New pub puts focus on customer needs

Francois Zanni and Christpher Languein bring decades of restaurateur experience to the new First Avenue Taphouse, but they have made it clear the customers are in charge of shaping the restaurant’s identity.

“We’re excited for it to build into what it’s going to be,” Languein said. “It’s going to self-evolve.”

The new pub-style restaurant at the site of the old 406 Bar and Grill arose out of an interest in the community for more spaces to hang out after hours.

“A lot of people just wanted something in Kalispell,” Languein observed. “There’s not much in downtown Kalispell.”

He and business partner Zanni took it upon themselves to respond to this need, and they continue to prioritize community interests as First Avenue Taphouse comes to life.

Customers have a say in everything, from the entertainment, to the interior, to the operating hours at First Avenue Taphouse. During the restaurant’s first two weeks, Zanni has sought public input through social media polls, asking customers “What do we want?”

Based on responses, they have scheduled live music performances such as Tommy Edwards and Brett Jameson four nights a week. Depending on demand, they may expand the live music and the number of TVs and channels for live sports. Zanni said they are considering requests for comedy, karaoke and open mic nights, too.

“It’s a happening place,” Zanni reported.

Even their hours are flexible, based on customer input. Employees explained the restaurant doesn’t have any set closing time. Instead, customer traffic on any given night determines the closing time, which can range from 9 p.m. to around 11 p.m.

“We’re still trying to figure out what we’re doing up there,” explained Zanni, who has also been running the Bigfork Inn with Languein for around a year.

First Avenue Taphouse is also designed to supplement the offerings available at downtown breweries. Languein and Zanni noted how breweries are limited when it comes to serving food and drinks beside beer, so First Avenue Taphouse has a robust lunch and dinner menu, as well as six wines, two ciders and a collection of mostly Montana liquors.

Their “upscale pub-style” menu specializes in burgers and sandwiches, but also includes salads, soups and desserts. As the restaurant comes to life, they hope to incorporate more game meats such as elk and maybe even yak into their burgers.

But the crown jewel of First Avenue Taphouse is its “state-of-the-art draft system” designed specifically for their new space by a friend of Zanni’s from Helena. The system features small new antimicrobial lines that prevent foaming and reduce waste. They also blend their own gas and maintain precise temperatures. The result, Zanni insisted, is “fresher, better-tasting beer.”

So far, Languein reported, “people notice the perfect temperature.

“It’s pretty incredible,” he added.

Building the special system “was a feat in itself,” he said.

“There was a lot of work to be done on the building,” as a whole, Zanni added. He remembered the building had most recently been remodeled 15 years ago. “We redid the whole place.”

Even though these renovations led the restaurant to open during a slower time of year for out-of-town business, Zanni said they felt the opening was actually good timing, because it gives them time to develop the establishment and its identity. This way, he said, “We can take our time.”

First Avenue Taphouse is located at 139 First Ave. W. and opens at 11 a.m., seven days a week.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.