Columbia Falls’ newest restaurant will feature a couple of tried-and-true favorites — frozen yogurt and gourmet hot dogs.

Wild Jo’s Frozen Treats & Hot Dogs is on track to open by Labor Day along U.S. 2, directly across the street from the new Cedar Creek Lodge.

The business is owned by Shannon and Tracy Click of West Glacier. Tracy most recently was the clerk at West Glacier Elementary School for eight years. Shannon owns and operates Click Grading & Excavating. They’ve lived in the Flathead Valley since 1997 and operated Glacier Wilderness Resort at Nyack Flats for 10 years before moving to West Glacier.

The Clicks decided to open a restaurant to carry on a family business that began years ago when Tracy and her two sisters were inspired by a favorite frozen yogurt shop in their home state of North Carolina. Her sisters — each of their middle names is Jo — started their own Wild Jo’s Frozen Yogurt shops, one in Wyoming and one in Oklahoma.

“They’d been after me to open one,” Tracy said.

The Clicks saw the lot for sale where the former Black Bear Pawn Shop once was located and decided it was the perfect spot for their restaurant. The site is three city lots and includes space for parking behind the restaurant. The sloped site required the removal of more than 4,000 yards of gravel and topsoil to create the parking lot.

In addition to frozen yogurt, Wild Jo’s will offer ice cream, gelato, sorbet and Italian ice. Customers also can custom-blend their own thick milkshakes.

The menu will feature hot dogs locally made by Perfect Cuts. A classic Chicago Dog is topped with a pickle spear, tomatoes, relish, onions, sport peppers and celery salt. The Carolina Dog features chili, coleslaw and nacho cheese. A pulled pork sandwich is also on the menu.

The Clicks added the hot dog line to generate customers year-round. Espresso coffee drinks also will be sold.

Shannon said they wanted a bright and clean feeling for customers. To accomplish that, the walls are painted bright pink and green, offset by black-and-white checkered flooring.

“A clean, happy environment is the look we were going for,” he said.

With heavy tourist traffic on U.S. 2 during the summer months, a new hotel across the street and the Columbia Falls Community Market directly to the east, the Clicks feel their restaurant is strategically located for success.

“The city of Columbia Falls has been fantastic to work with,” Shannon said, noting that John King at Three Rivers Bank also has gone the distance to support the new venture.

Wild Jo’s will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week through the fall and winter hours, and will extend hours during the summer season. Call 897-5060. 

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.