Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Hinsdale Sweet Shop Offers More than Sugar

The first time I walked into Leona Knutson's Sweet Memories on Montana Street in Hinsdale, it was half by accident. Noticing a sign for coffee and ice cream on the otherwise sleepy thoroughfare, I swooped in for a pick-me-up, only to be confronted with something like a full-service eatery and two of the nicest people in Northeast Montana.

I say something like full service because Leona and husband Lonnie (Swede) have a limited, rotating food menu: Just one breakfast dish per day and a short list of lunch items on a dry erase board. That said, the pancake and bacon I inhaled a few days after my first visit was the best breakfast I've ordered out since moving to Montana. And that's just the breakfast. The Knutsons offer freshly baked goods, preserves, gifts, City Brew Coffee (from Billings), Wilcoxson's Ice Cream (also Billings) and other items.

You may have noticed a trend in the sourcing, but if not, be assured that locally-produced foodstuffs are given a premium. Even the eggs are farm fresh from Dave and Lora Reinhardt.

More important than the ingredients, the atmosphere in the tiny shop is about as charming as it gets. One big communal table draws most comers, and while it isn't on the menu, good conversation is typically on offer. People saunter in and out at a leisurely pace, stopping to say hello to friends and strangers alike. If this is starting to read like ad copy, you'll forgive me. I'm smitten.

Most Hinsdale residents will already be familiar with Sweet Memories, but if you're planning to visit the area during the upcoming holiday and Milk River Days festivities, take advantage of the fact that the Knutsons are staying open July 3-4 (they usually close on Sundays and Mondays). This year marks the couple's fifth as restaurateurs, but there's no time like the present to add another go-to spot to your list of Hi-Line eateries. You won't be disappointed.

Sweet Memories is located at 235 Montana Street in Hinsdale. Regular hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can be reached at 406-364-2128.

 

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