Midway Rental closing down its Columbia Falls store

The Daily Inter Lake

Midway Rental announced this week that it will close its Columbia Falls store on April 3 as part of a plan to strengthen its business at the Whitefish and Kalispell stores.

Chief Financial Officer Bill Phillips also said the company will add a new store in Great Falls.

He cited the economic downturn, with its particular impact on the construction industry, for the decision to close the Columbia Falls store in U.S. 2 just southwest of town.

The locally owned company is focused on solutions and customer service, he said, and must operate efficiently to be effective. Five-year business projections show that Midway can operate better in the Flathead by working out of the Kalispell and Whitefish stores.

Phillips said the Columbia Falls store will close for the foreseeable future.

"We view ourselves as a smart, stable company and have always stayed ahead of the market," he said in a prepared statement. "This step is a positive move to continue our leadership position in the Flathead."

All 41 of the company's employees will keep their jobs as the firm consolidates operations at the Whitefish and Kalispell stores. A few also will transfer to Great Falls.

Before the company began laying off workers last fall, Midway had 75 employees.