American Legion hosts Father's Day celebration

They came to honor dads and support a local business that has been struggling the last few months. Both endeavors, by all accounts, were successful.

Several dozen residents, including passing tourists, stopped at the American Legion Club in Paradise Sunday afternoon to be part of a Father’s Day celebration that in turn gave hope to the revival of the town’s lone restaurant and bar.

“We feel pretty good about the turnout,” said American Legion Club Kitchen Manager Brey King. “We will be returning to our original hours and re-opening our kitchen for daily service and this was a good way to get it going.”

As part of the Father’s Day observance, the Legion offered barbecued hamburgers and bratwursts, along with salads and condiments at a discounted price for all fathers who stopped by.

Several dozen hamburgers and brats were sold during the afternoon part, with fathers getting a meal deal for $6. Other patrons paid $12 for the meal as the Club in this small Sanders County unincorporated town expressed optimism the only restaurant in town was on the verge of a comeback from a potential shutdown in the face of increased labor shortages and lack of qualified bar and kitchen staff.

“Beginning tomorrow (Monday),” King said, “we will be back to our original days of operation and our kitchen will be open for business. We have been able to recruit some new and qualified staff to get the business back on track.”

Staff shortages, many due to resignations of existing staff, along with other problems plaguing such businesses throughout the region and the country, forced the establishment to reduce its hours in recent weeks. In response to the loss of staff and difficulty finding replacements, the bar ceased operations on Mondays and reduced hours of business each Tuesday by opening at 5 p.m.

That seemed to be in the distant past Sunday as locals and passing tourists took notice of a Father’s Day food special sign and smoking BBQ equipment, staffed by Brey and her husband, Darin King. Several guests were passing by the establishment on their way to other destinations when the sight and smell of BBQ enticed them to stop and check out the situation.

“I was going to stop in the next town up the line,” said Mike Jeffers, a resident of Dillon, who was on a solo getaway to check out northwest Montana.

“It smelled really good, so I did a u-turn and stopped by for a burger,” Jeffers said. “I’m always looking for roadside places to eat and have a cold beer and this was just what I was looking for. Some really welcoming locals and some really good food. I wish I could have had my Dad here with me.”

Beginning this Monday (June 19), the Club will open before noon and stay open into the nighttime hours. Previously the business opened at 10 a.m. each day and closed at 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings.

“We are still looking for more employees, but we have some new people coming in and should be able to return to our original hours of business,” Brey said.