by Nathan Boddy
A.J. McLean, owner of the Filling Station Grille in downtown Hamilton, is not planning on slowing down. In fact, the restaurateur has plans for changes to the Filling Station that could be coming within the next few months. Nothing radical, he explains, saying that, “I really like the concept of a burger and a milkshake.”
McLean started the Filling Station Grille alongside his mom, Raina Young, 17 years ago in the upstairs location currently filled by Maria’s Restaurant. He explains that it was a little slow at first, but since having taken the corner location at 2nd Street and Main, things have gone “crazy.”
McLean’s mother, Raina, came to the Bitterroot Valley with substantial restaurant experience having worked to establish the Applebees chain throughout New Mexico, as well as being a restaurant owner herself. Consequently, McLean says that he “grew up in the restaurant business” and that he’s been part of it ever since he can remember.
“I just started doing it,” he says. “I was always with my mom and she’s like my best friend. I started off working summers, just helping doing dishes and stuff, but I ended up sticking with it.” McLean still has family in the Albuquerque area, which might explain some of his connection with New Mexico’s ubiquitous number one crop: the Hatch Chili.
“We have to have them freighted in,” says McLean smiling. “None of the food companies provide it, so we literally get them from Hatch, New Mexico.”
Like most service oriented business in the last two years, the Filling Station Grille had to endure a rough patch when dine-in seating came to halt during the onset of the pandemic. McLean says that they made it through on to-go orders and running meals out to people’s cars. Things have picked back up, however, and McLean has plans to recreate the ice cream shop toward the rear of the restaurant with a kid-centric atmosphere, while at the same time introducing a new menu with Mexican food and increased hours of operation. Still a main feature, however, will be the laid back atmosphere that it currently enjoys.
“It seems like a lot of places are going the ‘bar/casino’ route,” says McLean, “and I want to go the opposite direction. I want to be a family place. A place for the kids to come and chill, a place where mom and dad can get something good to eat.”
There can be little doubt that Hamilton, Montana, enjoys a culinary scene that is quite well apportioned considering its relatively small size. McLean sees that fact as a huge benefit, and enjoys the diversity. “I am so lucky to be on 2nd Street with all of my friends’ businesses, like Suzette’s which is literally my favorite restaurant. You can’t beat it, the Thai place is amazing, Bouilla is right down the street, we’ve got 2nd Street Sushi… It’s kind of cool that we’re all clustered together and we all support each other.”
McLean says he’s got a fantastic team that functions more like a group of friends than a workplace, but that the effort they put in is for the customer and requires early mornings and long hours. He hopes that the new changes, including hours and menu, will be up and running before summer gets underway. That’s a lot of work during a period when employees can be hard to find, but McLean is dedicated to making it happen.
“I want it to be how it was when we started: ice cream shop, burgers, milkshakes… that’s exactly what I’m doing now.”
N Perkins says
A.J. and Filling Station has been such a core part of our experience as a family here in Ravalli County. He has always been a source of support and encouragement to my children, and that means a lot to both my husband and me. His establishment goes out of its way to make you feel like family in every way one can think possible. If you want a genuine atmosphere free of facade, where you can be “you”, come to Filling Station.