Do You Remember These Businesses in Great Falls?

It probably doesn't matter where you live or grew up, there are certain places you refer to that might be called something totally different from what another person may call it.  A simple example (especially being a golfer) is the renaming of the golf course near the Veteran's Memorial in Great Falls.

via GIPHY

While today many call it by its current name, "Eagle Falls Golf Course", many of us still refer to it as "R.O. Speck" or just Speck.  Another familiar one for me is the old "Agri-Village", located towards the east end of 10th Avenue South.

Get our free mobile app

Do You Remember These Businesses in Great Falls?

Scrolling my social feed, I came across a question in a Remember Great Falls forum asking about the former Agri-Village building and the businesses that occupied that location through the years in the city.

READ MORE:  Set the Date for the Annual Banff Film Festival in Great Falls

For myself, it brings back memories of the original Big R Farm and Ranch Store.  And that huge painting/mural of John Deere combines rolling through a field of grain at the nearby (formerly) Dick O'Day farms.  And yes, there was a John Deere dealership located at it also.  But the building has had numerous different faces over the years, and history buffs in Great Falls didn't disappoint in naming a whole bunch of them.

How Many of These Businesses Do You Remember in Great Falls at Agri-Village?

As someone of the Generation X, most of my memories revolve around Big R, or the Loft Restaurant, or even when Big Bear was there.  Several smaller businesses come to mind also, beauty shops, insurance sales and even holiday themed stores.

via GIPHY

Commenters had even more that had been there, some I had never even heard of being in the city.  How many of these do you remember being in the Agri-Village location over the years:

• Valu-Mart
• Champion Motorcycle
• Rosauer's Grocery
• Liquidation World
• Hancock Fabrics
• Shop-n-Jot
• Taylor Brothers John Deere
• Big R
• Big Bear