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Wheat Montana sprouting everywhere – Venture Theater sprouting in Billings

Wheat Montana, the home-grown bakery business near Three Forks, is expanding into franchises and is eyeing new locations, including in Billings.

Jan Falstad Billings Gazette

"We are very likely to open one in Great Falls and we’re working on one in Billings and possibly Big Sky," says franchise director Vince Furst.

Wheat Montana is negotiating in these places, but no locations have been selected and nothing has been signed yet, Furst advises.

Wheat Montana already has opened franchises for the espresso/bakery/delis in Helena and Kalispell. One in Missoula is underway and should be open in January.

There’s a hole in the ground for another being built in Bozeman, Furst said.

Furst said Wheat Montana is considering half a dozen cities for these franchises and there might be another half dozen smaller towns that would fit the business model.

Venture Theater

Work began last week by Langlas & Associates and a small army of volunteers on renovating another historic building in downtown Billings and turning 2317 Montana Ave. into a home for Venture Theatre.

Steve Langlas, president and owner, says area contractors are super busy right now. But he said Venture Theatre expects to start a little theater district in Billings that will draw 40,000 people to Montana Avenue per year.

"This was really kind of a sleeper job. There’s so much work out there, but this is one of the fun projects for Langlas and it’s for a good cause," Langlas says.

Developer Mike Schaer already had replaced the roof and upgraded the electrical service to his building that used to store taxis.

The 13,000 square-foot renovation will take three months and will result in two theater areas, classrooms and a couple of bathrooms. The theater will host productions, of course, theater programs and a dance school for kids.

The building needed structural upgrades, plumbing, mechanical and drywalling. And a nicer skin over the concrete blocks.

"We’re putting a brick veneer with awnings on Montana Avenue and brick on the West side," Langlas says. "So, it will look like the rest of Montana Avenue. It will look really good."
Thoughts to ponder

"One nice thing about egotists: They don’t talk about other people."

"If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?"

Jan Falstad can be contacted at (406) 657-1306 or at [email protected].

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

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