Town Pump prepares for early June opening
<p>The Town Pump near the corner of West Reserve Drive and U.S. 93 is targeting a June 9 opening date. (Seaborn Larson/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>The new Town Pump is located inside the former River Church building, providing more space and higher ceilings than the average Town Pump. (Seaborn Larson/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Construction crews are in the finishing stages at the new Town Pump on West Reserve Drive near U.S. 93, according to project manager Derek Swank of Swank Enterprises.
The convenience store, gas station, liquor store and casino is set to open on June 9 in the remodeled building that formerly housed the River Church.
“It’s beautiful, it turned out really good,” Swank said Thursday.
Inside the facility, crews are assembling shelves and beverage coolers in the convenience store area that used to be a church hall.
The lobby has been converted to a casino with a liquor store in the foyer. The structure is 21,680 square feet, larger than most Town Pumps that average 8,500 square feet.
The convenience-store area will take up 10,000 square feet with the rest divided between the 20-machine casino and liquor store. Outside, 24 fueling stations will contain Conoco gas and diesel.
Town Pump Construction and Development Manager Dan Sampson said the extra elbow room provided more space for a larger grocery section that will also house more frozen goods, soda and beer.
“It’s a good neighborhood for that,” Sampson said. “It’s more of a shopping experience than you would get at a regular Town Pump. It’s a little different layout than what we’re used to. It’s nice for construction because the old halls were great, big open spaces.”
Construction began in late August with more than a building renovation project ahead.
When the River Church sold the property a few years ago to Eisinger Motors next door, the Stillwater River was cutting into the riverbank on the east edge of the property.
Getting ahead of the problem after purchasing the property, Sampson said, Town Pump was happy to address the eroding bank issue. The company hired crews to remove dead and fallen trees from around the river and then used the material to stabilize the bank. He said now the river should be more open and enjoyable for boaters and floaters.
“It was an exciting project for us because of the chance not only to protect our property but to clean it up for the community,” Sampson said.
When the Kalispell City Council approved the Town Pump in April 2015, some community members were upset about a new casino setting up shop in city limits.
Since the approval, the council has amended city zoning ordinances, setting significant limits on free-standing casinos within city limits. In November, the council unanimously voted to isolate new casinos in B-5 business zones, where developers are required to obtain conditional use permits and built no less than 600 feet from a church, school, other casino or federal highway.
Town Pump currently operates at five locations in the Kalispell and Evergreen area, two in the Columbia Falls area and one in Whitefish. Sampson sent an email response regarding the public’s concern over casinos in city limits:
“Our casino employees are not only trained to provide our customers with an exceptional entertainment experience and the best amenities, but also are trained how to responsibly operate the facility including spotting and the prevention of over-consumption. The gaming side is designed as an entertainment stop for adults, nobody under 18 is allowed in the gaming and lounge areas and these areas are very much separated from our (convenience store) area which is designed to cater to all ages.”
Sampson said the company plans to hiring about 40 employees between the convenience store and the casino.
Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.