The Bobcat Nation

My youngest son told me that PB here in Billings has closed? Anyone else hear that?

A sign on the door says beginning April 30, closed for remodeling.

I know the guy that owns it has had some health issues, but I am pretty sure they are just changing things up.

Rumors are running rampant in Billings. Closed for remodeling, closed because owner has health problems, closed because owner was taking money (which doesn't make complete sense as its his money) and couldn't make the payments. Either way I've been craving it.

Like the sandwiches (not love anymore because the quality is declining), but the service wasn't great to start with and has been steadily going down hill particulary in the last 18 months or so. They employees and owner act bored and as if they'd rather be any place in the world except there. The remodel story could be true and jibes with what it says on the building but doesn't explain why their phone was disconnected when you tried to call. Wouldn't you think they'd leave a message on an answering machine saying that we're closed for remodel, but that's par for the course in terms of how the Billings Pickle Barrel is seemingly managed.

About a year and ahalf ago I waited for about 25 minutes for my sandwich and it wasn't even busy, like 2 in the afternoon. I complained to the owner via their website and he emailed me and said he would make it right. Never heard from him again. I was disappointed.

If indeed, it is closed, I would like to see someone else take it over and run it better. I too am craving a sandwich

Billings Cat wrote:Like the sandwiches (not love anymore because the quality is declining), but the service wasn't great to start with and has been steadily going down hill particulary in the last 18 months or so. They employees and owner act bored and as if they'd rather be any place in the world except there. The remodel story could be true and jibes with what it says on the building but doesn't explain why their phone was disconnected when you tried to call. Wouldn't you think they'd leave a message on an answering machine saying that we're closed for remodel, but that's par for the course in terms of how the Billings Pickle Barrel is seemingly managed.

We got so frustrated with the Billings Pickle Barrel that we stopped going (service and quality of product)... They give the Bozeman Pickle Barrel a bad name.

The Butcher wrote:

Billings Cat wrote:Like the sandwiches (not love anymore because the quality is declining), but the service wasn't great to start with and has been steadily going down hill particulary in the last 18 months or so. They employees and owner act bored and as if they'd rather be any place in the world except there. The remodel story could be true and jibes with what it says on the building but doesn't explain why their phone was disconnected when you tried to call. Wouldn't you think they'd leave a message on an answering machine saying that we're closed for remodel, but that's par for the course in terms of how the Billings Pickle Barrel is seemingly managed.

We got so frustrated with the Billings Pickle Barrel that we stopped going (service and quality of product)... They give the Bozeman Pickle Barrel a bad name.

No. The filthiness of the Bozeman Pickle Barrel and the grunginess of their employees gives it a bad name. I stopped going to Bozeman's Pickle Barrel because of this after the R Bar blew up.

BearCat wrote:

The Butcher wrote:

Billings Cat wrote:Like the sandwiches (not love anymore because the quality is declining), but the service wasn't great to start with and has been steadily going down hill particulary in the last 18 months or so. They employees and owner act bored and as if they'd rather be any place in the world except there. The remodel story could be true and jibes with what it says on the building but doesn't explain why their phone was disconnected when you tried to call. Wouldn't you think they'd leave a message on an answering machine saying that we're closed for remodel, but that's par for the course in terms of how the Billings Pickle Barrel is seemingly managed.

We got so frustrated with the Billings Pickle Barrel that we stopped going (service and quality of product)... They give the Bozeman Pickle Barrel a bad name.

No. The filthiness of the Bozeman Pickle Barrel and the grunginess of their employees gives it a bad name. I stopped going to Bozeman's Pickle Barrel because of this after the R Bar blew up.

Really? I was in there a few months ago and it didn't seem anything had changed since I lived in Langford in 1990. Maybe that's what you're saying, that nothing's been cleaned in 20 years Its called ambiance

I didn't have a problem with it the last time I went in.

BearCat wrote:No. The filthiness of the Bozeman Pickle Barrel and the grunginess of their employees gives it a bad name. I stopped going to Bozeman's Pickle Barrel because of this after the R Bar blew up.

The "grunginess" of the employees? You mean ... they look and dress like college kids as opposed to bankers?

Besides, if they dressed like bankers, you'd be expected to tip them a lot more.

Just found out that the Pickle Barrel in Billings has closed it's doors...

You could tell the last 3 years or so the Subways, Jimmy Johns ect really cut into the crowds at the Pickle Barrel. I went from once a month to everyother month. Also noticed how I never had to wait in line anymore. Also got the "Owe we are out of meatballs" line a couple of times. WTF? Always a sign that things aren't going well.

This may or may not be related, but I contacted them a year or two ago about the possibility of franchising into CA, but never heard back from them. If memory serves, they had something on their website at the time about contacting them for franchising opportunities. Then, didn't they opt not to go back into the R Bar? Between those two things, I got the impression that they were maybe scaling things back for whatever reason.

Bay Area Cat wrote:This may or may not be related, but I contacted them a year or two ago about the possibility of franchising into CA, but never heard back from them. If memory serves, they had something on their website at the time about contacting them for franchising opportunities. Then, didn't they opt not to go back into the R Bar? Between those two things, I got the impression that they were maybe scaling things back for whatever reason.

The main owners are in their 60s and don't realty want to open up new locations. They are outing in new equipment in the bozeman location.

Are there any locations left anywhere other than the original one on College in Bozeman? I know the one in Great Falls closed a couple years ago.

KittieKop wrote:Are there any locations left anywhere other than the original one on College in Bozeman? I know the one in Great Falls closed a couple years ago.

There is still one open in Belgrade.

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kmax wrote:

KittieKop wrote:Are there any locations left anywhere other than the original one on College in Bozeman? I know the one in Great Falls closed a couple years ago.

There is still one open in Belgrade.

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livingston

Dave Ridgway wasn't paying his taxes. Had a Stroke. Kept spending his money on highschool girls. Thats why quality went down, he threw all his good employees under the bus. I know worked for him for 5 years, also helped him build the PB TRAILER. After he had his stroke, he gave up on that venture. His truck and PB trailer are at the old Pierce packing plant.