Downtown Missoula Features 14 New Businesses And 14 Business Expansions Or Relocations In First Six Months Of 2024
Downtown Missoula Features 14 New Businesses And 14 Business Expansions Or Relocations In First Six Months Of 2024
Business development in Downtown Missoula has been robust in the first six months of 2024 with 14 new businesses opening and 14 more businesses that have expanded or relocated within Downtown Missoula. New business highlights include Ritual Yoga Missoula at 133 N. Higgins, Out of the Box Cigars at 629 Woody, The Stables Restaurant at 235 W. Main, and the Montana Gift Corral at 117 W. Front. Of the 14 new businesses that have opened, nine are professional services, and three are retail. One of the most exciting new businesses is LOGE Missoula a 420 W. Broadway. This is a modernization of the former Mountain Valley Inn.
Business relocations and expansions have also been robust in the first six months of 2024, and many of those are food & beverage businesses. The Pangea Restaurant Group – headquartered at 223 N. Higgins – has made significant movements in the marketplace with the opening of Elote at Southgate Mall, the acquisition of the former City Brew location at 400 W. Broadway, and procurement of three food & beverage locations in the Historic Florence Building. Catalyst to Go finally opened 123 E. Main in May, and Clyde Coffee opened a second location at the Missoula Public Library. Servin’ Thyme relocated from 424 N. Higgins, to 1256 W. Broadway. Two local food trucks – Mexican Moose and Stuffed 406 – opened their first brick & mortar store together at 221 W. Broadway.
“It’s been an active first six months in the world of business development,” said Charlie Beaton, President of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) and owner of Big Dipper Ice Cream. “Many of our locally-owned businesses have worked hard over the last year to put themselves in a position to relocate, expand, or open a second location, despite the cost of goods and services rising over the last year. Downtown Missoula is still a pretty hot market.”
In the same six months, Downtown Missoula has seen six businesses close, four retail stores and two food & beverage businesses. Additionally, eight businesses have relocated or expanded out of the Downtown district. Closures include Aporta, Clover, Subway, River Wok, Harlow and Sage Accessories. Expansion/relocation highlights include Posh Chocolat consolidating its operations in Bonner, Partners Creative merging into Deloitte, and Lewis & Clark Adventures relocating its operations to both Lolo and Alberton.
The Downtown Missoula Partnership (DMP) has been tracking business activity since 2008 and has seen more than 300 new businesses open their doors in Downtown since. Over the last two years, the DMP has worked closely with the Missoula Economic Partnership and Business Development Director Christine Littig to ensure Missoula-area businesses are supported and connected with resources, where needed.
“It’s a pleasure working with local business owners and helping them navigate the many decisions they must make,” said Littig. “Problem solving, expansions, renovations, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and of course access to capital and cash flow projections: these are things business owners deal with on a regular basis. It is also exciting to engage with budding business owners developing their ideas and growing into their first space.”
There are multiple spaces downtown undergoing renovations, including 301 North Higgins and 130 North Higgins. These newly renovated spaces will bring new businesses to Downtown before the end of 2024.
For more information on business development in Missoula’s Downtown district, or to schedule an interview, contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership via phone (406) 543-4238 or email ([email protected]).