Billings Gazette, Mont., Have You Heard column

Aug. 31--Downtown Billings is gaining two new hot spots while another is leaving for the West End.

Sandwich shop Pita Pit is planning a second location later this year at 2813 Second Ave. N., former site of Hippy Cowgirl. A few blocks away, attorney Bruce Harper is opening a martini bar, Doc Harper's, in early November.

Back on Second Avenue North, Paula's Edibles closed Wednesday and is moving to a bigger spot Sept. 2 at 1431 Country Manor Blvd., Suite 2, the former Sugar and Spice location.

"We have outgrown our space. We are finding that we have to produce all the time, and it's limited here," Paula's owner Karen Kennedy-Senn said last week from her old location at 2712 Second Ave. N.

The Pita Pit is keeping its West End store at 2228 Grand Ave., which opened eight years ago, franchise owner Kristi Grob said. The downtown spot will likely be open until midnight on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends to accommodate the late-night crowd, Grob said.

"Business is great. We have been so well-received, and our customers love the healthy options. Downtown Billings is so vibrant," she said.

Pita Pit has six locations in

Montana and serves fresh wraps. Grob said she expects to open in downtown Billings before Christmas.

Harper said his martini bar at the former Z Pizza spot at 116 N. Broadway is a good fit downtown. Along with cocktails, Doc Harper's will serve local craft beer and light appetizers, he said. The Billings City Council approved Harper's all-purpose liquor license request last week.

"The feedback we're getting is phenomenal," he said.

At Paula's, Kennedy-Senn and her husband and co-owner, Tom Senn, greeted well-wishers last week who promised to visit their new home.

Kennedy-Senn said the new spot will let her hire more employees and make more triple-dipped apples, chocolate-covered cinnamon bears and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Out and about

PayneWest insurance is building a new office on the Billings West End. Construction of the $3.39 million building at 3289 Gabel Road began last week, according to the city.

High cost of driving

Montana drivers pay a little more than average to operate their vehicles each year, according to a new survey.

Montanans spend an average of $2,277 annually to drive their cars, $27 more than the national average of $2,250, New York-based financial publication Bankrate.com reported.

Montana has the 19th highest costs nationwide, driven largely by high fuel consumption to travel the vast state, according to Bankrate. Montanans spend an average of $1,067 per year on gasoline.

The Bankrate report included surveys of fuel costs, insurance and repairs. Iowa is the cheapest state at $1,942 annually, and other Midwest states fared well because of low insurance rates, according to Bankrate.

Wyoming is the most expensive state for drivers at $2,705, with the biggest cost coming from fuel.

Placing nurses

Snelling Staffing of Billings is getting into the health care business.

The job-placement agency at 323 24th St. W. is now helping place registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants with local businesses.

Snelling recently hired a new employee, Laura Nelson, who has experience in the medical field, agency officials said.

Call 652-5267 for more information.

Haikus from the valley

Liking your weekend?

Thank unions and Henry Ford

Days to rest, take drives

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