This Missoula Restaurant Clarifies it’s NOT Closing

With all the Missoula restaurant closings and other changes, over the past year, it's perhaps not surprising that news of another shutdown in different Western Montana city could be creating the wrong impression.

it's even more understandable when considering the confusion over a logical restaurant name.

However, the reaction to the news that a legendary Helena location is closing is creating misunderstanding over the future of a Missoula business that's also been one of the Garden City's favorite spots for decades.

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Goodbye to a Montana institution

Last week, KTVH reported that "The Montana Club" in Helena would be closing its doors for good on March 29th. The original "Montana Club" first opened in 1885, four years before Montana was even a state, and became a legend for hosting state and national leaders, and other celebrities over the years.

In 2019, the club reorganized and opened to the public as a cooperative. But the owners say the impacts of the pandemic, and a bankruptcy case have made it impossible to continue.

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Confusion in Missoula

News of the closure caused some confusion in Missoula, and the four other cities in the state where the "The Montana Club" has been a choice for years. That "Montana Club" has been in business since 1999, with locations in Missoula, Kalispell, Butte, Billings and Great Falls. But in has no affiliation with Helena's "Montana Club." It was started by Missoula natives Bob Powell and Nick Alonzo.

Dispelling rumors

In a Facebook post over the weekend, The Montana Club Restaurant tried to clarify the situation.

"Just a note to let you know that we are not affiliated with the members only Montana Club in Helena, which is closing. We are open and look forward to continuing to serve you all of your favorites!"- The Montana Club Restaurant

We've seen no posts indicating whether the Helena closure is confusing at another Montana Club, a popular pub in Shelby.

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