Anyone want to buy a bowling alley? Nucleus Avenue has several properties for sale, some are already under contract
CHRIS PETERSON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
Chris Peterson is the editor of the Hungry Horse News. He covers Columbia Falls, the Canyon, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. All told, about 4 million acres of the best parts of the planet. He can be reached at [email protected] or 406-892-2151. | April 8, 2026 7:10 AM
There’s been a surge of commercial real estate available on Nucleus Avenue in the past few months, with several properties listed and contracts in the works for at least a couple.
From a sheer size standpoint, the Glacier Lanes Bowling alley is for sale with a list price of $900,000 for the 7,600 square foot building built in 1961 adjacent to Smith’s Foods and Drugs. It is listed by SVN Pure West.
Another SVN listing is the former North Valley Hospital Community Building, which was absorbed by Logan Health when the two entities merged years ago. (Old timers may recall it was once a furniture store). It is listed at $700,000 for the 12,000-plus square foot building and is currently under contract.
Listing agents for both of those properties did not return calls seeking further information.
Further north of Nucleus Avenue the Rupp family has a former daycare (now a rental home) for sale for $500,000. It is on three lots and has dual zoning, the Rupps said.
Farther north the Circle Plaza was recently listed.
Agent Brian Nicodemus of Remax Mountain Real Estate said it was listed at $875,000 and is already under contract. It’s on eight lots with 10 units.
Down at the south end of Nucleus Avenue Tony Gress has the former Farmers Insurance building up for sale. It has six city lots, two buildings and a list price $825,000. Gress said he decided to retire from the insurance business after a long career. Adjacent to him is Todd Schleusner’s property, which is currently not listed at this time, though the sign is still up. Schleusner said it was listed for $799,950.
Another listing that has gone off the market is Mick Ruis’s Monaco Restaurant at the corner of Nucleus and Sixth Street. He has decided to not sell the property at this time, according to agent Brittney Buckallew of America’s First Choice Realty.
Nucleus could become more attractive to real estate developers in the coming months. The city is working on an updated land use plan and within that plan is a “downtown” designation, which calls for commercial development on the main floor and residential development on the upper floors.
Changes in state law now allow for buildings to be as high as six stories, which has raised concerns from some city planning commission members as they begin to examine the plan.
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