Benefiting Small Business in Missoula

This project was a quintessential Missoula building effort that allowed us to put our minds to work  to address the emerging needs of a local business and create an experience for first-time and return visitors to Missoula to enjoy

The Grizzly Hackle fly shop is Missoula’s premier fly fishing shops, and has a prominent downtown location, situated just a stone’s throw from the Clark Fork River. When the new owner bought both the fly fishing business and the building in which it was located, they also inherited several rental units in the top of the building. The new vision was expansive, as the client wanted to integrate the apartments into the business model and create boutique-style accommodations for clients who also needed a place to stay during their Missoula fly-fishing vacations. Instead of staying in a hotel or other lodging, he wanted them to be able to book a complete package through Grizzly Hackle. 

The vision for the Dry Fly Apartments was born––and from there, we went to work, with the goal to remodel the apartments in order to create five 2-bedroom units above the fly shop. We wanted to go back to the traditional feel of the historic architecture as part of the remodel, so we studied old photos of Missoula’s downtown as we put the plans together. 

The result is an exterior with historic details and influence, and clean and cool interiors that bring the outside in via exposed brick walls and high ceilings. This is a signature project that we feel fortunate to have been a part of, as it truly benefits a small-business owner and our local community as a whole.