Great Falls mayor: Chick-fil-A and WinCo coming to town. By: MTN News Posted 9:35 PM, Mar 05, 2026 and last updated 4:50 PM, Mar 06, 2026 New restaurants and businesses continue to open across Great Falls - recent arrivals include Texas Roadhouse, Panera Bread, Pomodoro, Xochitl, and Pizza Ranch. And now, rumors swirling for several months have been confirmed by Mayor Cory Reeves, who made an announcement in a Facebook post on Thursday evening. Reeves posted: "Big news for our community... let's go, Great Falls! We can officially announce that WinCo Foods is coming to Great Falls and will be moving into the old Shopko building. On top of that, Chick-fil-A is also coming to town! Both companies have now submitted their building permits, which is a big step forward in making these projects a reality. This means new jobs, new investment, and more options for our residents." Quentin Shores reports - watch the video here: We checked with Bruce Haman of the Great Falls Planning & Community Development Office, who confirmed that Chick-fil-A has submitted building plans and they are being reviewed. KRTV reported in February 2025 that Chick-fil-A submitted a traffic impact study to the city, which is an assessment of potential impacts a proposed project might have on surrounding roads. The proposed location is 711 10th Avenue South. At the time, city officials noted: "The traffic study submittal is a good sign the project is moving forward." The popular fast-food restaurant specializes in chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, and has more than 3,000 locations across the country, including several in Montana - in Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings. There are also plans in the works for Chick-fil-A restaurants in Butte and in Helena. KRTV reported in September 2025 that WinCo Foods was registered as the owner of the building that formerly was Shopko. WinCo operates grocery stores in several Montana communities, including Helena, Bozeman, and Billings. Shopko, which was located at 301 Northwest Bypass, closed in 2019. At this point, there is no word on when Chik-fil-A or WinCo plan to open. We will update you as we get more information. MORE RESTAURANT NEWS Annapurna Indian restaurant is opening soon at 1220 Ninth Street South, the space formerly occupied by Maria's Mexican restaurant. Annapurna says on its Facebook page that they will serve "traditional Himalayan and Indian dishes," including Butter Chicken, Tandoori, Biryani, Momos, fresh Naan, and many more authentic Himalayan flavors. They plan to open in late March. River & Range Bistro plans to open soon in Great Falls. The owner says that at this point, they are planning to open in late April, but have not yet announced the location. Sample menu items that they have shared on Facebook include Osso Buco, Caramelle Pasta, and Poached Cod Vin Blanc. Haunted Scoops is preparing to open at 1900 Fourth Street NE in the space formerly occupied by Nitro Creamery. The owners say will be serving "handcrafted artisan ice scream that's so good it's scary!"

WinCo Foods opens in Klamath Falls after years of planning. * ZAK KEENEY For the Herald and News * Mar 2, 2026 * Comments Attention, Klamath Falls shoppers: WinCo Foods is officially open. Customers wrapped around the front of the new store hours before the 9 a.m. grand opening Monday, eager to be among the first through the doors. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and flag raising, but many in line said they were there for one reason - savings. Jeremiah Simmons, who previously shopped at WinCo locations in Redding and Yreka, Calif., said he had been anticipating the chain's arrival in the Basin. "Hands down, WinCo is the best place to shop," Simmons said. "They have a bit of everything and are way more affordable than other grocery stores." Shelby Murray, who frequented a WinCo store in Eugene before moving to Klamath Falls, said she especially appreciates the bakery and overall store design. "Their bakery is fantastic, and the bread is cheaper compared to competitors," Murray said. "The layout of their stores is nice, too. I'm thrilled they've come to Klamath Falls." Based in Boise, Idaho, WinCo operates more than 130 stores across 10 states and is known for its warehouse-style layout, expansive bulk foods section and emphasis on low prices. The company has worked closely with the Klamath County Economic Development Association since 2021 as plans for the Klamath Falls location took shape. KCEDA provided site selection support, market research, real estate guidance, local referrals and assistance navigating incentives and licensing requirements, helping move the project from concept to completion. For many residents, the store's arrival represents more than a new place to shop. "This is gonna help, I hope, to drive costs down now that there's more competition," Klamath Falls resident Tom Holtsclaw said. "If anything, it'll shorten the checkout lines at Wal-Mart." The opening marks the first new grocery store to debut in Klamath Falls since 2018, when Holiday Market opened in a renovated former Safeway building - a milestone many shoppers Monday said was long overdue. "We're excited to be here in the community and serve customers who've waited for us to open all these years," store manager Kurtis Day said. WinCo Foods is located at the corner of Shasta and Avalon in Klamath Falls. The store is open 24 hours a day.

Urgent pizza recall affects 10 states, consumers warned. WinCo Foods has recalled its Deli Margherita Pizza Thin Crust in 10 states over possible metal contamination, urging customers to check their freezers and return affected products for a full refund. A multi-state food recall has prompted concerns among consumers who purchased refrigerated pizzas in recent months. WinCo Foods announced a voluntary recall of one of its deli products after a potential safety issue was identified, urging customers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the affected item. The recall involves the WinCo Foods Deli Margherita Pizza Thin Crust, a popular "Take & Bake" pizza that was widely distributed and may contain metal fragments due to an issue with one of its ingredients. While no injuries have been reported, the scope of the recall and the FDA's risk classification highlight the importance of consumer awareness and prompt action. The recall involves the WinCo Foods Deli Margherita Pizza Thin Crust, identified by Article #67279. This product is a 17-ounce "Take & Bake" pizza, sold refrigerated in plastic film packaging. The affected pizzas bear the Julian codes 12255, 22265, and 12415, along with the UPC code 0267279 807987. These pizzas were available for purchase between September 1 and December 31, 2025. Geographic scope and quantity. The recall impacts a total of 5,066 boxes distributed across 10 states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. This widespread distribution necessitates immediate consumer awareness to prevent potential health risks. Reason for the recall. The recall was initiated due to the possible presence of metal fragments in the pizzas. The manufacturer, Rose & Shore, received notification from their ingredient supplier, Sevillo Fine Foods, about the contamination in the fire-roasted diced tomatoes used in the pizzas. The metal contamination originated from an external supplier. The FDA has classified this recall as a Class II event. This classification indicates that the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, although the likelihood of serious harm is remote. Physical hazards such as metal fragments in food can lead to cuts in the mouth or throat, dental damage, or internal injuries if ingested. Current status and consumer recommendations. WinCo Foods has voluntarily initiated the recall as a precautionary measure. To date, no injuries or adverse events have been reported. Despite the product's short shelf life, the company warns that consumers may have stored the pizzas in their freezers for future use. Consumer instructions. Consumers are advised not to consume the pizzas with the specified codes. Instead, they should return the products to the store for a full refund. This action ensures consumer safety and prevents any potential health risks associated with the contaminated pizzas. According to FDA records, the recall process is currently marked as completed. This status indicates that the necessary steps have been taken to remove the affected products from the market and ensure consumer safety. Andrea Nabor specializes in personal finance, economics, business, Social Security, SNAP, credit, politics, IRS and business for the United States. With more than six years of experience in journalism and digital editorial management, he has built a strong career based on accuracy, practical experience and a deep understanding of the economic issues affecting Americans. Over the past year, he has focused his work on covering and analyzing economic issues, particularly federal programs, entitlements, and U.S. tax policies.Before her current position at Debate, she served as Editorial Coordinator for a digital magazine in Mexico, leading content strategy and brand development. In recent months, she has distinguished herself for her detailed coverage of Social Security, IRS, student loans, and SNAP procedures, as well as for identifying and reporting the best deals from major retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Sam's Club. She has also analyzed key corporate changes affecting consumers. A graduate in Communication and Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Andrea Nabor combines academic excellence with hands-on field experience, establishing herself as a trusted voice in digital economic journalism. Professional profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-nabor-5445aa1a0/.