’s tons of snow on the
ground, and people are wearing
beach wear and snow boots,”
Martin said. “It’s a blast.”
Prizes are given to those with
the best costumes, and Martin said
some folks “come in full scuba
gear.”
“It’s fun,” she said. “It gets
people out of the house after a long
winter.”
She added that some residents
tell her they “wouldn’t have any-
thing to wear in the summer if it
weren’t for this party.”
The Filling Station is also a
sponsor of the Brewfest in
October, which is part of the
town’s Tamarack Festival and ties
into the Chamber-sponsored
WinterFest celebration in January.
Throughout the year, the
Filling Station offers karaoke on
Friday and Saturday nights, usually
hosted by Welch.
In addition, “if there’s a band
traveling through, we’ll try to grab
it,” Martin said.
One such band is the Super
Saturated Sugar Strings, a fivemember Alaskan band with family
ties in Seeley. The “folksy, footstomping” band, voted
Anchorage’s best in 2012 and
2013, provides local music lovers
an impressive musical treat most
small towns never experience.
“It’s really cool,” Martin said.
“They’re very talented.”
And the Sugar Strings take
their performances seriously, even
when playing for just food and
drink at the Filling Station and the
power goes out.
“The lights went out, and they
just kept playing,” Martin said,
adding that she has lanterns at the
ready for the not-uncommon power
outages.
…
Martin said the new 16machine casino has been “wonderful.”
“People aren’t elbow to elbow
in there,” she said. “People from
Missoula and Kalispell love our
casino.”
The “family dining” restaurant
offers a variety of fare, from sandwiches to pizzas to burgers, but
also features delicious homemade
soups, and specials such as huckle(continued on next page)
Online poker firm
folds in Nevada
December 2014
Associated Press
Ultimate Gaming's gamble on
online poker in Nevada didn't pay
off.
After shutting down its operations in New Jersey, the company
announced Nov. 14 that it had
closed its Ultimate Poker online
business in Nevada, too, citing
trouble making a profit as long as
online gambling is limited to a
pool of players in single states, so
far just three nationwide.
The company, owned by Las
Vegas-based neighborhood casinohotel company Station Casinos
LLC, was the first to launch a legal
online poker site in Nevada in
early 2013.
State regulators will be monitoring the closure to assure that all
customers receive everything
they're owed and the state gets its
tax revenue, said A.G. Burnett,
chairman of the Nevada Gaming
Control Board.
The board approved the company's closure plan and will be
working with officials on a closeof-business audit, he said.
The company didn't mention
how many employees might be
affected by the closure.
Ultimate Gaming chairman
Tom Breitling said in a statement
that online poker revenue fell short
of expectations. Operating the sites
in just the three states where it's
legal — Nevada, New Jersey and
Delaware – made the business
costly.
Players in one state can only go
head-to-head with other players
also physically in that same state.
"These factors have combined
to make the path to profitability
very difficult and uncertain,"
Breitling said in the statement.
David Schwartz, director of the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas'
Center for Gaming Research, said
the closure was surprising considering the investment the company
made to do business in Nevada. He
said he didn't believe anyone who
entered the marketplace expected
that legal online poker would be
limited to three states.
"I think the future has got to be
a bigger market than Nevada," he
said. "In the big picture, Americans
have shown they like playing
poker online."
A few unlicensed sites gained
huge followings for years until
what many professional players
refer to as "Black Friday" in 2011
when the federal government shut
them down and seized player
accounts.
(continued from previous page)
berry BBQ ribs and a prime rib
sandwich that is “spot on,” Martin
said.
“We serve breakfast all day,”
she added, with huckleberry pancakes a specialty.
She said the restaurant will
provide some requests not on the
menu, if they have the ingredients.
“We try to be as customer
friendly as possible,” she said.
Martin learned quickly the
important and sometimes quirky
role local businesses play in tiny
towns. When she first purchased
the bar and restaurant – before
either of the two gas stations in
town took credit cards at the pump
– many a traveler would come into
the Filling Station, looking for gas
because the gas stations were
closed at night or during holidays.
“We literally would siphon gas
out of our tractors to put into cars,”
she said with a laugh.
Through the years Martin has
also developed other businesses to
help survive in a small town – running a laundromat and renting
office space in the same building,
for example.
“You have to diversify,”
Martin said.
The 17 years she’s been in
Seeley Lake is by far the longest
Martin’s been in any one place,
and she’s not going anywhere. As a
matter of fact, she and Welch are
sinking roots even deeper, raising
Sam, their six-year-old son.
“This is now my hometown.”
Montana Tavern Times – 13
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Montana Tavern Times – 14
December 2014
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 15
Liquor Biz
SABMiller decision: ‘Hunt or be hunted’
By Paul Vang
Montana Tavern Times
In separate reports in the Wall
Street Journal and London’s
Financial Times, SABMiller, the
world’s second largest brewer,
reported modest profit growth in
the six months ending with
September.
While growth is good, the rate
of growth was evidently disappointing, with poor sales in China
and “cut-throat” competition in
Australia cited as major factors.
SABMillers chief executive
Alan Clark said bad weather in
China affected sales, and in
Australia, “We’ve had to increase
promotional spend” to cope with
increased competition.
Something that caught some
observers by surprise was a statement by the company that
SABMiller is one of the world’s
leading bottlers of Coca-Cola beverages. The soft-drinks portion of
the company currently makes up
about 20 percent of sales by volume, though profit margins are
lower than with beer.
Speculations about a future
merger with Anheuser-Busch
InBev continue.
As the Wall Street Journal puts
it, “The choice for SABMiller is to
hunt or be hunted.” The Journal
speculates that if A-B InBev were
to do a successful takeover of
SABMiller, the Molson Coors
Brewing Company might be a big
winner, as it would be ready to buy
out the SABMiller’s share of the
MillerCoors joint venture.
On the other hand, SABMiller
might take a good look at acquiring Molson Coors. As the Journal
reporter wrote, “hunt or be hunted.”
The Journal report concluded
that a good investment strategy
might be to invest in Molson
Coors, on the assumption that
whatever happens a Molson Coors
investment would grow.
The story concluded by noting
that A-B InBev has long been
looking at PepsiCo Inc for a potential merger “that makes strategic
and financial sense.”
AB gets crafty
Anheuser-Busch InBev made
another move to acquire craft beer
assets, with the purchase of the 10
Barrel Brewing Company of Bend,
Oregon.
According to a Wall Street
Journal report, 10 Barrel will produce about 40,000 barrels of beer
this year; almost double last year’s
sales. Their leading brew is
Apocalypse IPA, which accounts
the same as the packaged beer consumers purchase at bars, restaurants, convenience stores and other
retail locations, including
CenturyLink Field.”
World’s best whisky?
for nearly half its volume. Included
in the acquisition are 10 Barrel’s
two existing brewpubs in Bend and
Boise, Idaho, plus a new brewpub
scheduled to open in Portland,
Oregon in 2015.
Earlier this year A-B InBev
acquired Blue Point Brewing
Company of Patchogue, New York,
and in 2011, the company bought
out Goose Island of Chicago.
More beer news
A-B InBev is launching a new
beer in 2015, this time a beer with
tequila flavor. According to the
Wall Street Journal, the new brew,
to be called “Oculto,” will be made
with blue agave, the same plant
used to produce tequila, as well as
blending beer aged in wood from
tequila barrels.
Heineken USA is already selling a tequila-flavored beer in
Florida and Georgia, called
Desparados.
Tequila-flavored beers are
aimed at beer drinkers that have
been defecting to cocktails. The
U.S. spirits business has been
growing at an annual rate of 2.4
percent over the past five years,
while beer has fallen 1.2 percent.
Watery beer?
A Seattle TV station, KOMO,
reported that beer sold at
CenturyLink Field, the home of the
Seattle Seahawks NFL football
team and the Seattle Sounders soccer team has been watered down.
Beers that allegedly have a
lower than advertised alcohol content include Budweiser, Bass Ale,
Shocktop, Redhook No Equal, Bud
Light and Stella Artois.
John Humbert of KOMO said
in a newscast, “We bought six different beers. The results showed
that every single beer came back
below the posted alcohol content,
online and on the bottles.”
Anheuser-Busch regional vice
president David Craig disputed the
findings. “We sell only fullstrength beer in the State of
Washington. The Anheuser-Busch
draft beers offered at CenturyLink
Field, and throughout the state, are
The Telegraph of London
reports that a Japanese whisky is
this year’s world’s best, according
to the 2015 World Whisky Bible,
compiled by whisky expert Jim
Murray.
Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry
Cask 2013 was singled out for the
honor. Murray praised the whisky
as “near indescribable genius,”
with “a nose of exquisite boldness.” You might have to do some
searching to find it, however. It’ll
be available in specialist shops, at
a price of £100, or $150.
American bourbon, William
Larue Weller, came in at second.
Montana woman
sets beer-mile record
Chris Kimbrough, a star athlete
at Billings Senior High and Rocky
Mountain College in her younger
days, set a new world’s record in
the women’s beer mile – on her
first try. Ed Kemmick of Last Best
News, a Billings on-line news site,
reported on the story.
Kimbrough, of Austin, TX,
now age 45 and a mother of six,
decided to try running a beer mile
for the fun of it. The beer mile
requires participants to run a mile
on a measured track, chugging a
12-ounce beer of at least 5 percent
alcohol before starting each of the
four laps. Her choice of beer was
Alteration Ale, made by Hops &
Grain Brewery, of Austin.
Kimbrough was better known
as a basketball player in high
school and college and didn’t take
up running until her mid-30s.
Since then, she’s qualified to run
the marathon in Olympic trials.
On the day she tried the beer
mile, she had already gone on an
11-mile run, plus a warm-up, so
she’d already run 13 miles before
trying the beer mile. Still, on her
first try, she broke a long-standing
record by running the beer mile in
just 6:28.6 minutes, breaking the
previous record of 6:42.0, set in
1997.
Upchucking while running disqualifies contestants, though
Kimbrough said that after having
six children, she was more concerned about her bladder.
Montana Tavern Times – 16
December 2014
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 17
Merry Christmas!
May there be peace on earth
This holiday greeting is shared by your friends
in the Montana tavern industry! Look for them throughout
this special holiday edition of the Montana Tavern Times.
Ace's Tavern
- Great Falls
Andy's Bar
& Lounge
- Billings
Avaro
Bar
- Missoula
BJ's Casino
& Lounge
- Cut Bank
Arcade
Sporting
Goods & Bar
- Roundup
Atlas Bar
- Columbus
Bank Bar
- Wilsall
Bar 100
- Judith Gap
Blacktail
Station
- Dillon
Bayou
Casino
- Billings
Best Bet
- Whitefish
Bearcreek
Saloon
- McAllister
Black Eagle
Community
Center
- Miles City
Blue
Ribbon Bar
- Red Lodge
Blue Canyon
Tavern
- Missoula
Big Sky Bar
- Broadus
Bison Bar
- Miles City
Bobo’s
Casino
- Great Falls
Bogarts
Restaurant
- Red Lodge
Borries
- Black Eagle
Bottles and
Shots Club
Casino
- Billings
Bottles and
Shots West
- Billings
Brown
Derby
- Anaconda
Brockway
Supper Club
- Brockway
Buckhorn
Bar
- Poplar
Buckhorn
Bar
- Augusta
Bucks Bar
- Billings
Buckeye Bar
- Bridger
Montana Tavern Times – 18
December 2014
Bullwinkles West
- West Yellowstone
Bugz’s Bar
- Billings
Caboose Saloon
- Laurel
Calamity Janes
- Hamilton
Cannary
- Bozeman
Carbon Co.
Coal, Wine & Spirits
- Red Lodge
Cassidy's Bar
& Lounge
- Plentywood
Cavalier Lounge
- Butte
Cattle-Ac
- Sidney
Cattlemen's Bar
and Casino
- Kalispell
Chances R
Casino/Lenny's
- Butte
Chicken Coop
and Lounge
- Seeley Lake
Chrome Bar
(No Place Like Chrome)
- Absarokee
City Bar
and Casino
- Great Falls
Club 90
(Best wishes
from the gang)
- Billings
Club 93
- Hamilton
Club Buffet Bar
& Casino
- Ashland
Club Cigar
- Great Falls
Club House
- Fort Benton
Commercial Bar
(Stop in and say hi!)
- Townsend
Claim Jumper Casino
and Silvertip
- Missoula
Corrall Bar, Café
& Motel
- Gallatin Gateway
Cottonwood Inn
- Glasgow
Cowboy Bar
- Absarokee
Coyle’s Canyon Bar
- Drummond
Crystal City Casino
- Chinook
Crystal Lounge
- Billings
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 19
Dad’s Bar
- Wolf Point
Dano's
- Butte
Del’s Bar
- Somers
Derrick Bar
and Cafe
- Kevin
Diamond Jim's
(Eastgate)
- Missoula
Doc’s OK
Korral
- Great Falls
Dos Machos
- Billings
Dry Creek Saloon
- Bridger
East Side
Athletic Club
- Butte
Eddie’s
Supper Club
- Great Falls
Edgewater
Inn & RV Park
- Malta
Emerald City
Casinos
- Great Falls
EZ Mark
Casino
- Harlem
Fatt Boys
Bar & Grill
- Kalispell
Feedlot
Steakhouse &
Razor Creek Saloon
- Shepherd
Filling Station
Bar, Retaurant
& Casino
- Seeley Lake
Flipper's Casino
- Missoula
49'ers & Capones
- Livingston
French Connection
- Frenchtown
Foster & Logan's
- Red Lodge
Four Aces Bar
& Lounge
- Hardin
Four Corners
Restaurant
& Casino
- Chinook
Foxy's Casino
- Great Falls
Den
Cut Bank
Doc & Eddie's
(Heights)
- Billings
Fishtale Vending
- Fishtail
Glacier
Tavern
- Lewistown
Montana Tavern Times – 20
December 2014
Gold Dollar Lodge,
Lounge & Casino
- Plentywood
Gold Dust Casino
- Great Falls
Gold Dust Casino
- Kalispell
Gold Strike Bar
and Casino
- Columbus
Golden Spur Bar
and Casino
- Miles City
Grand Bar
- Chester
Grand Casino
and Gold Dust
- Billings
Grandstand Casino
Sports Bar
- Billings
Great Northern Bar
& Grill
- Whitefish
Greg's Silver Dollar
Casino
- Glendive
Grizzly Den
- Whitefish
Gusicks restaurant,
lounge and casino
- Billings
Halftime Sports Bar
- Great Falls
Halfway House
- Troy
Hap's Beer Parlor
- Helena
Heidelberg II
& Heidelberg Lounge
- Great Falls
Hiatt House
- Livingston
Hideout Lounge
- Livingston
Hi-Line Gold Casino
- Havre
Holiday Casino & Lounge
- Great Falls
Holiday Casino West
- Great Falls
Hooligan’s FC Sports Bar
- Billings
Hotel Albert
- Fairview
Inverness Bar
& Supper Club
- Inverness
Iron Horse Brew Pub
- Missoula
Jersey Lilly’s
- Ingomar
Joe Blogz
- Lakeside
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 21
Jackson Creek
Saloon
- Montana City
Jim's Bar
- Butte
JR's Casino
- Great Falls
Joker’s Wild Bar
& Restaurant
- Missoula
Junction City
Saloon
- Custer
Katie O'Keefe's
Casino
- Missoula
Kennedy's Bar
- Harlem
Kid Curry’s
Lounge
- Malta
Laibation Station
- Helena
Lee’s 27th St.
Saloon
- Billings
Lenny's Bingo
& Casino
- Butte
Lido Bar
- Great Falls
Liquid Louie's
Swan River Tavern
- Condon
Locker Room
- Anaconda
Little Big Man
Pizza & Curt's
Saloon
- Laurel
Little Chicago
Club
- Black Eagle
Longbranch
Saloon
- Ennis
Loose Change
Casino
- Kalispell
Los Caporales
Lounge
- Eureka
Marvin’s Tavern
- Missoula
McGrath's
& Christina's
Cocina
- Butte
Mining Company
Saloon & Casino
- Anaconda
Montana Bar
- Culbertson
Montana Bar
- Glasgow
Max Casino
& Sports Bar
- Great Falls
Missoula Club
- Missoula
Montana Brewing
Company
- Billings
Montana Tavern Times – 22
December 2014
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 23
Montana Club
- Butte
Montana Club
(Reserve)
- Missoula
Montana Club
(Brooks)
- Missoula
Montana Jack’s
- Billings
Montana Jack’s
- Billings
Montana Nugget
Casino
- Helena
Mooses Saloon
- Kalispell
Nickels Gaming
Parlour
- Helena
Nickle Charlies
Casino
- Kalispell
Oasis
- Manhattan
Oasis Bar
- Shelby
Oasis Lounge,
Eatery & Casino
- Glasgow
Office Bar
- Ashland
Oxen Yoke Inn
- Hobson
Other Place
- Great Falls
Pair a Dice
- Butte
PaPa Ray’s
Casino
- Clancy
Parker’s
- Miles City
Pioneer Bar
- Virginia City
PJ’s Restaurant
and Casino
- Havre
Pour House Bar
and Grill
- Havre
Ranger Lounge
- Sidney
Overland Express
- Helena
Palace Bar
- Havre
Pasttime Lounge
and Supper Club
- Chinook
Poor Henry's
- Clinton
Powderhorn
Bar
- Billings
Prospector
on 10th Avenue
- Great Falls
Red Door
Lounge
(Banquet room
available)
- Billings
Red’s Bar
- Missoula
Montana Tavern Times – 24
December 2014
Reno Club
- Billings
Rendezvous Casino
- Billings
Rhino Club
- Missoula
Rialto Bar
& Grill
- Helena
River’s Edge
Bar & Grill
- Emigrant
Rock Creek Lodge
- Clinton
Rock Creek Resort
- Red Lodge
Rusty’s Bar & Grill
- Geraldine
Blue Rock Distributors
Summit Distributors
Sidney MT
Butte MT
POB 1705
1005 S Montana
Rusty Rail Lounge
& Grill
- Gardiner
Sagebrush Lounge
- Glasgow
Shamrock Club
- Wibaux
Shrine Auditorium
- Billings
Sheridan, Roosevelt,
& Daniels Tavern
Assoc. - Poplar
Silver Dollar Bar
& Restaurant
- Missoula
Silver Star Steak Co.
- Helena
Southern Empire
Emporium
- Billings
South 40
- Sidney
Spectator’s
- Bozeman
Spencer's
Hi-Way Bar
- Hingham
Spring Creek Resort
- Bighorn
Squire’s Lounge
- Billings
Stein Haus
- Great Falls
Stockman Bar
- Livingston
Stockman's
- Harlowtown
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 25
Sunset Bowl &
Lounge - Billings
Sunshine Station
- Philipsburg
Tamarack Alehouse
- Lakeside
TC's Casino
- Billings
That Bar
- Great Falls
The Frenchman
and Me - Wolf Creek
The Office
- Livingston
Thompson Bar
- Anaconda
307 Bar & Grill
- Columbus
New Owners,
Same Timber Bar
fun & food!
- Big Timber
Tiny's Tavern
- Billings
Toby's Tavern
- Noxon
Trail Star Casino
- Glendive
Trojan Lanes
- Troy
Waterhole No. 3
- Fairview
Western Empire
Emporium - Billings
West Side Casino
- Malta
Vista Linda
- Somers
Whiskey Creek
Saloon, Liquor Store
- Livingston
Winner's Circle
- Billings
Timber Bar
Yaak River Merc
& Tavern
- Troy
Yacht Basin Bar
- Helena
Yellowstone
Truck Stop
- Livingston
Montana Tavern Times – 26
December 2014
MTT • Buy • Sell •Trade
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
Loads of Opportunity
Well located bar, casino and liquor
store. 1.6 acres with a 3,745 sf
building. Excellent income.
$1,900,000.
Billings Cabaret License
Make an offer!
City of Billings beer and wine
license w/gaming SOLD!
Billings Italian Restaurant
Long established. Outstanding
equipment and operation with
cabaret license. Consistent revenues! $197,500.
Chuck Platt 406-861-8000
chuck@chuck-platt.com
RE/MAX of Billings
Commercial Division
SPRING CREEK BAR,
RESTAURANT AND RV PARK
This is a year-round establishment
located on ten treed acres in the Wolf
Mountains near the Sarpy Creek
Mine. Sale includes liquor license,
furniture, fixtures and equipment
along with two rental units. A fourbedroom residence for owner or
manager is included. Health forces
sale. $500,000. Call 406-342-5414.
Jack Rabbit Red’s Casino
Successful business with solid
clientele base, great location
and potential in Butte. Sale
includes building and land.
Gaming machines negotiable
for an additional price.
$370,000. All-beverage liquor
license available for $30,000.
Call Melissa, 406-498-5102.
THE OLD SALOON AND
LIVERY STABLE STEAK HOUSE
(Price Reduction)
Historical Bar/Restaurant with
Liquor/Gaming license, Real Estate
and FF&E located 20 miles from the
North entrance to Yellowstone Park.
sits on 1.2 acres. Price reduced to
$550,000. Possible owner financing.
Call Dave Everett, 406-600-0647.
LAWDOG’S SALOON
Popular, profitable saloon and eatery
in Elliston, MT, just a few miles from
Helena. Full liquor license, land,
building, and all hard assets. Liquor
and food inventory sold separately.
$295,000. lawdogs-saloon@aol.com
or 406-461-5169.
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
BAR, RESTAURANT, CASINO
IN GREAT FALLS
22,000 SF building, 2.6 paved acres,
2 complete bars, dance floor. Best
view in Great Falls, at I-15 interchange adjacent to International airport. Additional 6 acres available. All
beverage license available. Excellent,
proven income. 3 million replacement
cost. $800,000. 406-781-9111.
Bar, restaurant and casino in Bakken
oil field. Well established clientele,
full-beverage license with catering
endorsement, great revenue. Great
central location. Established in 1955.
Serious inquiries only. Call Mike or
Randy Severson, 406-482-4566.
Create your concept ...
6,000 sf building holds 266 people.
Includes all beverage liquor license,
furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Located minutes from Malmstrom
AFB. Building is a landmark in the
community. Reduced to $850,000!
Tracy Johnson, Broker
Dahlquist REALTORS 406-788-0443
Pizza restaurant, casino in Fort
Benton, Mt. Includes all restaurant
equipment and beer-and-wine beverage license. Property features outside
patio, deck area, parking lot and good
highway visibility. Good business
opportunity with “small town” living.
$245,000. Call Mark Pyrak 406-7889280
LAHOOD PARK STEAKHOUSE, BAR AND CASINO
Includes business, building, land, equipment
and inventory. 3,080 SF building, FF & E on
35.46 acres located on Hwy 2 in Cardwell, MT.
About halfway between Butte and Bozeman,
and 2 miles off I-90, 4 miles from the Lewis &
Clark State Caverns. $399,000.
Great Investment with numerous possibilities!
• Over 1/2 Mile of Jefferson River frontage;
• Full liquor and gambling license;
• An original, rustic Montana steakhouse
successfully owned, operated for over 20 years;
• High tourist traffic on historic Lewis & Clark Trail;
• Possible outfitting or fishing lodge potential.
Bill Mercer, Broker, GRI, RRS
130 E. Main Street
Ennis, Montana 59729
406-581-5574
Just $4.50 per line
1-406-782-3660
pault@tashcommunications.com
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
M&M Cigar Store
Butte, Montana
World famous 9,000 sf bar,
grill & casino located in the
heart of historic Uptown Butte.
M&M provides full-beverage
license with gaming. The
refurbished main floor of
three-story facility has the bar,
restaurant and gaming facility.
This is a Historic Landmark ...
“the doors never close.” Sale
includes land, building, liquor
license, gaming machines &
FF&E. $495,000 Lyle Dunham,
agent, 406-425-0180.
Floating License
Full-beverage liquor license.
Call for details. Lyle Dunham,
agent. 406-425-0180.
Established Bar & Casino
Western Montana establishment
has best location in town.
Long-standing, excellent business. Land, building, FF&E,
18 owned gaming machines.
Full-beverage liquor & gaming
license. Call for details.
$1,296,000. Lyle Dunham,
agent. 406-425-0180.
Lyle Dunham, Agent
406-425-0180
River Crossing Real Estate
Services
December 2014
Montana Tavern Times – 27
MTT • Buy • Sell •Trade
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
BUSINESSES FOR SALE
Established bar with full liquor
& gaming license in Great Falls.
· Complete turnkey operation;
· Newly remodeled building;
· New bar & furniture;
· New Aloha P.O.S. System;
· Surveillance camera system.
$395,000. Call (907) 252-6493
Powder Horn Bar and Lounge,
Muzzle Loader Cafe
Looking for a very successful bar,
casino, restaurant? Here it is! Land,
building, FF&E, all-beverage license.
Billings icon rebuilt new in 2007.
Many successful years in this location. Marlon and Renee says it is time
for some one else to reap the rewards.
Bob Pulley, Broker, 670-7947
Lucky Louie's Tavern
and Casino
Opportunity to own small bar and
casino. Includes frontage on Main
Street with rental property. Check
out the remodel. Owner retiring.
Offered at $495,000.
Fat Fender Freddy's
Great location on Hwy 212. Land,
building, all-beverage license, full
casino, two full bars, kitchen
leased. Borders park. 1.22 acres.
Bob Pulley, Real Estate Broker,
406-670-7947
White Front Bar
Philipsburg, MT
The 2nd class clip joint in
town – Refreshing Philipsburg
since 1887! Here's a chance to
own one of the longest running
businesses in Philipsburg. Live
and work in the greatest small
town and tourist destination in
Montana. Unlimited recreational
opportunities and a world class
ski area 20 minutes away. Step
back in time as you walk into
the White Front Bar. $379,000.
Call Alicia Hicks, 240-5860, or
www.homesinmontanaland.com
CUBS DEN, MONARCH, MT
Bank owned, huge price reduction $650,000 to $525,000. Restaurant,
bar, liquor license. 14-room motel
with pool and spa. Convenience store
with gas pump & 3 bedroom residence in walkout lower level. Only 45
miles from Great Falls. The business
can flourish because of year-round
recreational activities. Good investment or family business. Bank will
look at and consider any and all
offers. 14-1780. Call Dick Seim,
ReMax of Great Falls. 406-799-0307.
BEN’S ARENA BAR & CASINO
Deer Lodge. Full liquor license with
gaming, plus inventory. Great location. Price reduced! 406-846-1617.
LICENSES FOR SALE
Kalispell All-Beverage Liquor License
No. 07-901-2541-001 for sale. Call
Mike Nissen, 406-752-4050.
Billings all beverage liquor license
with gaming. $700,000. Seller may
finance $500,000 over 20 years OAC.
Call 406-672-4434.
All-beverage liquor license for sale in
W. Yellowstone. Call 406-640-1063.
Billings all-beverage license
Price negotiable, some owner
financing possible.
Bob Pulley, Broker, 670-7947
All-beverage floating liquor license
with gaming. Contact Roy, 406-3467902 or 406-351-1281.
All beverage floatable liquor license.
Will sell with bar, with gaming or separately. 406-323-2347.
Just $4.50 per line
1-406-782-3660
pault@tashcommunications.com
LICENSES FOR SALE
Helena
All-Beverage
Liquor License
Motivated seller!
Price negotiable.
Call for details.
425-244-7105
All-beverage floating liquor license.
55K OBO. 406-490-3706.
EQUIPMENT TO BUY, SELL
Seven Montana Breweries prints by
Mike Hollerm. All number 70/100.
Dated 1987-1996. All ready to hang.
Also, one Havre Brewery print by
Kim Reinmuth. $2,500 for all eight.
Call Bryon, 406-654-7130 in Malta.
Flat top Summit gaming machine.
Latest upgrades, including bill acceptor. Great shape. $4,000. 406-6525553.
Spielo Powerstation Plus slant top.
Completely upgraded. $4,995 OBO.
Call Greg (406) 439-4468.
Casino King, Brilliant Bet, Royal
Touch, Mega Plex, Epic, and MTD
machines for sale. Call Steve, 406497-6822.
Montana Tavern Times – 28
December 2014