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05/11/2026
Couple set to open Asian food market on Sixth Avenue
In downtown Helena, a small white sign that reads “A-MART” in red letters above a storefront on Sixth Avenue has popped up in recent weeks. The subtle indication of a new business has had some Helenans, including me, curious about what A-MART is, so last week I stopped by to ask.
A-MART is a new food market, open Fridays and on weekends from 10 a.m. to midnight, a feature that almost all other shops in downtown, besides local bars, don’t have. Along with its uncommon hours, the products it plans to sell are equally, if not more, unique to the Capital City, according to co-owners and partners Carlton Colby and Emma Fine.
“ We’re focusing on Southeast Asian and East Asian food at the moment,” Fine said during my visit.
The store will carry regional pantry and grocery items, including sauces, noodles, pastes and other ingredients, as well as bao, gochujang, gochugaru, black vinegar and more.
“ To break it down, we’ll probably have, like, 60% staple groceries, 20% convenience items and 20% drinks and snacks,” Colby said.
The couple, who have lived in Helena for four years, wanted a local spot that offers these ingredients and commodities that wouldn’t be as readily available elsewhere. They said that A-MART will fulfill a need they see in Helena: a convenient one-stop shop downtown that stays open late.
“ When we started really thinking about A-MART, we’re like, we want it to be smaller,” Colby said. “We want it to be convenient so that we can have it sort of packed full of stuff, and open late and walkable and accessible.”
The pair said they had grown tired of making their own trips to Salt Lake City, Seattle and other large cities for food options, noting that the cost has become quite high.
But why choose these foods to sell?
Fine grew up around the world, including in the U.S., France, Thailand and Japan, and referred to themself as a “third culture kid.” Both of them share an appreciation for cooking and the food they once easily had access to.
“ Honestly, it’s just stuff that we would buy ourselves,” Fine said.
They plan to sell items they have experience cooking with and eating, but said they encourage people who may be new to the market’s products to learn for themselves.
Colby said they are excited to implement QR codes that customers can scan to access additional information about food items. The market will also have a request list for customers to add to if the market doesn’t have what they’re looking for.
“Letting people be able to do a little bit of that curiosity and have that coming from their own place of appreciation, I think, kind of solves any issues with anyone not knowing what’s going on in here,” Colby said.
While Helenan’s curiosity about A-MART has grown leading up to the opening, the owners said they haven’t received any criticism but have had to deal with an online comment that used a racial slur to describe the market. They are aware of the general ignorance surrounding Asian food and culture and hope to address it as it comes up.
“ If we encounter anything like that going forward, I think there’s gonna be a zero tolerance or an effort to make sure that people are properly understanding what the appropriate terms are for referring to specific cultures, what country something is actually coming from,” Colby said.
For Colby and Fine, their business is meant to be food-first, with opportunities for locals to try something new.
“ I think the main thing is, it’s meant to be a convenience store and a grocery store, and it’s meant to get staples here that are just hard to get, so people can enjoy food,” Fine said.
“ We’re lucky to be a part of the downtown community,” Colby added. “We’re hoping to make it a lot more bumpin’ in terms of late night with that. So hopefully that will be the case.”
A-MART plans to open Friday, May 15, at 111 E. Sixth Ave.
Your Two Cents
In our last issue of HTW, I asked readers to share their thoughts about the possibility of roundabouts in our city. The inquiry came about from the city’s plan to apply for a federal grant that would, for the most part, fund a roundabout downtown and at Custer Avenue and Henderson Street.
Additionally, the roundabout design to replace the downtown intersection, also called mini-malfunction junction off of Last Chance Gulch, has been the topic of a back-and-forth debate among city commissioners.
We received 13 reader responses, and the results were close, with a few preferring one location over the other for a roundabout.
“I think mini-malfunction junction (and mega-malfunction junction for that matter) are perfect candidates for roundabouts,” HTW reader Brandt Seitz wrote. “Do I think every intersection should be a roundabout? No. But I do think roundabouts are a very good solution for weird, confusing, and complex intersections.”
Reader Becky Piske told MTFP that the city has other traffic needs that the funds could go towards and that the current stop signs at the mini-malfunction junction work well.
“Currently and probably for the next several years, the stop sign at the downtown malfunction junction is working beautifully,” Piske wrote. “The vehicle drivers must look in ALL directions before they roll. Pedestrians come from all different directions.”
Reader Colleen Murphy was split.
“I am all in favor of a roundabout on Henderson near the Fairgrounds,” Murphy said. “I think it will create an efficient traffic flow that is much needed after waiting for a lengthy time to enter the Fairgrounds from Henderson myself recently. I am not in favor of a roundabout for the mini-malfunction junction due to the multiple streets entering and several being two lanes.”
The commission earlier gave city staff the go-ahead to move forward with the grant application.
5 Things to Know in Helena
An effort to restore the city’s rescinded immigration resolution has failed for the third time in recent weeks. Commissioner Melinda Reed sought consensus from her counterparts during a meeting last Monday. Reed, who has tried to bring the topic back before the commission, needs at least two other commission members to agree, but has not succeeded. Mayor Emiy Dean and Commissioners Ben Rigby and Sean Logan all stated their firm stance against reviving the resolution, citing budgetary costs and legal issues. Last week, Commissioner Julia Gustafson joined the majority and said that she would not support bringing the resolution back. The original resolution would have, among other things, limited city police from assisting federal immigration officers.
The city and the Helena Chamber of Commerce have launched the Spirit of Helena Award to honor individuals who “exemplify the values, character and community spirit that make Helena exceptional,” according to City Manager Alana Lake. People can nominate residents for the monthly award on the city website.
The city commission approved two bids to add ADA curb ramps and replace a storm sewer. The city awarded a $500,000 contract to Homestead Handy to construct 18 ADA ramps in the 6th Ward neighborhood. Separately, the city awarded Montana Materials and Construction a $212,369 contract to replace a stormwater and sewer system on Broadway Street near Jefferson Elementary.
Additionally, the city opened its annual sidewalk improvement loan program last week, with $500,000 available for property owners to apply for to help fund the replacement of missing or damaged sidewalks. The program is intended to keep installation costs low by combining all projects into one construction bid that residents can pay off within 10 years.
Last week, a group of bikers drove through Helena to honor a man who died after being injured in a motorcycle accident April 30 at the intersection of Rodney Street and Lyndale Avenue, according to an IR article. The 19-year-old, Darrin “Deke” Yoder, had his organs donated last Monday, and about 30 bikers revved their engines outside St. Peter’s Hospital to pay their respects.
In Case You Missed It
MTFP’s local team reported on the outcome of several of the state’s larger public school districts’ proposed levies that went before voters last Tuesday. While the results of those votes were mixed, Helenans firmly rejected all three proposed levies that totaled about $3.4 million.
The Helena School District had asked voters to support an operational levy for its elementary and middle schools and two technology levies for the elementary, middle and high schools.
The elementary operational levy failed with 9,177 “no” votes and 6,854 “yes” votes. The high school technology levy received 10,159 “no” votes and 6,829 “yes” votes, and the elementary technology levy was rejected with 9,662 “no” votes and 6,386 “yes” votes.
The election marks the third failed attempt from Helena Public Schools in the last two years to raise money to support its technology infrastructure and the elementary general fund.
Public Notice
The city of Helena will host another community listening session Friday, May 15, at noon, at the Memorial Park bandshell. The discussion led by parks and recreation staff will focus on city parks and open lands.
Might Be Fun
The Montana Book Company will host a discussion about “Buffalo Lessons,” which follows the reintroduction of bison into Banff National Park, Monday, May 11, at 6 p.m. The event will include the wife of the book’s late author, Karsten Heuer, as well as filmmaker Leanne Allison and Corrie Williamson of the American Prairie Foundation. Those interested in attending must register with the bookstore.
A pop-up shop featuring artist Florian Trout will be at Blackfoot River Brewing Company, 66 S. Park Ave., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday May 11. The pop-up will include original paintings, prints and fishing flies.
