Downtown restaurant closes again

Red’s Wines & Blues, a lively downtown Kalispell staple since 2005, and its fledgling sports bar counterpart, Red’s Roost, have closed.

“It’s closed and for sale,” owner Bill Goodman said.

Doors were locked for the final time on Saturday, June 19.

“It was about money. It was about energy level. And it was about going crazy,” Goodman said of his reason to close the popular nighttime destinations.

“It was no longer good therapy,” he said.

Goodman, a Realtor by trade, said the same thing in 2007 when he first chose to shut down Red’s. Working 100-hour weeks had taken its toll on him and he sought to reduce his hours.

“I’ve never worked so hard in my life,” he told the Inter Lake then. “I didn’t estimate, let alone underestimate how much work it would be.”

He closed Red’s Wines & Blues restaurant on June 30, 2007, to media fanfare, only to reopen a week later as a bar and nightclub. Goodman said many of his patrons felt sucker-punched after having just said their goodbyes.

That won’t happen again, Goodman said.

Then, his employees came to him and presented the different format. Switching to a nightclub reduced overhead, but not the workload for Goodman.

The closing of the two bars puts 25 people out of work, though Goodman maintains that the majority already have found new jobs.

The space within the KM Building, which Goodman owns with his wife, Jana, is up for lease and the liquor license is for sale.

Goodman hopes another bar or restaurant will come in to serve the community.

He pointed to the number of people who work downtown and to the influx of customers during community events such as Thursday!Fest.

“That’s a lot of potential,” Goodman said.

Goodman launched Red’s Roost less than a year ago. Both bars were packed with young adults dancing to local disc jockeys and bands on weekend nights, swinging between the two for different atmospheres.

“I hate to see it close, but I’m worn out,” Goodman said.

Business reporter Erika Hoefer may be reached at 758-4439 or via e-mail at ehoefer@dailyinterlake.com