Butte’s known for having excellent independent restaurants. But some people also think the town doesn't have as many major chains as it could.
If 2014 was any indication, they’re coming.
Butte saw commitments from companies like Pita Pit, Hardee’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Pita Pit has already far outpaced sales expectations for its store at Main and Park, and the owners have bought Taco Del Sol on East Granite Street, and will move it to the same intersection.
It all points to growth, but whether it’s sustainable remains to be seen.
Major chains zero in on two major characteristics of a town –population and income level.
“They simply do the math,” said Gordon Flanders, a professor of business at Montana Tech. If that chain hasn’t set up shop in Butte, that means that the numbers simply haven’t added up.
The flip side is that when a chain is interested in Butte, it could be an indicator that the Mining City is ready for more commerce.