The Stray Bullet Owner Leigh Ann Valiton looks forward to continuing the tradition she has helped create since 2010.
The Stray Bullet is located in downtown Ovando across the street from the Blackfoot Commercial Company, also owned by Leigh Ann Valiton and her husband Fred.
OVANDO – Leigh Ann Valiton is happy to welcome customers into the Stray Bullet Cafe in Ovando. While she has been a familiar face behind the counter since 2010, Valiton now owns the cafe after purchasing it from Colleen Stone Jan. 1. She looks forward to offering the same great service and food so people can enjoy their time in Ovando.
Jessica Geary remembered starting the idea for The Stray Bullet in 2002 in the back room of the Ovando store when her parents Howie and Peggy Fly owned it.
"I like to see Ovando with little thriving businesses in it," Geary said. "Every town needs a cafe."
Since the idea was popular, she and her dad obtained the current Stray Bullet location and began remodeling.
"When we were stripping off old wall paper we found the bullet stuck in the wall," said Geary. The name stuck.
Geary, Maryann Knight, Nancy Frey and Peggy Fly opened The Stray Bullet cafe in the summer of 2003.
Stone purchased the business in 2010. Valiton helped out at the Stray Bullet, even helped plan the first menu. She worked part-time while teaching at Ovando School and working at the Blackfoot Commercial Company which she and her husband Fred bought in 2016.
Valiton began her work in the food service industry at age 14. She has been involved ever since and always hoped to own her own restaurant.
"You feed people and you make people happy," she said.
She believes having the restaurant ties in well with the Blackfoot Commercial Company and their Bed and Breakfast. It helps them easily meet their clients' needs for meals.
Valiton said she wants to maintain the positive reputation of The Stray Bullet. She will continue to offer the take-home casseroles. "I want people to be happy with the food and enjoy coming here and having a good time," she said.
In addition to focusing on the restaurant, Valiton looks forward to adding catering. She has already catered events as far away as Frenchtown.
Valiton also hopes to work together with the other restaurants in the area, being there for each other in times of need and sharing resources and equipment as needed.
"I really want to see a cooperative spirit between Trixies in Ovando and the Copper Queen in Helmville," she said. "We all offer a different atmosphere and menu and can serve everyone together."
While rising food prices and finding summer help is challenging, Valiton's favorite part of owning the restaurant is meeting the different people who come through the door each season.
She said, "From a snowmobile stop, a winter destination for lunch with friends, the summer onslaught and the fall hunting crowd, it's fun to see everyone come and enjoy their meal and the restaurant."
The Stray Bullet's daily specials are posted on The Stray Bullet Facebook page. Valiton also plans on hosting wine tastings at The Stray Bullet in collaboration with Trixie's, who will supply the hors d'oeuvres. Dates and times will be posted on The Stray Bullet's Facebook page.
The Stray Bullet is open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday until Memorial Day Weekend. After Memorial Day it will be open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., seven days a week. For more information call 406-793-4030 or visit The Stray Bullet on Facebook.
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