(Photos by Jonathan McNiven).
by Parker H. Jimison
After four decades of serving the community in the best possible way, with cinnamon rolls, Stella and Ziggy Ziegler are selling their landmark restaurant, Stella’s Kitchen and Bakery. This establishment has been one of the most popular breakfast and brunch spots in Billings for as long as many people can remember, but at the ages of 80 and 85 respectively, Stella and Ziggy say that it’s time for them to retire. “You can’t do it forever,” Stella remarked, saying that she wants to retire while they still have some energy. Stella says that she is just excited to enjoy a cup of coffee on their porch in the morning without feeling like she has to rush to work.
The Zieglers are selling Stella’s to Steve Wahrlich, from whom they’ve been renting the building from since they moved to their downtown location thirteen years ago. Restaurant patrons will be happy to hear that there are no plans to change any of the recipes that have continued to draw crowds for decades. Wahrlich is also the owner of the Best Western Plus Clocktower Inn located on the same lot as Stella’s. Stella says that the restaurant is in good hands with Wahrlich at the helm and once things settle down, they may start coming in for breakfast with their old regulars and waiting in line just like everybody else. The sale is effective on May 26th after which the Zieglers will have all the time in the world to relax and see more of their family, who are now spread across the country.
