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Former Congressman Denny Rehberg Opens Burger King in Kalispell

Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks grand opening of new fast food restaurant, addition of 32 employees

By Beacon Staff

Former Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg paid a visit to the Flathead Valley Oct. 18 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of his new Burger King restaurant in Kalispell.

The   restaurant on U.S. Highway 93 in south Kalispell is one of several Burger King locations Rehberg and his wife, Jan, plan to start. The Kalispell business is the second new Burger King opened within the last twelve months by Rehberg’s business, BigSkyKing LLC. The first was in Billings.

Other Montana towns where the Rehbergs plan to build include Laurel, Missoula, Hamilton and Sidney.

The former congressman said a portion of the sales from the opening weekend would benefit Montana Wounded Warriors, a Columbia Falls organization that provides wounded veterans with hunting and fishing opportunities.

“We’re thrilled to introduce our latest business to the Flathead Valley and those who helped bring this project to fruition,” Rehberg said. “The ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new building marks the launch of another new eating opportunity on the south side of Kalispell. Something many friends told us was needed.”

Rehberg served as Montana’s lieutenant governor from 1991 to 1997 and as the state’s lone U.S. Representative from 2001 to 2013. He was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1996, when he lost to former Senator Max Baucus, and again in 2012, when he lost to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.

Following his departure from politics, he became co-chairman at Mercury, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm.

The new Burger King restaurant generated approximately 50 construction jobs and 32 permanent jobs for restaurant employees, the couple said.

“It creates jobs. It’s an opportunity to be a part of the community. And of course, having been a part of all 56 counties for as long as I was, it’s exciting for me to be able to do business in as many of those counties as I possibly can,” Rehberg said.
To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant donated 10 percent of its sales to Montana Wounded Warriors, according to Matthew Colebank, BigSkyKing LLC partner.

“Kalispell’s vibrant economy is ideal for a new Burger King,” Jan Rehberg said. “We’re pleased to give Flathead Valley residents another location to enjoy the Burger King ‘Have it your way’ brand promise.”