Business Buzz: Downtown events, three new restaurants open (2024)

Here's some business news in the Missoula area:

The new downtown eatery Catalyst2Go is up and running at 123 E. Main Street in Missoula. Denis Keast, who owns the place along with his husband Jim O'Byrne, have been adding new menu items like breakfast burritos in response to customer requests.

"We offer a full espresso bar, an extensive, fresh salad bar, 2-4 house made soups every day, a rotating selection of premade sandwiches and salads, a hot box filled with rotisserie chickens, burritos, potato casseroles, Mac n cheese, and other Catalyst Cafe standards," Keast explained. "(We have) canned beverages, an array of snacks (the majority made in house or by Montana-based producers), baked goods from Tandem Bakery and Morning Birds Bakery, ice cream pints from Sweet Peaks, and an ever-changing list of new items."

The duo owned the sit-down restaurant Catalyst Cafe before opening up this to-go iteration.

"We are very happy to continue the legacy of the Catalyst," Keast continued. "Thrilled to be downtown in a beautiful building, so happy to be feeding many of our loyal customers and proud to be offering something slightly different to our community."

Ragheef, a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant in Missoula, has opened up a second location.

The Ragheef Flatbread trailer is now serving its flatbread at 1900 South Russell street for to-go orders, or customers can stay and eat inside the new dining room for lunch and dinner. They are open 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner from Tuesday through Friday. On Saturdays they will only be open during dinner hours.

A new cafe called Dandelion Delicatessen opened up at 1951 Kensington Avenue, Suite 2. Owner Tara Emery has remodeled the place and has both breakfast (starting at 9 a.m.) and lunch (starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.) items.

They have espresso, tea, salads, desserts, baguette sandwiches, quiche and a variety of other treats on the menu.

The Out to Lunch and Downtown ToNight events started last week in Caras Park. Out to Lunch, held every Wednesday in summer from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., is the longest-standing outdoor music and food festival in Montana. Attendees can enjoy live music, activities for kids and 14 local food trucks along with a bar.

Downtown ToNight is held every Thursday from 5-9 p.m. in Caras and features live music along with 20 food trucks. There's also a bar and a playtime for kids.

Both events are hosted by the Missoula Downtown Association.

“Out to Lunch and Downtown Tonight are events that tug at the heart of the community, bringing people downtown and celebrating what makes Missoula unique,” said MDA board president Jed Liston. “This year, we’re excited to announce some fantastic updates to enhance these beloved traditions. Downtown ToNight will now run from 5-9 p.m., giving everyone more time to enjoy the summer evenings along the river. Plus, we’re adding a weekly bar to Out to Lunch, making it an even more appealing midday break for downtown employees and visitors. These updates, along with the new additions to the Beartracks Underbridge Playground, create the perfect space to enjoy these events.”

Missoula Child Care Advantage will host an open house on Thursday,

June 13, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Cold Spring Elementary School, 2625 Briggs St. in Missoula. The event is an opportunity for community partners, donors, and Missoula families seeking child care to tour the six child care businesses co-located in one convenient location.

The open house aims to celebrate the opening of MCCA and showcase the child care businesses located on site. Attendees will have the chance to explore six independent child care businesses, interact with staff, and learn about the unique programs and amenities offered by each provider.

"MCCA is an innovative approach to child care," said Sally Henkel of United Way of Missoula County. "It is a network of independent child care businesses that utilize shared services at no cost to improve their bottom line. These child care businesses use a common waitlist and enrollment portal, which creates an opportunity for local employers to offer a child care benefit to their employees: faster access to child care."

Local employers in Missoula can join MCCA as business members to offer this child care benefit to their staff. Staff of business members received priority access on the waitlist; however, anyone seeking child care in the Missoula community can join the waitlist.

The open house will take place in the southwest wing of Cold Springs Elementary. Light refreshments will be provided and attendees seeking care will be able to easily access waitlists onsite. Parking is available only in the parking lot off of Cardinal Drive and access to the building is only through the designated MCCA doors.

Missoula Child Care Advantage is made possible by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. It is a collaboration between Zero to Five Missoula, United Way of Missoula County, City of Missoula, Missoula County, Missoula County Public Schools, and with start-up support from Headwaters Foundation, Child Care Resources, Clearwater Credit Union, the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, and the Bill & Rosemary Gallagher Foundation.