Pursuit reopens Montana House, with a host of locals represented
The staff at the Montana House earlier this month. Front row, from left, Robert Manus, Joseph Miller, Jess Cassida, Cassanda Hall Dass; on stairs, Megan Ellis, Ginjer Yachechak. (Chris Peterson photo)
Earlier this month staff at the Montana House were busy stocking shelves and hanging artwork at the iconic shop in Apgar inside Glacier National Park.
After several years of being closed, the shop is now open under new owners, Pursuit, which purchased the store earlier this year from longtime owner Monica Jungster.
“We’re probably carrying 60 to 70% of Monica’s original portfolio,” Rob Spence, vice president and general manager of Pursuit’s Glacier Park Collection.
Spence noted that when Pursuit bought the business, the pledge was to support local and regional artists, authors and craftspeople and they’ve done just that.
The only reason the percentage of Jungster’s portfolio isn’t higher, is that some original contributors have since died, he noted.
The company also reached out to other Montana artists and craftspeople. All told, about 95% of the store is made in Montana products, including 16 additional craftspeople. There are some familiar people represented in the shop, including photographer Sumio Harada, Montana Earth Pottery, Jim Jokerst, Sherry Wells, Montana Shirt Co., Monte Dolack, and local authors like John Fraley, Christine Carbo and Diane Boyd, just to name a few.
There’s also jewelry by Danette Standing and Susan Maas as well as others.
The plan is also to continue the speaker series upstairs in the Kintla Room, which was very popular with tourists and locals alike.
They’re currently working on a schedule.
Check out Pursuit Glacier Park Collection on social media for updates.
In addition, they continue to review local artists and craftspeople. Interested vendors can contact them by email at GPCStore@pursuitcollection.com