Happy Tuesday, Beacon readers! Lauren Frick here, a little earlier in the week than usual — but that’s just because this news nugget just couldn’t wait until Friday. Oh, and our typical Tuesday newsletter specialist, Zoë Buhrmaster, is in a sailboat somewhere in the Caribbean Sea right about now (I’m totally not jealous at all).
Back here in the Flathead Valley, two bars — and staples in the Whitefish community — have hit the market: The Great Northern Bar and Grill and The Remington Bar and Casino. Or as many of you know them: the Northern and the Rem.
After being on the market for less than a week, the Northern is under contract, although back-up offers are still being accepted, according to the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors.
The Northern opened up in 1919 on the north side of Second Street between Baker and Lupfer avenues, and at the time, it mostly served workers from the town’s primary employer, the Great Northern Railway, which is where the bar got its name. It stayed on Second Street until the mid-1950s, when it moved to its present location on Central Avenue. In the more than 100 years since its opening, the Northern played host to well-known music acts — both planned and unplanned — and countless other surprise visitors who have come through the door to grab a beer or a burger.
Since it’s just the beginning of a likely extensive closing process, Michael Anderson of National Parks Realty, who is handling the sale, said he can’t disclose any details about the sale yet, but mentioned the Northern is under contract with a “very good buyer.”
The 4,760-square-foot building at 27 Central Ave., which was built in 1930, is listed for $12 million. The listing is comprehensive and includes everything from the building, land and liquor license, down to the furniture inside, Anderson said.
“Never before on the market, the iconic Great Northern Bar and Grill serves up a shot at owning one of the most lucrative businesses in all of Downtown Whitefish,” the listing states.
“A place where powder days end, visitors become regulars, and stories live on the walls. From Bruce Springsteen to John Dunnigan, and every local legend in between have taken the stage, adding to a legacy that few in Montana can rival.
“Opportunities like this do not come around again because legends are not built twice.”
Another Whitefish watering hole frequented by valley locals that hit the market recently is The Remington Bar and Casino at 130 Central Ave.
The 23,347-square-foot building, which was built in 1905, is listed for $13.5 million. The sale includes the building, business, full liquor and gaming license, and all furniture, fixtures and equipment, according to the listing.
The Rem has been on the market for 15 days and the listing is designated as “Active,” as opposed to under contract, according to the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors.
The listing described the sale as a “prime commercial opportunity” in the heart of Whitefish.
“The Remington — one of the city’s most iconic and longest-running establishments — spans three premier downtown lots and anchors Central Avenue’s vibrant dining, nightlife and entertainment scene,” the listing states. “Known locally as ‘The Rem,’ this landmark property offers diverse revenue streams and exceptional potential for future growth.”
Both the Northern and the Rem have had a foothold in Whitefish’s history over the last several decades, each holding its own significance in the community. Read more about the history of how each establishment weaves into the local fabric below.
But before you take that drive down memory lane, here’s the rest of today’s Daily Roundup.
As Flathead County Begins Update to Lakeshore Protection Rules, Public Urges Stronger Enforcement and Review
Several recent high-profile construction projects and a host of new land-use trends prompted a workshop to modernize lakeshore protection regulations last updated a decade ago
Kalispell Flathead Soccer Coach Resigns After Investigation into December Dispute with Official
During the Santa Slammer tourney in December in Anaconda, volunteer official Shawn Wetzel was reportedly involved in a physical incident with a parent, which is alleged to be Cassie Congdon
Bureau of Land Management Revokes American Prairie Bison Leases
Grazing permits granted to the conservation nonprofit as part of its prairie-rewilding initiative have been subject to years of criticism by cattle ranchers and Montana politicians
Whether you’ve been here for decades, or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
