13-ton coffee kiosk lands at South Kalispell Town Pump
JACK UNDERHILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 1 week AGO
KALISPELL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION REPORTER Jack Underhill covers Kalispell city government, housing and transportation for the Daily Inter Lake. His reporting focuses on how local policy decisions affect residents and the rapidly growing Flathead Valley. Underhill has reported on housing challenges, infrastructure issues and regional service providers across Montana. His work also includes accountability reporting on complex community issues and public institutions. Originally from Massachusetts, Underhill graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in Journalism before joining the Inter Lake. In his free time, Underhill enjoys mountain biking around the valley, skiing up on Big Mountain or exploring Glacier National Park. IMPACT: Jack’s work helps residents understand how growth, housing and infrastructure decisions affect the future of their community. | March 17, 2026 12:00 AM
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Town Pump!
Motorists fueling up at the South Kalispell gas station off U.S. 93 on the snowy afternoon of March 13 caught a glimpse of a 13-ton structure resembling a shipping container being hoisted into the air by crane.
The new Stone House Company Coffee kiosk, owned by Town Pump, was built off-site by Russo Modular at its facility in Phoenix, Arizona, shipped via trucks and assembled at its new home in Kalispell.
The 26,000-pound kiosk was hooked to a crane, lifted off the back of the truck and carefully lowered into place so it aligned with the foundation. An air-conditioning unit was then set on top, followed by the 3,000-pound roof, which was fitted neatly into place like a Lego block.
The prefabricated kiosk is the first of its kind for the Montana-based convenience store chain, but more are planned for Bozeman and Bonner.
The increasingly popular off-site building method shaved construction time by about six months, according to Aaron White, manufacturing manager for Russo Modular.
Because the foundation work and the building’s construction could happen in tandem, the overall timeline was much shorter. Manufacturing the kiosk took about 80 days, White said.
“Three months to get the site ready, three months to get the building [ready], we're working hand in hand with the general contractor so that as soon as he was ready, the building arrives,” White said.
The kiosk should be open in a matter of weeks because its interior was also fully constructed off-site.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
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