Angie Boehm never expected to own a bakery. Above all, she admits with a laugh, because she can’t eat gluten. Now, however, as she sits in the Wheat Montana’s warm lobby, with the clatter of kitchen utensils and the aromas of coffee and cinnamon in the background, Boehm looks like she’s been doing it her whole life.
Seven months ago, Boehm and her daughter Aren, who had worked behind the counter at Wheat Montana, bought the bakery from its previous owners. Boehm is a registered nurse and took a job at the bakery to learn new skills, never thinking that this would become her whole life. However, when the previous owners agreed to back down and asked Boehm to take over, she said things just worked out. A few months and hundreds of cinnamon rolls later, Boehm is now leading a team of bakers and baristas, connecting with local vendors and serving up a wide range of holiday-themed baked goods and gifts this fall and winter.
Wheat Montana, located in downtown Kalispell, is one of four Wheat Montana independent bakeries that source their grain from the company’s farm in Three Forks. The high quality flour and grain allows Boehm and her bakers to create some of the freshest muffins, cookies and cinnamon rolls, the bakery’s most popular product.
The bakery offers six styles of cinnamon rolls each day, which this holiday season includes a rotating “baker’s selection” of caramel apple, cranberry orange, and pumpkin cream cheese. So that surplus baked goods are not wasted, this fall Böhm and her employees are also offering bread pudding made from leftover cinnamon rolls.
Beyond the sweet, Wheat Montana is a fully operational deli serving soups, salads, and sandwiches made from fresh bread. As a tribute to Thanksgiving, the team at Wheat Montana offers a special turkey and cranberry melt, complete with provolone cheese, red onions and cranberry sauce, served over sourdough. Also on the menu is a turkey and pesto sandwich made with non-dairy pesto, a nod to Boehm’s non-dairy daughter.
One of her favorite parts of owning the bakery was the connection to local businesses, many of whom now sell their products at Wheat Montana’s gift shop, Boehm said. The bakery’s shelves are stocked with jams and jellies from Huckleberry Haven, kombucha from Dark Side Fermenters, candles from Farmhouse Candle Company and honey from Halle’s Honey, among other local and regional specialties. Boehm said she looks forward to giving people the opportunity to do some holiday shopping while supporting businesses in and around Flathead.
As the snow continues to fall and Christmas lights decorate the valley, Angie and Aren, along with their team at Wheat Montana, will continue to prepare seasonal baked goods and serve breakfast and lunch at their Main Street shop. Wheat Montana is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.