Munros mark 20 years serving Lincoln County

As Treasure Mountain Casino, Restaurant and Lounge marks its 20th anniversary next week, Mike Munro, who co-owns the business with his wife, Dori, understands the connection of a successful business to the community.

“It’s family, our family and the families of our customers,” Munro said earlier this week. “After 20 years, you kind of get a different outlook on things, sort of live and let live. You get to know the people who come through your door, and I’m not just saying staff. It’s the people, our customers. We strive to be 100 percent, to make sure it’s right.”

Part of making it right are Munro daughters, Jessica and Molly, who are key managers when the elder Munros are unavailable.

To show gratitude to their customers, Treasure Mountain will offer specials on meals.

Of course, the staff of 15 employees will gladly offer anything off the menu that includes a multitude of combined items of the breakfast and later-day menus.

“We may have just about the most extensive menu in town,” Munro said. “The menu includes about 150 items. We’ve got everything from peanut butter to prime rib.”

Construction on Treasure Mountain Casino, Restaurant and Lounge began the last week of October 1993, opening for business about six months later on April 13, 1994.

Along the way, Treasure Mountain has made improvements and upgraded the 5,680-square foot building.

“We’ve remodeled two or three times,” Munro said. “We put the divider wall in to separate the lounge from the restaurant. The poker machines used to sit out here. We took them back into the corner to get the gaming away from the lounge for more privacy. There’s more privacy in the dining room side, too. Basically, we’ve remodeled all along.”

Today, Treasure Mountain features restaurant dining in spacious area with rows of windows offering lots of sunlight. A salad bar strategically located between the lounge and restaurant dining offers chilled veggies for those who want to compliment their main-course meal. Customers may also order meals or finger-food in the lounge that boasts large-screen TVs for the sports-minded enthusiasts.

For customers looking for ambiance, Treasure Mountain proudly states “this is Montana” as soon as customers hit the door. A wood-carved bench featuring standing bears invites a seat while the driver parks a vehicle. Once inside, customers are greeted by another carving of a blue-eyed old-timer and just beyond, a high-ceiling area that features Montana and Alaska wildlife that beckons a marvel.

The taxidermy is captivating.

There are four monster elk mounts and another elk skull-mount that immediately demand attention. Accenting the elk are amazing full-head mounts of multiple whitetail and mule-deer. A caribou hangs near the full-bodied wolf mount, which are accented by lesser duck and pheasant mounts. On the far end, is a canvas outboat.

Refocusing eyes back to floor level, customers have the option of moving into the restaurant area or moving beyond the wildlife-etched divider glass that separates the restaurant from the lounge. Tall bistro seating differentiates the lounge from the restaurant. Just a wink away is the richly laden wooden bar that offers just about any libation a thirsty connoisseur would want — mixed, bottled, wine or for the adventurous, a shot of their favorite proof.

Those who have attended a community banquet, with all likelihood, have eaten food prepared by Munro and Treasure Mountain staff.

“(Banquets) are a lot of work, but we do what we have to to make it work,” Munro said. “We do like it when people compliment us. That’s nice, but it’s more important that people enjoy themselves.”

One of the favorite meals at banquets is the Treasure Mountain prime rib.

“Our prime rib is especially (popular),” Munro said. “We always offer it Friday and Saturday. We sell a ton of fondu and hand-cut rib-eye steaks. We have a lot of good pasta and salads. Also, we make a lot of meals for people who are allergic to things. Many people who have allergies, we cater to them. We scrape the grill clean and cook to order.”

Munro said he has achieved a level of dining by treating his employees as he would want to be treated.

“I have one employee who’s still with me since we’ve opened up, Barb Vester,” Munro said. “She does our dishes, preps food, cleaning. She is the Treasure Mountain encyclopedia. We probably have 10 to 12 employees who have been with us for most of those years.”

While Treasure Mountain has reached a level of success, Munro readily admits there were better times.

“When we first opened up, we employed probably 22 to 25,” Munro said. “That was back in the ’90s til about 2001 or 2002.”

Still, Treasure Mountain has succeeded, even during the lean economic times. And, he offers an explanation for his business success.

“It’s Dori, my wife,” Munro said.  “Dori’s the business-savvy one. By far. We are hands-on owners. We realize so many people have supported us through the years. We try to give back to the community.”

Last summer, Munro’s Libby High School Class of 1973 gathered for a 40th reunion. As classmates do during reunions, they ponder ways to give back to a community, and that was the case. At the time, Libby Food Pantry was in the midst of a move from Central School to Asa Wood. In that transition, there was room for a walk-in freezer.

The Class of 1973 came to the rescue, and Munro figured in.

“It was the whole class, who came together. I just happened to be the one still here in Libby,” said Munro said, who shies from publicity.

However, it was Munro’s business contact through Treasure Mountain that helped secure the freezer.

“It was a very important gift,” said Libby Food Pantry Director Kathy Lauer. “He was important in getting the compressor, and I know he paid people for their work. He helped coordinate the effort and putting it all together. He was very important.”

Terry Andreessen, owner of Timberline Auto Center, is a longtime friend of Munro.

“He’s definitely been a community leader,” Andreessen said of Munro. “There have been several projects during the last 20 or 30 years that he has been involved in. He’s an asset to the community.”

These last 20 years, Munro has learned much about being a restaurateur, and the most important things were two, he said.

“I think we’re — Dori and I — surprised just how much work it is to run a restaurant. The other thing is this: Try to give back to the community. We try to help, and it comes back 100-fold,” Munro said.