Bozeman’s Oldest Businesses: Keeping “Old Bozeman” Alive.

For a lot of locals, they miss the "old Bozeman". You know, the town that was here before the "new Bozeman".

I was talking with someone the other day and they made the point to say that much of downtown and its retailers aren't really for locals. They're more for the folks that live in the fancy resort town just down the road or the tourists that come and visit.

While they may have a point, there are still a few businesses around that are not only part of the "old Bozeman" but have been here darn near as long as Bozeman has been Bozeman.

Get our free mobile app

Which Bozeman businesses have been around the longest?

First let me say, that any businesses that have been around for multiple decades are impressive, and having few that have been around for 100 years or more is mind-blowing.

Two of the oldest businesses in town are Kenyon Noble and Owenhouse Ace Hardware.

Kenyon Noble started back in 1889 and has always been a family-run business. While things have changed over the last century, one thing hasn't and that's Kenyon Noble's love for Bozeman and its people.

Another business that has been around for more than a hundred years is Owenhouse Ace Hardware. When they opened their doors back in 1879, I doubt that they imagined they would still be serving the community 145 years later. While ownership has changed over the years, their commitment to Bozeman has stayed the same.

The Western Cafe has been around for decades and serves delicious food in a very "Montana" atmosphere. Popular with locals and travelers, The Western always has a crowd and is usually a mix of young and old. Oh, and did we mention that they're now on their 3rd generation of family ownership?

We've all heard the popular marketing phrase "Have a Coke and a smile", well Lerhkinds Coca-Cola has been putting smiles on faces in Bozeman since 1914. However, the Lerhkind family started in the beverage industry back in 1895 when they built a brewery on the north side of town. However, with prohibition, the brewery closed in 1919 and Coca-Cola has been the family business ever since.

Several other local businesses have been part of the Bozeman landscape for decades. I don't know about you, but I get a kick out of supporting locals. Not only do my dollars stay here in town, but they also help "old Bozeman" alive and if you ask me, that's something we should all strive to do.