Brady's Cafe and Fountain
Candy Kitchen and Tea Room
8 North Main, by the Harvey Hotel

 

Wisconsin native Joseph F. Brady (1875-1957) opened the Helena Candy Kitchen at 16 South Main sometime before 1918. According to Brady's newspaper obituary (see below), that location was destroyed by fire in 1926. He moved north on Main to a space by the Harvey Hotel, at 8 North Main. Brady sold out and retired in 1945.

Brady's in 1927

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Brady's Interior, July 21, 1927. Photos by Les Jorud, courtesy of the Montana Memory Project. p0005130.

 

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Montana Memory Project.p0005129

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Montana Memory Project. 037 CB B04 F14 E01.3

 

The Brady's building and the Harvey Hotel were damaged by fire in July of 1929. The space was repaired, and Brady reopened. The 1939 newspaper photo below shows some of the post-fire changes that were made, including decorative Art Deco motifs on the walls.

 

Brady's in 1939

COURTESY OF AL BALLARD • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Location of Brady's

Brady's occupied a wedge-shaped one-story building on the south side of the Harvey Hotel.

Exterior of Brady's and the Harvey, 1930s

 

 

Joseph Brady actually outlived Helena native Maurice Bahnsen, who operated Brady's for two years before returning to previous business interests on the west coast. Bahnsen became ill in 1950 and returned to Helena, where he died on May 17, 1951 at the age of 47. 8 North Main was subsequently home to Hudson's Upholstery, 1953-1964, and housed a laudromat when the building was heavily damaged by fire in 1967.

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