Burwell column: Remodels, new offices come to Helena

Downtown Helena has a new beer and wine business called The Hawthorn Bottle Shop and Tasting Room. It is located in the first block of the walking mall at 46 N. Last Chance Gulch. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from noon-10 p.m and on Sundays from 1-7 p.m. They also feature special cheeses and appetizers to enjoy with your beverage.

Also downtown, Bert and Ernies has done a large remodel, expanding Sommeliers Wine Bar into a much larger wine and specialty food destination. Owner Toby DeWolfe also did considerable remodeling to the Bert & Ernies restaurant side. You need to stop by and check it out.

The Red Lion Colonial Hotel recently completed another phase of remodeling and the result is a totally changed look as you enter the hotel. The lounge area has been opened up and a new fireplace has been added. The hotel has an upscale urban feel that is welcoming and comfortable. Stop by and see what a difference the remodel has made. Significant changes were also made to the Natatorium meeting room and the pool area. Their chef is extremely talented and you need to sample the latest menu. A new buffet bar is in the works as part of the changes.

A longtime accounting firm, Galusha, Higgins, & Galusha, PC, has teamed up with a new partner and has changed their name to Wipfli LLP CPAs and Consultants. No major changes will happen here in Helena -- same people, same services. The change will allow bigger resources and support systems. GHG has 137 professionals, including 22 partners that will become part of the Wipfli group. GHGs locations included Billings, Bozeman, Havre, Helena, Idaho Falls, Malta and Missoula.

Windemere Real Estate has moved their real estate office from the Power Block Building to the Great Northern at 55 W. 14th St., Suite 101, in the building that also houses DSA Architects (Mike Dowling) and Mast Family Dentistry. A new real estate office called Exit Realty is opening at 849 Great Northern Blvd. in the building attached to the north side of the Great Northern Hotel. Pam Bailey is the broker/wwner. Also new on Last Chance Gulch near the Bagel Company is Black Jack Realty with Larry Brown as the broker/owner.

The Chamber just completed its 20th Annual SWISH Basketball Tournament at the first of March with a near record number of 98 teams. It is a huge undertaking to put on an event such as this with 11 courts in 9 gyms being used simultaneously for about 10 hours each day. That requires approximately 400 hours of referees (of which this year nearly all refs were MOAs) and volunteers to cover all scorekeeping, clocks, ticket desks, shirt sales, concessions and more. An estimated 4,000-4,500 people, including the teams, coaches, parents, friends, family and spectators, were in attendance and in Helena spending money for the two days the event lasted. The tournament books about 2,800-3,000 room nights at our hotels and has an overall economic impact of $500,000-$750,000 over the weekend. Kudos to the businesses and volunteers that made the event a big success!

This years tournament was dealt a big blow when we lost our committee chair, Chris Kanthack, who chaired the event for eight years. Chris will be greatly missed -- he was a wonderful guy and dedicated a lot of time and effort to this event. A big thanks to David Jensen (State Farm) for stepping up to co-chair the event this year. We also honored Mike Taylor, who works for David Jensen State Farm, for serving on the SWISH Committee since its inception 20 years ago.

Cathy Burwell is the President/CEO of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Burwell column: Remodels, new offices come to Helena