May 3----This story has been slightly updated from its original publication on May 3.
In 1905, a wooden building was constructed on the corner of Central Avenue and First Street in Whitefish and for many years, it served as a saloon. Since 1967, the building has housed Casey's bar.
Local philanthropist and venture capitalist, Mike Goguen, bought the city's old and beloved building in 2011, reconstructed it entirely and opened a rejuvenated Casey's in 2012.
Ten years later, Casey's is now closed for good. Director of Operations Jayson Peters said running a late-night bar had plenty of challenges and that the new restaurant is a better fit with the changing customer base. He said at this point, the owners would rather own a nice restaurant with a cocktail bar instead of a bar with a small grill in the back.
This summer, the building, now called 101 Central, will reopen with a new restaurant called Herb and Omni, entertainment upstairs at the Second Story as well as a rooftop sky bar.
Herb and Omni is on the ground floor and will offer an elevated dining experience with a menu that aims to please vegetarians, vegans, carnivores and omnivores alike.
Peters, who previously worked as the general manager of Casey's, said the vibe of the new restaurant is comparable to Tupelo or Abruzzo, two popular restaurants in downtown Whitefish.
"Our chef, Justin Kingsley Hall, he's opened, I think, seven different restaurants in California and Nevada and he has ties to Montana so we brought him in," said Peters. "We're partnering with Two Bear Farm on the organic produce and a couple of Wagyu beef providers."
Peters wants to work with local providers and purveyors partly because he understands the importance of supporting local farmers.
"I want to be, on the restaurant end, supporting [the work of local farmers] to make sure it has that full-cycle chain," Peters said. "Where people are enjoying it, they know where it comes from, they're eating it, but then you've got to support that because it doesn't just magically show up on your plate."
The restaurant kept the hardwood floors and beams made of old reclaimed wood from the original building and the bar wall is kelly green, as a bit of a nod to the Casey's legacy. Brickwork throughout the space is whitewashed for a more modern look and the restrooms have been relocated to the main floor.
The restaurant's street-side room, nearest Central Avenue, is lined with the bricks that had been purchased for the 2011 remodel. They are from an old Ohio road bed and are over 100 years old.