Montana Jones

When downtown was the mall

L_:

I used to come to Kalispell and just walk around downtown. Go into the shops and restaurants and stuff. I used to like that.

Me:

I get the impression that downtown Kalispell just ain't what it used to be. No more shops here, just banks, and lawyers.

L_:

No, that's not entirely true. There are some shops that aren't here anymore, but they are the same shops that are gone all over the country. The Woolworth's and the Sears'.

Me:

They all moved to the malls.

L_:

That's right. But what has changed is that now the downtown is opening up to all kinds of businesses that weren't there before. Businesses that no one could imagine when the downtown was the mall. Now the mall has all the mall shops and that is leaving all sorts of space for little shops and restaurants and things downtown. But the other problem is the old guard can't see the change. The city council is made up of the people that have had land and influence since way back when. They are just stuck in the past 'cause that's the way it has always been. And to them the fact that the Woolworth is gone only means the Woolworth is gone and the malls have the shops now. They just can't see the new business's because it's not what they are used to. It's not the way it was and they way they like it. The Flathead is going to grow with them or without them, they need to let some new blood in.

Posted by: Montana Jones / 7:15 AM