Farewell 600 Cafe and Hole in the Wall
moderator
founder
Posted by David Schott (+19063) 7 years ago
Ads on page 3 of the December 23, 2015, Miles City Star newspaper. Sad to hear this news:

600 Cafe / Hole in the Wall Close

600 Cafe / Hole In The Wall Restaurant by David Schott, on Flickr
Top
+3
-1
admin
moderator
founder
Posted by MilesCity.com Webmaster (+10054) 7 years ago
Wow that sucks. The 600 and Hole in the Wall are Miles City landmarks. Hope, perhaps someone purchases them and continues on ...
Top
+10
-1
supporter
Posted by Shu (+1795) 7 years ago
Pretty sudden...a lot of history there. Can't help but wonder what the story is? We'll find out in due time.
Top
+6
-1
supporter
Posted by Bob L. (+5095) 7 years ago
I feel bad for the employees. To have the place shut down (likely without any notice) right before the Holiday season has to be awful.

I understand if no notice was given...but it still would suck.
Top
+3
-2
Posted by Steven Dey (+402) 7 years ago
I heard from a couple of people that their employees walked out on them because they had to work on Christmas and nobody was getting it off. But I can't back that up with any factual evidence.
Top
+2
-3
supporter
Posted by Amorette F. Allison (+1917) 7 years ago
Butch also had knee surgery, which I believe brought issues to a head. What issues, I don't know. I do know the last meal they served was the free Christmas dinner, which seems poignant.
Top
+8
-4
supporter
Posted by Richard Bonine, Jr. (+15599) 7 years ago
Very sad to see this happen. Wish I had a pile of cash. While I know very little about cooking ( I make great brownies and fudge) or the resturant business, this seems like a great opportunity.
Top
+6
-3
supporter
Posted by Barb Holcomb (+407) 7 years ago
My first paying job at $3.05 an hour as a dishwasher. I graduated to waiting tables on both sides and helped with catering events during high school and holidays/summer breaks from college. It was a challenging environment but I learned a lot about life. I remember going there after church occasionally on Sun mornings for breakfast as a child. Sad to see it close. Many a problem solved, or at least debated, by the numerous coffee groups that met there in the 80s. Cheers and best wishes to Butch and Gloria.
Top
+9
supporter
Posted by Richard Bonine, Jr. (+15599) 7 years ago
We ate there a lot more on Sunday's before you showed up.
You're about to retire and are looking for a hobby, aren't you.
Top
-2
supporter
Posted by Gunnar Emilsson (+18775) 7 years ago
Best to the Grenz family, for keeping those institutions alive for all those years.
Top
+2
-1
supporter
Posted by Barb Holcomb (+407) 7 years ago
Reply to Richard Bonine, Jr. (#363823)
Not retiring for another 3-4 years. Not sure that's the kind of hobby I'd be looking for. Too much work.
Top
+1
Posted by Mary Catherine Dunphy (+2896) 7 years ago
This is, indeed, very sad news for the people of Miles City. I always considered the 600 Cafe to be the beating heart of downtown Miles City. Folks gathered, saw friends, talked, drank coffee and ate good, hearty, down-home cooked meals. I've never known any other restaurant (ever) to have an annual free Christmas dinner for all its patrons -- rich or poor. I have many happy memories of the 600 Cafe and all the colorful people who either worked there, or came there to eat. Definitely the end of an era.

Good luck to Butch and Gloria Grenz in their retirement and thanks for the memories!
Top
+9
-1
Posted by Dr Mac (+77) 7 years ago
Have had several friends encourage me to look into continuing, also as a member, like Butch, of the Class of '66, and a pretty good cook. Restaurants (I had one here in Houston area) are lots of work and uncertain about folks realizing that. Miles City is lucky to have the ones they do. Happy we had breakfast there on the day before leaving Miles City in September when we had the All 60's Reunion. Sorry, folks, but the cold in Montana is too much for my hubby, born and raised in Houston!

I like my on-line professor position for Western Governors University. Nothing beats sitting at your computer in your comfy home.
Top
+2
-3
Posted by ChristineLynn (+101) 7 years ago
The last day they were open was last sunday, we were short handed I used to work there for almost ten years and had gotten a call 3 weeks prior that they needed help, one waitress walked out because it was busy and she could not handle it after running off a large group of customers, the other two left for their own personal reasons.... there was no notice given to us until Tuesday that they were closed for good.. displaced 34 workers right before Christmas. It was NOT because we had to work Christmas or any of the other reasons people put on here.
Top
+6
-1
Posted by truck (-199) 7 years ago
Very sad indeed. To close down like that with out notices to employees raises a lot of red flags indeed. Theres all kinds of rumors going around,I could list them however it would not re-open the 600. However you could go with the one about employees showing up when ever they wanted to, and dressed unapropriate for the type of environment ( meaning family type atmosphere as in a food service that dont care how many tatoos that you have and etc). Oh heres one I heard. help got tired of being yelled at by one half of ownership and being allways talked down to, ( I wonder if the wedding reception was cancelled). Like I said alot of rumors which in a small town more times then not the blame is put on the employees and not the employers. Well I hope that the owners compensated their good employees especially beings it was at Christmas time.
Top
+1
-6
supporter
Posted by Gunnar Emilsson (+18775) 7 years ago
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it would seem to be in poor taste to start bashing a family that kept a business running for years, then suddenly had medical issues, maybe some personnel problems, and decided to close the door.

As far as compensation just because it's Christmas, what are you Democrats? Without knowing the medical bills and business costs the Grenz family faces, starting such talk will only go down hill here.

When I got laid off in 1996, I got two weeks notice. I was pretty happy with that, even though I had worked for my employer 10 years.
Top
+6
-3
Posted by truck (-199) 7 years ago
Gunnar, your responce kinda sounded like a threat of some sort. Freedom of speech goes along ways till you make a threat of it. Nothing is going to go down hill. I really dont need to explain myself in what I wrote except to re=peat the word rumors. There is two sides to a story and each side should be heard, not just the bigger story teller. I to enjoyed going to the 600 and will miss it.
Top
+1
-10
founder
supporter
Posted by Tom Masa (+2208) 7 years ago
Gossip?
Top
+2
-1
moderator
founder
Posted by David Schott (+19063) 7 years ago
Geez, I think running one restaurant would be a major workload to say nothing of running three plus a special events hall (Park Place). That's a heck of a lot of work. I don't blame Butch and Gloria for wanting a break from that after many years of doing it.
Top
+5
supporter
Posted by Bob L. (+5095) 7 years ago
Truck:

Reading comprehension is a big issue for you, isn't it? Where do you see a "threat" in Gunnar's post?

Here's an example, though:

truck making a veiled threat wrote:
Who cares if ones puncuation is a little off, it does not mean that you know or are any better then the next person. I will mention one name, that would be Bob L, I will pray for you that those that you have belittled dont smack you up along side of the head. Again I apologize....



That's how you make a threat!

[Edited by Bob L. (12/29/2015 4:49:52 AM)]
Top
+5
-2
Posted by truck (-199) 7 years ago
Bob L , I pray for you. Now thats not a threat lol.
Top
+2
-4
supporter
Posted by Bob L. (+5095) 7 years ago
Truck:

Every night before I rest, I PRAY that you don't get lung cancer and die a horrible death.

You should really thank me for that.
Top
+3
-3
Posted by truck (-199) 7 years ago
not sure what you are talking about, however I know all to well about cancer and the horrible slow death that comes with lung cancer. Cancer is what took mt dad away from us awhile back...
Top
+2
-4
Posted by LRS 2014 (-85) 7 years ago
Now now we need to come together the hate and judging has to stop in this town that's why we are in this mess now there are to sides of people here the ones that where treated right by are old law and the management at the 600 and ones that where not treated right meaning giving the rong leadership by them we should treat all as one if u are a leader that's the first thing carrying for all the same no matter who u are where u come from now we just need to stop thinking it can get u in trouble all just love each other for we are brothers and sister's
Top
-2
Posted by ChristineLynn (+101) 7 years ago
I never cut down the Grenz's nor would I ever they are wonderful people that have done so much for this community! and not to mention for myself! simply wanted the facts out not just gossip, they deserve better. Hard to keep a place open when you have no workers, and they deserve to have their own lives that don't revolve around that place! Oh and I am a REPUBLICAN just so you know! and why do people get so crazy on here? do you talk to each other like this is public? do you see each other in walmart and instantly become enraged? settle down! life is short BE HAPPY

[Edited by ChristineLynn (12/30/2015 1:21:20 PM)]
Top
+3
-1
Posted by Bixby (+42) 7 years ago
Good lord, can't you take your petty arguments out in the alley and stay on topic. It's usually the same few who start sniping at someone or something. It's not funny, it's not clever. You just look small. Keep your tasteless and juvenile remarks to yourself and GROW UP. Go start your own forum or start using this one like an adult.
Top
+5
-4
supporter
Posted by cj sampsel (+479) 7 years ago
Regardless of why they shut down so fast it's really no ones business why.
I had many late night,early morning meals there as well as other times.
Hopefully someone will step in and continue the tradition
Top
+2
-1
Posted by LRS 2014 (-85) 7 years ago
I loved eating there too and will miss the goooooood food I could eat there everyday if I had things my way it will forever be missed in my tummy I do thank them for the good eating for all them hard year's of running the best place in town to eat thank u so so so much.
Top
+2
-3
Posted by Ross (+138) 7 years ago
Heard through the rumor mill that it will reopen next week. I sure hope that is true.
Top
+2
Posted by Wayne White (+259) 7 years ago
Butch, thank you for employing all the people through all the years you worked your ass off keeping a business running in these times of main street flight. Remember you always Wayne
Top
+3
founder
supporter
Posted by Tom Masa (+2208) 7 years ago
Any new news on the 600? Inquring out of state minds want to know?

[Edited by Tom Masa (1/17/2016 11:31:01 AM)]
Top
-1
supporter
Posted by MRH (+1576) 7 years ago
There was an article published the first week of January in the Billings Gazette, but I cannot find the reference.
Top
-1
Posted by snookie (+230) 7 years ago
Is the Boardwalk still open?
Top
supporter
Posted by MRH (+1576) 7 years ago
Yes the Boardwalk was still open last week. Here is the link to the article in the Billings Gazette.
http://billingsgazette.co...4ac7d.html
Top
Posted by ChristineLynn (+101) 7 years ago
boardwalk is open 7 days a week they open at 5pm they are thinking about re-opening in april with different hours and a smaller menu.... not sure if they will or not!
Top
Posted by Tomm (-1033) 7 years ago
I have heard that a woman from MC is planning on re-mod. the hole in the wall/600 and opening with a new look and improved service.
Top
+4
founder
supporter
Posted by Tom Masa (+2208) 7 years ago
Add in MC Star today advertising for waiters/waitresses.
Top
+4
-1
founder
supporter
sponsor
Posted by Dave Roberts (+1505) 6 years ago
"OPEN" sign was lit in the 600's window when I drove by today.
permalink   ·  vote tally
Top
+5
Posted by RA (+648) 6 years ago
I ate a VERY delicious lunch there today!
permalink   ·  vote tally
Top
+3
moderator
founder
permalink   ·  vote tally
Top
+1