Tastee-Freez
and Subsequent Businesses
at 1306 Euclid Ave.


The newspaper archives are rather opaque as to who the original and subsequent Helena Tastee-Freez franchise owners were. Various spellings of the business name (Tastee-Freeze, Tasty Freeze, Tasty Freez, etc.) also make reseraching the business problematic.

Over the years, numerous owners operated the Tastee-Freez franchise, then other eateries at the address. Identifying all these people through newspaper archives and city directories, then establishing an ownership timeline, is difficult. There are therefore gaps in the chronology, and a frustrating lack of photographs.

The building was demolished 2018-2019.

The Tastee-Freez was operated by several families over the years. In 1978, it was purchased by Helena schoolteacher James Phillips (1931-1997), and the name was changed to Jimbo's.

The Helena store opened in 1956, although a 1955 aerial photo shows a building on the site which appears to be the Tastee-Freez.

In 1957, D. A. McKinnon (Donald A. McKinnon 1895-1970) was granted a permit to remodel the glass front of the building. McKinnon was noted as living in Kalispell at the time. He was also a highway engineer, and at one time was Chief Engineer of the Montana Highway Commission. He was later Alaskan Commissioner of Highways in Juneau. If his involvement with the Helena Tastee-Freez went beyond contracting for the 1957 remodeling, it is unknown at this time. He did operate a motel in Kalispell (the Vacationer) from 1956 to 1968.

Corporate Mascots Tee and Eff

 

Mysterious 1958 Roof Fire

The name most associated with the Helena Tastee-Freez until 1959-60 was Willard A. Worley (1903-1975) of Nebraska. In January of 1959, the Tastee Freez was advertised as being for sale due to illness. In 1960, Worley and his wife Neola were back in Nebraska operating a drive-in (Sno-Creme) similar to the Tastee-Freez.

 

I have been unable to discover who Ray was. For some period of time in the 1960s, the Tastee-Freez was operated by Lois Smole Murphy (1920-2012). She may, in fact, have owned the property until her death.

Lois Smole Murphy


COURTESY OF KATHLEEN MCCALL PORTER

 

Illinois native Arthur Galloway passed away on Dec. 19, 1978, at age 75.


Short-lived Tenancy


The drive-in was purchased in July of 1978 by Helena schoolteacher James Phillips (1931-1997), and the name changed to Jimbo's.


 

Ming's Kitchen

Ming's Kitchen closing date was not found. The last newspaper mention of the business as a going concern appeared in the IR in 1999.

The building, still bearing the Ming's Kitchen signage, was demolished 2018-19.


2012

 

Tastee-Freez Site, 2022