Popular restaurant closes down

By LYNNETTE HINTZE

The Daily Inter Lake

Downtown Kalispell hot spot Red's Wines & Blues will close its doors Saturday, two years after the popular restaurant and nightclub opened.

Despite a faithful customer base, skilled staff and brisk business, owner Bill Goodman said he has not been able to find reliable management personnel and is burned out after working many weeks of 12- and 18-hour days.

"This is a tough one," Goodman said about the decision to close the restaurant. "It's such a great place and has been so well-received, but I have not been able to manage the place profitably and I couldn't find adequate management … Unfortunately, I'm not up to the task of [continued] management.

"I've never worked so hard in

my life," he said. "I didn't estimate, let alone underestimate how much work it would be."

Goodman, a Realtor by trade, acknowledged his lack of experience in the restaurant business when he opened Red's in 2005, but at the time he said "it had to be done because it's what the town needed."

He'd like to lease or sell the business - located in the historic KM Building that he and his wife, Jana, own - and have it continue as the popular gathering spot it has become.

"My goal is that the place continue to exist," he said, adding that he's already had a half-dozen inquiries from prospective proprietors. "It's been so well-received from Day One. We had people who'd eat there two times a day, every day. I'm thankful for the community's incredible support."

In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, Red's Wines & Blues served up regular musical entertainment and drawing cards such as Trivia Night.

Goodman lauded his staff of 60 full-time employees, who will lose their jobs at the end of the day on Saturday unless a new owner quickly steps up to the plate.

Even if Red's Wines & Blues is history, Goodman said he remains optimistic about downtown Kalispell.

"I think downtown is in great shape. There are new owners of businesses, new businesses, and I'm pleased with that," he said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com