A local construction crew for Montana Made Projects, based in Shepherd, finish work on a new building for Larry’s Small Engine & ATV Repair at the corner of Nahmis Ave and Northern Ave on January 7th 2020. In the picture include (from left to right) Gene Jonson on the latter, Project Manager Charlie Brewer, Dave Bowman and Josh Morris. Crew for Montana Made Projects. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Downtown Huntley is experiencing a business boom with new buildings, business expansions and new names that will be coming to the local area. Building and business expansions are a good sign that the economy is looking to a bright future as more options are available to the local community.
Two almost completed projects on Huntley’s main street are the Blue Cat Center and Larry’s Small Engine and Repair buildings. In addition to the newly constructed buildings, local business Style~N~406 Salon has moved to the front of the old post office building and Yellowstone County News is moving next door to a space doubling its size while a new brand name provider of Hardware Hank will be on display at R&R Hardware this spring.
With the expansion of the Blue Cat gathering center, located just next door to the Blue Cat Bar and Grill, additional space for any special occasions will be available while also being used with the Blue Cat Arena roping competitions across the street. More space has been needed as many locals visit the location for their good food, great company as well as a location to hang out for local roping events. The events center will provide two levels for sitting and eating. An outdoor walkout patio on the second floor is scheduled to be completed to provide an upstairs patio for guests and others to sit outside while watching roping competitions across the street. According to owner Pam Gabel, fine details are still being finalized and finished. Even though the new event center had not been finished as of the first of the year, a fundraiser celebration and event kicked off the New Year with a band and locals coming together for a good cause. The new event center is the first of any kind of building construction in Huntley since Delmer’s Tax Service (Delmer-Drake Tax Service) completed their building in 2004.
Another building in the final completion stages is Larry’s Small Engine and Repair at the corner of Nahmis Ave and Huntley’s Northern Ave, (or Main St as many call it). His business not only fixes small engines of all kinds but also ATV’s. This new building, 30 feet wide by 60 feet long, provides enough room to store the equipment.
Local Salon Style~N~406 has moved their location from the back of the old Huntley post office to the front now facing Huntley’s Main Street. With that move comes more exposure for their business for haircuts, perms, pedicures, manicures, full body waxing, eye extensions, spray tanning, facials, and much much more. Salon owner Shantel Oblander told the Yellowstone County News that the move has given them a great location and exposure for walk-ins and new clients as more and more people see their salon right on Huntley’s Main street, even though they have been in Huntley for three years. However, she said that they “still have a few that want food,” she chuckled in referring to the previous business that provided food for consumption. Style~N~406 has since remodeled the whole space for their business needs. “Walk-ins have increased and so has our business,” said Shantel Oblander. Using technology has allowed many clients to book their appointments with them on Facebook as well.
With the open space now vacated by Style~N~406, Yellowstone County News will be doubling its space as they have been busting at the seams for the last couple years. The additional office space will allow more opportunities for new reporters, IT tech support, accounting services and office personnel to meet the increased needs of providing legal advertising services to the City of Billings, Yellowstone County and law firms. As the newspaper has increased from a normal 12-16-page paper to a full 24-28-page paper, more staff is needed to provide services like a full-time sales staff and other newspaper and printing services.
R&R Hardware will have a new provider of their supplies as Hardware Hank logos and images will be on full display at the store starting this spring. “We are not selling” and “We still are an independently and locally owned hardware store,” says owner Becky Robison. R&R Hardware will be increasing their services with Hardware Hank supplies and more local things to buy in addition to their annual upcoming chick days.
In regards to the Huntley business boom, Keon Sutton, hair stylist at Style~N~406 and local resident said, “I love it,” as she had another new client walk in the door.
