The New Frontier of Franchising: Whitefish, MT
February 14, 2008 by Sean Kelly
Filed under CIAO MAMBO, MACKENZIE RIVER PIZZA
(FranchisePick.Com) FranchisePick.com will travel to the ends of the earth (or at least the continental U.S.) to bring you the most exciting and promising franchise opportunities available. This week, FranchisePick.com publisher Sean Kelly is on location in Flathead Valley, Montana investigating two promising restaurant franchise concepts: Mackenzie River Pizza Co. and Ciao Mambo.
I flew into Kalispell, MT this week to investigate reports of two exciting restaurant franchise concepts poised for aggressive franchise expansion by Glacier Restaurant Group. Glacier Restaurant Group was formed last year by William P. Foley, II, former chairman and chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants (Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill), and other investors to acquire and expand Montana-based restaurant companies. Last year, Glacier Restaurant Group, LLC, purchased of four Montana restaurant 
companies, Bozeman-based MacKenzie River Pizza Company, Whitefish-based CM Brands (Ciao Mambo), and Craggy Range Bar and Grill and the Corner House Grille, both located in Whitefish. Two of the four concepts earmarked for franchise expansion are MacKenzie River Pizza Co., an award-winning, outdoor-themed casual dining restaurant with strong regional following, and Ciao Mambo, a high energy Italian restaurant known for its innovative “immigrant-style Italian” cuisine and lively, exposition kitchen.
Since opening its first restaurant in downtown Bozeman in 1993, MacKenzie River Pizza Company now operates 12 restaurants across Montana, and was awarded the prestigious “Hot Concept Award” by Nation’s Restaurant News.
Ciao Mambo, which was established in 2000 in Whitefish, MT opene
d its first franchised location in 2007 in Missoula, with more corporate stores and franchised stores committed. Ciao Mambo has been recognized in many publications ranging from Food & Wine to Montana Living.
More info to come from Whitefish, Montana, franchising frontier and home of the MacKenzie River Pizza Company and the Ciao Mambo franchise.
From the The Daily Inter Lake’s “Law Enforcement Roundup”
The newspaper headlines are a little different up here in Flathead Valley, MT. Here are a few from the local paper The Daily Inter Lake this week:
An East Third Street man complained about his neighbor, who allegedly pushed snow up against his fence.
Kalispell police were notified about a hound dog chewing on a deer head in the middle of Empire Loop.
Kids were reportedly spinning brodies in the Flathead High School parking lot.
HAVE A COMMENT? SPUN ANY BRODIES LATELY? TELL US BELOW.
[Photo: Sean Kelly. This morning's view from my balcony at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Whitefish, MT]
Sean,
Brodies sound kind of Grody, oh great mountain man.
Are you ever coming back to PA?
Joel Libava
Sean–it was good to have you in the fish. Come back and see us soon.
Ryan:
It was a great trip. You’ve got a great team and two impressive concepts. I’m looking forward to getting back up there - hopefully when it’s a little warmer!