Farewell to a Favorite: A Small-Town Montana Diner Says Goodbye

Montana is home to countless small, charming towns that still hold onto that classic down-home feel. These little gems are some of my favorites—they remind me of home and bring back memories of the good old days.

One thing you'll almost always find in these tight-knit communities? A local diner that's been around for generations. These spots aren't just about good food—they serve up a sense of warmth, tradition, and a place where everyone feels like family.

Get our free mobile app

You know the kind of place I'm talking about—a time capsule, probably never been remodeled, with faded black-and-white photos of the town's history lining the walls. Maybe there's even a picture of a random celebrity who stopped in for a quick bite 30 years ago. The waitress greets most of the customers by name, effortlessly weaving between tables like she's been doing it forever (because she has).

We cherish these places, and we hope they stay around forever, but if there is one constant in life, it's change.

This brings us to the iconic Busy Bee Café in Roundup, Montana. The café closed earlier this month after having her doors open for 80 years. The café was originally started in an old church building back in 1945, and the current owners ran it for 56 years.

Over the years, the café became a local staple, and they even maintained a guest book for visitors from around the country to leave their mark. Notable guests included Hall of Fame NBA player Wilt Chamberlain and several governors of Montana.

It's a bittersweet ending for the legendary café run by owners Mark Petrie and Mary Ann Petrie. The building will be demolished because it is located in a floodplain, leaving only the iconic sign with a horse seated on top. The area will be transformed into a park, and the owners are grateful that the land will continue to be a part of the community in a positive way.