Goodbye Jersey Lilly Bar and Cafe?
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Posted by David Schott (+18391) 2 years ago
I'm told the Jersey Lilly Bar and Cafe in Ingomar closed its doors for good last weekend.

This drawing was on the top of a piece of note paper that former owner Bill Seward had used to write a note to Bob Kisken back in November of 1992. Thanks to Bob Kisken for sharing it.



[Click the photo to open the IMGUR site, then click the photo on IMGUR for a larger view.]
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Posted by Gunnar Emilsson (+18352) 2 years ago
Very sad about this. Our annual stop at the Jersey Lilly for lunch was something we looked forward to every year on our way to Miles City to go antelope hunting.
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12509) 2 years ago
It's for sale. They had a buyer but then the plague hit and the sale fell through. Still there, if you ever wanted to buy a bar and grill in Ingomar.
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Posted by Forsyth Mike (+496) 2 years ago
Rumor has it that the sale fell through due to other reasons than the plague, but since I have not talked to the actual parties I won't spread it further here.

It would take a very special type of person to own the Lilly. You need to be willing to work hard; live in the actual middle of nowhere (unless you want to spend a lot of money and time on commuting); be a stickler for history; be willing to keep certain things EXACTLY as they have always been or risk the wrath of all the customers (be very careful with the menu, especially); be willing to work with old-fashioned technology; and be ready to live with a feast-or-famine type of business climate.

On the plus side, you would own the only place to eat, drink or sleep in a 50 mile radius; you would be serving some of the most hard-working, down-to-earth people on the planet, plus a lot of very loyal repeat-customer travelers; you could set your own schedule and be your own boss; you would enjoy the absolute best version of "peace and quiet" you would find anywhere; you would never need to worry a single bit about hordes of rude tourists, riots, looters or protests; and you would have the fulfillment of preserving a well-loved bit of Americana.

I wish them luck finding somebody, but oh boy it's going to be tough in this day and age. I thought it was pretty miraculous when the current owners took it over 10 years ago.

[Edited by Forsyth Mike (8/14/2020 1:19:31 PM)]

[Edited by Forsyth Mike (8/14/2020 1:19:47 PM)]
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12509) 2 years ago
If I were younger -- a good deal younger -- I would love it.
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