Montana’s biggest Town Pump opens on Huffine near Bozeman

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A new Town Pump opened on Huffine Lane outside of Bozeman on Thursday, becoming the biggest of the chain’s more than 200 locations in the state.

Just calling it a gas station wouldn’t really be accurate: in addition to the “beer cave,” “hotdogger” dog warmer and self-serve coffee station, there is a Stone House coffee shop with a café seating area and fresh-baked goods, a Magic Diamond Casino, and a liquor store with an attached lounge-sports bar area with an outdoor patio and smoke shack.

The location, at 8439 Huffine Lane, has 75 employees in the store area and 15 in the casino and liquor store. The building is 32,438 square feet overall, with a half-acre of floor space.

It surpasses the Town Pump in Bonner, just east of Missoula, as the state’s largest.

Everything in it is super-sized, even the cinnamon rolls. There is a cavernous beer cave and a large wine section, and most of the back wall of the store is dedicated to chilled non-alcoholic drinks behind 59 cooler doors. The store also has a “water cave,” a walk-in cooler with packages of water in varied sizes.

The station includes grocery store items in addition to the typical gas station snacks.

“We looked at this area and just wanted to fill in the need of people who maybe don’t want to go another three or four miles into Bozeman but just need to pick up some things,” said Bill McGladdery, a spokesperson for Town Pump. “If you’re out in this area and need something quick for dinner, you can run in and find it.”

The casino area is 7,800 square feet, and the attached sports bar has 78 seats and 15 TV screens, where they plan to show UFC fights without a cover charge.

Gas available, to be sure, at 30 different pumps, including one dedicated for larger vehicles. The gas station and store will be open 24/7.

Construction on the store took about a year, and on Thursday Town Pump staff were putting the finishing touches on the gas price signs and the prepared food area.

The Town Pump is largely surrounded on either side by open space, but McGladdery said the company saw the spot as a “growth area.”

Though the store might feel like it’s in an in-between area, McGladdery said they envision it as a place where people can stop for needed goods or just for fun.

“It’s a great place to meet people if you’re going to a Cats game or if you’re going to something downtown, you can meet here, have a drink, catch up, then head into town,” McGladdery said. “We just feel that we’re providing the products that people are looking for.”