Business Buzz: New development at Burns St. Community Center; red light tour (2024)

Here's some business news in the Missoula area:

The nonprofit North Missoula Community Development Corporation has announced that they're welcoming another local nonprofit, Soft Landing Missoula's United We Eat program, to the commercial kitchen at 1500 Burns Street.

The NMCDC owns the building, called the Burns Street Community Center. The nonprofit remodeled the former FedEx shipping yard in 2008 in response to a neighborhood survey that showed residents' desire for more local food businesses in the neighborhood. The Burns St. Bistro restaurant operated for many years in the building but closed down last year.

Now, Soft Landing's United We Eat program will be using the space. United We Eat is a culinary initiative that features a rotating lineup of immigrant and refugee chefs, who each bring their unique flavors and traditions to Missoula's dining scene once a week. Missoulians can order the meals and taste the flavors of places like Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Our board, staff, and neighbors are thrilled to welcome Soft Landing Missoula’s United We Eat program to the Burns St. Community Center," said Brittany Palmer, executive director of NMCDC. "Their commitment to cultural exchange and culinary excellence aligns perfectly with our goal to foster a vibrant and inclusive community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this program and the community that is a part of it will continue to have on Missoula while being based here on the Westside."

The Burns St. Bistro still uses the Burns Street space for its catering arm and will be sharing the kitchen. United We Eat had been operating out of a church in downtown Missoula for the past few years.

Soft Landing, the Burns St. Bistro and the North Missoula Community Development Corporation will also be co-hosting an Open House Celebration and visioning session at the Burns St. Community Center on Tuesday, June 18 from 6-8 p.m. Guests are invited to meet Soft Landing and Burns St. Bistro staff, learn about North Missoula CDC’s work in the community, and participate in visioning exercises for the future of the Burns Street Community Center.

The nonprofit Downtown Missoula Partnership is offering guided tours of Missoula's colorful history.

The Unseen Missoula Historical Guided Walking Tours are back for a seventh season and will run every week through September.

Step back in time with "Basem*nts and Back Alleys" as the tour delves into the intriguing era of Missoula's transformation from a rugged frontier outpost to a bustling economic and cultural hub between 1880 and 1920. "Hotels and Hooligans"peels back the layers of Missoula's railroad boom, uncovering tales of everyday life and not-so-ordinary escapades, from courthouse scandals to the shadowy recesses of the city's hotel district.

Newly introduced last year, "Carnal Enterprises" invites you to explore a vibrant "restricted" community that played a pivotal role in shaping the Missoula we know and love today. For nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike, the "Lower Rattlesnake and Greenough Park" tour offers a journey through the storied landscapes of Greenough Park before venturing into the historic Lower Rattlesnake neighborhood.

The Downtown Missoula Partnership says the tours celebrate "Missoula's unique heritage, fostering a deeper connection among Missoulians, visitors, civic groups, downtown businesses, and property owners while championing the spirit of heritage tourism."

“Even if you think you know Missoula, you will be surprised to know the stories that are lurking around each corner”, said Kristjana Eyjolfsson, the director of education at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. “The Unseen Missoula tours are a great opportunity to slow down and notice the places and stories that have shaped the Missoula that we know today.”

A local company called Marketplace Events is hosting a business conference set to take place in downtown Missoula. This conference aims to provide attendees with a unique opportunity to learn, network and grow their businesses like never before. Tickets are only $85 and include appetizers, beverages and lunch by Biga Pizza. Tickets can be purchased at BeastYourBizMT.com.

Scheduled for May 17 and 18, 2024, at the Zootown Arts Community Center, "Beast Your Biz!" promises two days filled with sessions featuring a diverse lineup of speakers and panelists. Attendees can look forward to 45-minute sessions designed to spark inspiration, followed by a 15-minute open question period for further interaction.

"We believe in a dynamic approach to learning and networking," said the company in a press release. "That's why we have curated a lineup of speakers ranging from experienced business owners to esteemed nonprofit leaders. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, there will be something valuable for everyone at this event."

Topics include ”Unleashing Creativity and Efficiency: The AI Revolution,” ”Business Growth into the Future,” ”Finance and Small Business,” ”The Customer Experience,” and ”Starting a Business.”

Marketplace Events also produces The Women’s Fair, Pet Fest and the Health and Wellness Fair in Missoula, Kalispell and the Bitterroot Valley. Marketplace Events is a local-, family- and woman-owned company, formed in 2006.