Montana Style Events opens business hours for the public

Montana Style Events, located west of Havre at 10975 River Road, has expanded its business, adding regular hours to serve food and drinks in its events center to its already established bed-and-breakfast and catering services.

Montana Style owner Betsi Knight said that since her business opened in 2017 she has served private dinners and lunches in her events center and offered three bedrooms at her bed and breakfast. For the past year, she has had a full rural liquor license, she said, so she is able to provide drinks for her visitors.

People can call to schedule private dinners throughout the year, she said, adding that she does have special events for Valentine's Day, birthdays and anniversaries.

Each one is custom, she said, with every dish made specifically for the meal.

With the expansion, she said, customers are welcome to buy drinks, hang out and have fun Monday through Friday after 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday after 2 p.m.

If people wish to eat, she does request they call in advance and make a reservation, she said.

Knight said she is working on creating a menu of bar food which would be available during those hours. She added that occasionally she will make something special for the menu and will post it on her Facebook page.

Her business is a family friendly venue, she said, although if people are ordering drinks they will need to bring their identification cards.

Recently, Montana Style has also been holding some music events, she said, with bands such as Fort Benton's Lucky Valentines, Havre's Lady and the Logger and a part of the Milk River Band. Knight added that Chinook's Stone Broke Band is set to play in the near future.

She said that later in the year she is hoping to have more events open to the public, such as having jam sessions, vendors and food trucks at her business.

Knight said she does all of the cooking for her business herself, such as steaks, breads and desserts. She said she cooks practically everything outside with a smoker, although that is tough in the winter.

"It's challenging for sure," she said.

She said besides some friends occasionally helping her, she has no hired help, and most of the job she does herself.

"It is a lot of fun. It's hard work. It's passionate work I love it," she said.

She added that, in the past, she has also had Triple Dog Brewing Co. beers on tap at her location, and would like to have more Triple Dog in the future.

Knight said this business and the bed and breakfast is her retirement - something that she truly loves and is passionate about.

Before opening her business, she said, she worked as a freelance interior decorator for more than 40 years. Originally from the Livingston area, she said, she moved to Havre in 1985 to raise her children. As a designer, she worked on the former Plainsman Bar and Restaurant, located between Havre and Chinook, and other locations around town, she said.

She said she wants her business to have a homey feeling, with different seating areas for people to gather into for conversations.

She said she has had the open hours for only the past couple of weeks and does not have a closing time set up yet but "they are welcome to stay."

Knight said she invites people to come out and check out everything she has to offer.

"I love to visit with people," she said.