Page 33 - Flathead Beacon // 9.2.15

TRANSACTIONS
WEEKLY BUSINESS BRIEFING
TOM, KATIE BROWN MOVE TO GLACIER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
Tom and Katie Brown, former owners of Trails West Real Estate, have moved to Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty in Bigfork.
“We are thrilled,“ said Katie Brown. “Freeing ourselves from the responsi- bilities of ownership allows us to put 100 percent focus on our relationships with clients which has always been our true passion.”
The Browns have been selling real estate for over 30 years, 18 of which were spent building Trails West.
In conjunction with the Sotheby’s worldwide real estate network, the Browns will focus on specialty lifestyle properties and extraordinary customer experience in any price range.
Katie was recently awarded Northwest Montana Realtor of the Year and Tom served on the Montana State Political Action Committee.
Tom and Katie Brown’s office is located in Bigfork at 480 Electric Avenue. For further information, call Katie Brown at (406) 253-3222.
Opening, moving or expanding a business in Northwest Montana? If you would like to be featured in “Transactions,” please email information to [email protected]
Open for lunch for a scant two weeks, the response has been “great,” they said, and once the beer and wine license comes through, the Desoto Grill will be open for dinner. They expect to start serving dinners by Sept. 4.
The menu has barbecue joint staples, such as the tender brisket and flavorful pulled pork, as well as other “twisted” items, as Shawnna calls them. These creations include barbecue nachos, stuffed baked potatoes – full of sour cream, butter, cheddar cheese, scal- lions, bacon, roasted corn, brisket, pulled pork, and Shawnna’s “Q” sauce – and Frito pie.
The brunch menu, available on weekends, includes breakfast mac and cheese, which is filled with jalapenos, bacon, eggs, and topped with an egg. Cornbread is also included.
“We didn’t want to do what every- body else was doing,” Shawnna said of the menu.
However, one characteristic of their business that they don’t mind having in common with others is the dedication to using as much local food as possible. Their meat comes from Lower Valley Processing, and their milk from Kalispell Kreamery. Their eggs are local as well.
The affable couple has deep roots in Kalispell. Willie’s grandfather worked at a garage near The Forge in the 1920s as a Studebaker mechanic, starting what has become a DNA-level love for
automotive mechanics that has been passed down to Willie.
The 1954 Desoto Powermaster parked in front of the grill is its name- sake, and was Willie’s grandfather’s car. It started out as a four-door, Willie said, but he started working on revamping it in Portland after Shawnna made their garage capable of supporting a 220-volt welder for Willie’s 40th birthday.
“It looks like it’s going fast just sit- ting there,” Willie said.
Even with the restaurant, the Steeles continuetocaterevents.Whenoneof Willie’s childhood friends, Scott Seder- strom, died in a climbing accident ear- lier this year, he and Shawnna hauled the Traeger to Kalispell to feed the memorial attendees. That event solidi- fied for them their love of sharing their food with others, especially here in the Flathead.
The Desoto Grill has a personality already, an amalgam of down-home Montana and a bit of that Portland edg- iness to keep it interesting; soon, the stage will host live music for diners, for example. But overall, the Steeles want to make their restaurant a place people want to visit.
“We wanted to bring some of that fun,” Shawnna said.
For more information on the Desoto Grill, visit its Facebook page at www. facebook.com/thedesotogrilll.
[email protected]
Why “Weight”? Lifestyle Balance Program
North Valley Hospital Diabetes Prevention Course,
Weight Loss and Exercise Program
Join us for this 3-part program and become a healthier you!
• Individual initial assessments with a registered dietitian / lifestyle coach.
• 16-week core classes lead by a lifestyle coach. Meets once a week.
• Six (6), monthly post-core sessions with lifestyle coach.
Cost: $100. Scholarships available.
Incentives given throughout the program during milestone completions.
Physician referral required.
Program starts September 28th; Deadline to register is September 18th! Register Today! 863-3519
The Montana Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes Prevention Grant
A different kind of hospital. A different kind of care.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
33