Old Coffee Traders building to be commercial kitchen

The old Montana Coffee Traders location in Kalispell at 328 West Center St. has reached out to the city about a changing their use to a commercial kitchen.

The building has sat empty since October of last year, when the popular local coffee shop opened a new store just blocks away in a more central location at 111 South Main St.

The transition came up at a Site Development Review Committee meeting held on Feb. 15, but city officials didn’t have many details about logistical changes within the company. They thought the plan was to use it as a central kitchen that would produce goods to be distributed to other locations throughout the valley.

The committee did not anticipate the change in use having any significant impact on the surrounding area. The facility was already equipped with a commercial kitchen from its days as an active café.

Montana Coffee Traders operates a café in Columbia Falls, and a café and separate roastery in Whitefish in addition to their Kalispell location. They also produce roasted coffee beans that are widely distributed throughout the valley and well beyond.

Representatives from Montana Coffee Traders did not return a request for comment.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 756-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.