Their new cafe, The Forge, is yet to open and Ken and Judy Sederdahl have already earned critical acclaim and public praise.
The Sederdahls have resurrected a piece of Kalispell history in the form of a vintage coffeehouse diner and music venue scheduled to open near the end of this month.
With the help of friends and family, the Sederdahls teamed with retired builder Norm Moss and spent the last few years renovating a classic blacksmith shop on 227 First Street West. But instead of replacing the building’s antiquated character they brought it back to life.
The result is award winning.
The Forge recently won this year’s “Best Remodel” honor from Kalispell’s Architectural Review Committee. The Sederdahls were praised for their cafe’s simple yet impactful design, which brings back part of the city’s old-time identity. It’s one of the few remaining false-front buildings in Kalispell and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Although no exact date has been found, the building is believed to have been built in the 1910s when Kalispell was barely 25 years old.
That history remains intact today thanks to the Sederdahls. Historic pictures cover the walls along with antique tools. In one corner a grouping of original brands is burned into the wood. Even new aspects of the café mesh with the Western motif, including the wooden bar, which is made from an old lane in the classic Bigfork bowling alley.
“I’m amazed at the work they did,” said Judi Gorton, whose father Jimmy Schmauch used to own the building. “It’s totally different than any place in Kalispell. There’s nothing comparable to it.”
The Sederdahls dreamed of opening a family-friendly place that would be a home to live music, a warm cup of coffee and simple meals made from local food sources. Rather fortuitously, they found themselves stepping inside the dusty blacksmith shop that sat empty and for sale.
“We said right away, ‘We’ll take it,’” Judy said.
Since they both worked other full-time jobs, they could only devote so much time and money their new passion project. There was also a lot of work to be done in order to meet modern city codes. Without disturbing the original character too much, the couple modified the building’s foundation, plumbing and electricity. A brand new kitchen and bathrooms were installed. And being a lifelong musician, Ken, who is the lead singer and guitarist with the Kenny James Miller Band, needed there to be a stage.
“I’d like this to become a place where anyone can come play but also get it where young kids can jam and not have to wait until they’re 21 (to play in a bar),” Ken said.
In the beginning The Forge will have modest ambitions, according to the Sederdahls. After all, this is a new adventure for both of them.
“We’d like this to be a place where (customers) can enjoy a piece of Kalispell history,” Judy said. “Also we’d like to give back to the community. We feel like we’ve been blessed. So we want to give back any way we can.”
In one way they’ve already given back. Jim Schmauch remembers growing up inside the old blacksmith shop his father, Jimmy, used to work in. Jim and his sister Judi would sweep and do other chores for their dad while he worked on logging trucks and other machinery that needed fixing. Jimmy Schmauch bought the building from the Boyd family after returning from World War II. He worked there until his death in the 1980s. The family eventually sold the shop and since then it has sat vacant.
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Window light illuminates a guitar surrounded by music memorabilia on stage at The Forge in Kalispell. Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon |
“I’m so glad that (the Sederdahls) bought it because otherwise I think it would’ve been torn down,” said Judi.
“This is the greatest thing in the world,” her brother Jim added. “I know dad’s up there smiling because his shop is still here.”
The Forge is scheduled to open near the end of the month. For more information visit www.theforgeinc.com.