BILLINGS IS Booming!
Photo PhotoCredit: Credit:Eureka EurekaLighting Lighting
By By RANDY RANDY REID REID With With the the recent recent work-from-anywhere work-from-anywhere mantra, mantra, people people are are on on the the move move and and Montana Montana is is growing. growing. II found found myself myself in in Big Big Sky Sky Country Country earlier earlier this this month month at at aa GE GE Lamp Lamp reunion reunion celebrating celebrating with with people people who who worked worked together together in in the the Atlanta Atlanta district district almost almost 40 40 years years ago! ago! On On my my way way to to the the ranch, ranch, II stopped stopped in in Billings Billings where where II met met Madeline Madeline Randolfi, Randolfi, aa commercial commercial interior interior designer designer with with Cushing Cushing Terrell, Terrell, and and Tim Tim Kiser, Kiser, the the Technical Technical Director Director of of Alberta Alberta Bair Bair Theater. Theater. We We discussed discussed the the rapid rapid growth growth of of Billing's Billing's population, population, and and Madeline Madeline explained explained that that during during the the pandemic, pandemic, many many people people moved moved here here buying buying homes homes site-unseen. site-unseen. Tim Tim added, added, “A “A buddy buddy of of mine mine is is aa realtor realtor and and he he personally personally sold sold 15 15 houses houses during during the the height height of of the the pandemic, pandemic, all all through through FaceTime.” FaceTime.” This This explains explains why why my my 3.5-star 3.5-star hotel hotel was was $350. $350. With With Billings Billings being being aa melting melting pot pot of of new new and and current current residents, residents, the the city city craved craved aa world-class world-class theater. theater. The The Alberta Alberta Bair Bair Theater Theater is is aa newly newly expanded expanded and and renovated renovated 90-year-old 90-year-old Fox Fox Theater Theater originally originally completed completed in in 1931 1931 once once featuring featuring vaudeville vaudeville acts. acts. The The weather weather had had aa significant significant effect effect on on the the design design of of the the lobby lobby as as well well as as the the stage. stage. Because Because of of frigid frigid and and snowy snowy winters, winters, the the expansion expansion of of the the theater theater now now captures captures aa large large portion portion of of what what was was the the existing existing sidewalk, sidewalk, allowing allowing patrons patrons to to be be inside inside the the building building and and out out of of the the snow. snow. Given Given
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