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Bojangles Diner closes the door on decades of nostalgia

by KATE HESTON
Daily Inter Lake | December 22, 2024 12:05 AM

Plates filled with classic 1950s diner food being served up while the music of the same era plays on the jukebox, combined with memorabilia filling the walls, create the nostalgic staple that has been Bojangles Diner for decades.  

“The main point has always been community,” said owner Tena Bowen. “Bojangles is just a building and without the community, you have just an empty building. [These people have] been my world for all these years.”

Today, Dec. 22, the Kalispell restaurant officially closes its doors for the last time after over 30 years of operation.  

Bojangles first opened in the mid-1990s in the Gateway West Mall before moving to its current location — just off U.S. 2 and the U.S. 93 bypass — in July of 1998. Bowen joined the Bojangles team in 1997, then took over ownership in 2005. 

The restaurant boasts a plethora of decor in just about every space available, framed photographs feature popular singers of the past, an Elvis Presley figure greets customers at the door and one space showcases a vintage Flathead High School cheerleading uniform. It is a small restaurant, but its charm and food have brought people back for decades. 

“The customers are incredible. I’ve seen babies grow up and have babies. And they still come here,” Bowen said. “Years definitely go by, but it makes you feel good.” 

Circling the dining room is an iconic toy train, one that grabs the attention of those sitting down to eat.  

“Bojangles could never be without a train,” Bowen said, stating that she has 10 backup trains stocked and ready to go in case one was to break. On closing weekend, the Christmas edition train circled the restaurant.  

It’s all about maintaining excellent memories of the past. 

The breakfast and lunch joint has a classic diner menu serving favorites like omelets, stacks of pancakes and chicken-fried steak and eggs served all day. The hamburger list pays homage to 1950s music stars like Buddy Holly and Little Richard, among others. And there’s a list of milkshake flavors to choose from for any meal.  

On Thursday afternoon near closing time, the Bojangles parking lot was almost completely full. A family, who had just finished their meal at the diner, stood out front and took photos with the iconic Bojangles Diner sign.  

“This place is all the things that bring me back to childhood,” said Columbia Falls resident Peg Wiebelhaus, taking photos with family members after enjoying a meal.  

She always went for the cheeseburgers and the milkshakes, which she deemed were the best milkshakes in the valley.  

“It’s our girls weekend diner,” she said. “We’ll miss it for sure.” 

Entering closing weekend, the Bojangles dining room was packed the whole time it was open — from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. — every day since announcing the closure on Wednesday. The response, Bowen said, has been incredible.  

“I’ve always known that we have strived to become friends with all these customers, we don’t know all their names all the time, but we know what they eat and drink. You’re so wrapped up in every minute and every day it wasn’t until [Thursday] that I was like wow they truly love us, we love them,” Bowen said.  

The staff, many of who have been there for decades as well, make the endeavor successful. Bowen’s son, chef Kris McEwen, works in the kitchen and throughout her tenure, Bowen’s grandsons have also helped their fair share, filling salt and pepper shakers or manning the toaster.  

“Everybody here is like family and our customers are too. You really get to know them. The people are just amazing,” said Bojangles chef Jeanine Jerome on Friday morning. 

Seeing the response from the community, specifically this weekend, Jerome said, has been uplifting. Although the closure of Bojangles is sad, she said, it is a well-deserved accomplishment for Bowen and her family. The busyness of the weekend attests to that, she said. 

“We weren’t expecting it, but it’s amazing to see all the people who want to come out to get one last thing,” she said.  

Stacy Estey and his wife were among the first guests to enter Bojangles on Friday morning, ordering an omelet and some eggs and bacon. Estey is sad and upset that Bojangles is closing, stating that it’s one of the better breakfast restaurants in the valley.  

Estey had plans to eat at Bojangles again before it closes, maybe to get the chicken-fried steak, his favorite thing on the menu. 

“We’ve been coming here since 2011,” Estey said. “It’s great.” 

Bowen first put the building up for sale two years ago, but the timing didn’t make sense to sell until this year. It is not our own timing, she said, but God’s that makes things happen. 

“I just proceeded with it. And it did sell. It’s not always our time, it wasn’t my time [two years ago], but it is my time now,” she said.  

While Bowen does not know the details, she thinks the building will remain a restaurant, hopefully one with a similar feel.  

Bowen offers humble thanks for the support of the restaurant throughout the years.  

“Everything has to go to [my staff and the community,]” Bowen said. “Not to me, but to them.” 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com. 



    Owner Tena Bowen rings up a customer after a meal at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Brielle Hammer's 1-year-old daughter Oakli plays with the jukebox as they wait for a table with Hammer's mother Alex Engler at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Elvis Presley and Betty Boop figurines at the entrance to Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Longtime chefs Jeanine Jerome and Kris McEwen, who is the son of owner Tena Bowen, prepare meals in the kitchen at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. McEwen has worked as a chef at Bojangles for nearly 20 years while Jerome has 10 years of service. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Patrons walk into Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Memorabilia hangs on a wall above a table at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    A framed picture of American actor, tap dancer and singer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson hangs above a table at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Chef Kris McEwen places orders in the window at Bojangles Diner in Kalispell on Thursday, Dec. 19. McEwen, son of owner Tena Bowen, has worked as a chef at Bojangles for nearly 20 years. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider