Blaine County Beacon: A Family Gathering Place is Their Goal
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Turner, Montana, and the surrounding communities, are about to see the Border Bar & Grill back in business. In March of this year, Crystal and Dan Friedrich decided that bar ownership sounded like a viable option for them. They made the purchase official in late July and are planning a tentative opening date of Thursday, December 30.
Crystal's sister is Lindsey Obrecht who lives in Turner and works at Sweet Home Physical Therapy in Chinook. During the past two years, whenever the Friedrichs would make the trip from Shepherd, Montana, Crystal would say to her husband: "We should buy that bar," referring to the 241 Grill & Tavern. By March 2021, she had finally worn her husband down to the point where he agreed.
Both of the Friedrichs are new to the bar and restaurant business. Crystal is currently a registered nurse at RiverStone Health Clinic in Billings where she serves as the Healthcare for the Homeless Manager while Dan has worked on the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico for the past 24 years. "We decided that Dan needed an exit strategy, and the bar will provide that for him. The former 241 Grill & Tavern is in for a renovation and reopening; it's time for our next adventure!" Crystal announced.
Although the bar won't be operational in time to feature the 2021 Brawl of the Wild, the Friedrichs look forward to hosting Cat/Griz parties in the years to come. "We plan to host local, regional, and national sporting events on our many televisions," Crystal explained.
Besides the sports bar feel with some gambling options, the Friedrichs hope to brand their establishment as a family-friendly gathering place. The Border Bar and Grill is currently undergoing a complete remodel, and the couple is building a kitchen. Describing the menu, Crystal said: "We'll feature a full selection of beverages, and a menu with lots of appetizers, soup, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Although we will run specials from time to time, we won't be offering anything extravagant like steaks. Initially, we'll also serve the traditional bar pizzas, but eventually we hope to expand to have in-house made pizzas."
Although the Friderichs admit that they don't have all the answers right now, they are committed to working out the kinks as they go. When they open in late December or early next year, the Border Bar & Grill will have a reduced schedule from Thursday through Sunday to start. Those hours will expand as the business develops.
Initially, Dan will be working the business himself, since the couple's son is a senior at Shepherd High School and will finish out the school year there. Their second child, a daughter, is a fourth grader.
On this adventure, Crystal expressed gratitude to many supporters: "We appreciate all of the support we have seen from the community so far, and we invite people to stay tuned, as eventually we will be hiring help. There is a lot going on inside your little hometown bar, and we can't wait to share it with you!"
While the Friedrichs are not shy about admitting their "lack of experience," they have optimism and a realistic outlook. "Purchasing a turn-key operation is honestly much better than purchasing something that you have to start from scratch on," Crystal stated.
When asked what about business ownership has been most surprising, the Friedrichs commented: "The amount of paperwork, permits, and costs of opening really add up. Also, there is no instruction manual, so you really learn by trial and error. I guess this endeavor is giving us the experience and wisdom we'll need, but
I think we are in for a lot of surprises."
Regarding hobbies and pleasures beyond the work routine, the Friedrichs enjoy bowling, camping, and spending time with family and friends. "We have met a lot of new people in the Turner area and have been greeted with nothing but kindness and support. That really inspires us to make a beautiful, clean, gathering space for friends and family alike! We know good customer service and we will definitely strive to provide the best!"
