Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, December 22, 2010 - Page 1
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progress stories and photos by stacie duce
As 2010 draws to a close, Bitterroot Valley businesses celebrate a year of successful launches, expansions and renovations, with an eye toward continued growth in the new year.
The Banque Building Taco del Sol, The Banque, Ravalli County Bank Home Loan Center 225 W. Main St., Hamilton
While Hamilton’s first bank may have relocated in 1962, the historic building on Main Street has new life with busy businesses both upstairs and down. Taco del Sol opened for business on Sept. 8 and is brightening the restaurant space on the bottom floor. Owner Tia Morello said there has been great response from new customers as well as fans of the Missoulaowned franchise. The remodeling was an extensive project. “We replaced all the windows right away,” Morello said. “They were heavily tinted and so now the light really brightens the space. We redid the flooring, replaced lighting, peeled a lot of wallpaper and painted.” She said they tore out a corner to open the kitchen space and closed off a doorway that connected to the vault. “We intentionally chose to be downtown even though it was a big project,” said manager Dave McAdoo. “We wanted to encourage a lively Main Street and be part of a vibrant downtown scene.” The Banque bar has extended its hours to
more closely match the restaurant hours and hopefully share the foot traffic, said an employee of the bar. Upstairs, the old bar and conference space has been replaced with offices for Ravalli County Bank’s Home Loan Center. “We’re not just occupying space on Main Street with our new offices,” said vice president Dale Linhart. “We have purposeful attachment to the building since it’s our original location, so there’s a reason we’re doing what we’re doing.” The new Ravalli County Bank Home Loan Center opened in mid-November and, according to Linhart, “We did salvage a small part of the bar in our renovations but the community room will be used for bank meetings.” Chuck Shonkwiler, the bank’s president, said they are pleased to own and occupy the historic building once again. “It was built for Marcus Daly for the bank he founded in 1895,” said Shonkwiler. “As the oldest active state-chartered bank, it will be nice to generate loans from our original headquarters.”
Bitterroot Valley Ammunition Co. Owner: Darren Newsom • 3616 Eastside Highway, Stevensville, 777-5670
With signs popping up at various locations, it’s clear the Stevensville-based Bitterroot Valley Ammunition Co. is progressing and expanding. Started in January 2008 to capture a shortage in the market, the Bitterroot Valley Ammunition first began manufacturing ammo for law enforcement. “I was in the industry for 20 years before I started my own business,” said owner Darren Newsom. “This is an industry that has a lot to do with who you know. So the timing with the (presidential) elections and the shortage in ammunition helped us take
advantage of the situation by catering to markets that were being ignored. “While most manufacturers went after a retail market where there was more money to be made, I went after the markets where long-term relationships could be established and maintained,” he said. “As the economy gets worse, crime goes up and law enforcement uses more ammo, and we keep them supplied.” He continued to pursue other contracts and found “we were getting shelf space when no one else would supply them,” he said. “Once you get your product in a store and you get shelf space, and you’re selling, they keep the guy that helped them out when they really needed it. And we’ve been able to maintain those contracts.” Newsom also gives credit for the company’s success to “key employees that live here in the valley that were able to help me out.” BVAC has new dealers through several hunting and outdoor-related businesses in western Montana, including the Elusive
Moose in Victor. Newsom said the company has several thousand vendors throughout the United States and decided to open a retail store of their own. The BVAC outlet is on U.S. Highway 93 just north of Stevensville and is the company’s first retail store, with another recently opened in Plains. The manufacturing plant is still located south of Stevensville on Eastside Highway. Angela Adams has worked at the outlet store since June and said they carry a wide variety of hunting accessories, including backpacks, gun cases, scopes, target sheets, sleeping bags, gun-cleaning supplies and law enforcement accessories. “We have the best selection in the valley for ammo,” she said. “It’s a great place to work.” The BVAC outlet store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sundays.