|
August | 2026 The smoke has settled over Red Lodge this week, and if we're honest, it feels a little like our hearts—trying to see clearly through something we didn't expect. When Mike and I opened One Legged Magpie five years ago, we hoped to create more than a restaurant. We wanted to contribute something meaningful to this community while also creating a workplace where hospitality extended to the people behind the scenes just as much as it did to the guests gathered around our tables. We knew the restaurant business would be hard. We expected the rhythm of it—the relentless pace of summer, the long, demanding days, and the quieter winters when we hold our breath, hoping another busy season will carry us through. That has always been part of the journey. What we didn't fully understand was how often people come into our lives for only a season. Restaurants have a way of becoming crossroads. People arrive carrying stories we may never know, and eventually many continue on to wherever life is calling them next. We don't know what someone has walked through before they come to us, or what they're walking toward when they leave. Unexpected departures are difficult—for us, for our team, and for our guests—but we've also learned that everyone is carrying burdens we cannot see. We've always believed it's important to protect people's stories. In a town as small as Red Lodge, narratives can grow and change as they're passed from one conversation to the next. We'd rather choose compassion than speculation. We hope you'll choose that with us. As we navigate this sudden & unexpected season without a chef, our incredible kitchen team has stepped up in extraordinary ways. They're working incredibly hard to keep delivering the experience we've always wanted for our guests, and they're doing it because they care deeply about this place and the people we serve. We couldn't be more grateful for each of them. To everyone who has stopped us on the street, tilted their head with concern, sent a message, or simply reminded us that you're cheering us on—thank you. Your kindness has carried us more than you know. The future has a way of unfolding one chapter at a time. But for now, the lights are on, the ovens are warm, cocktails are being shaken, and we're grateful for every evening we get to share with this community.
Thank you for being a part of our story. xo,
Kat (and Mike)
|
