JW’S Native owned café opens in Ashland, Mont.

ASHLAND, Mont. – For the first time in many years, the small community of Ashland, Mont., located adjacent to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and crossed by Highway 212 has a full-service sit-down cafe – JW’s, owned and operated by Northern Cheyenne tribal member, Jerry Thex.

The establishment, a long-held dream of Jerry’s opened in December, 2025, after months of renovation to the facility. Previous café and bar which had been vacant for several years. Investing his life savings, not relying upon loans, grants or other financing. Thex and some part-time locals had spent months making repairs to pass health inspection and present a pleasing environment to customers. Thex showed this reporter “before” pictures: the ceiling had fallen in, the sewer system had to be replaced, the kitchen rebuilt and equipped, new flooring, floors, walls and so forth. Yet, the interior is quite pleasing, bright and well-lit, kept clean as a penny with comfortable seating and an inviting atmosphere. “Our goal is to make people feel at home,” Thex commented.

The exterior still looks a little rough, but Thex plans to improve that and get more signage before the tourist season. The café will provide a welcome spot for travelers on Hwy 212, the nearest other sit-down locations located in Broadus or Billings.

The menu is simple: burger-based. Thex advertises “the best burger in the world’ including the signature “Big Back Burger,” four ½ pound patties, served on a five-inch bun, all the fixings and a huge pile of home-made French fries served on a pizza tray. Thex chuckled “It is called the Big Back after the nickname my son gave me, because I am a little chubby.” That is a challenge burger: polish off the whole thing and it is free. Otherwise it is $42.00. So far, no one has accomplished that feat as attested by the “Wall of Shame” featuring photos. One large contestant ate all but two bites, honorable mention.

The menu includes breakfast with a wide selection of items, including home-made cinnamon rolls by Andrea, the new cook and JW’s Big Boy Breakfast which comes with stack of 4 pancakes, 4 sausage links, 4 strips of bacon, side of Ham, 4 eggs, and hash browns. Lunch is largely burger and sandwich based while dinner selections include such specialties as Jerry’s well known barbequed ribs and handmade chicken fried steak.

Long time Ashland resident, Dominga Bixby, cook and server at the previous cafes commented “The food it so good; there is plenty of it and the price is right.”

Thex plans to expand and improve the menu by the start of the tourist season. A goal is to incorporate Native foods with a creative bent. “Ever heard of chokecherry BBQ sauce?” he asked. “You will. Getting back to more natural foods, less sugar and grease is important.” In so doing, Thex is following the trail of other Native chefs around the country who promote the same dietary choices.

In March, JW’s will start providing senior home-style meals for the 50 or so elders who live in and near Ashland, through a contract with the State. Due to some tribal bungling, that program has not been provided for many months to the Ashland community, which includes Rabbit Town, one of the five reservation districts. Ashland, itself is considered a reservation border town with a significant Native population. Thex encourages people to volunteer to serve, clean up etc. “All we can offer right now is a free meal,” he smiled, “but some help would come in very handy.”

Thex is personally pleased to currently employ five people including his special friend Andrea Maranan who is relocating to help with the new enterprise and an “all-around” hand: cook, server, dishwasher, accountant and even swamper. “Their income will circulate in the community,” he said. “Depending upon our success, there will be more jobs, essential for a small town.”

Thex has another goal which when attained will be another important contribution to the community. The back features a large room, previously the home of a gaming arcade, pool table and T.V., gathering spot for youth. “When I was a kid, we hustled for quarters to go there and hang out,” Thex recalled. That type of place no longer exists anywhere on the Reservation, so our young people wind up hanging around the streets, all too often getting into trouble. When we can get enough donations or funding for machines and so forth, they will be welcome here, supervised and in a safe environment.”

Finally, Thex has a larger spiritual mission in mind. An active and devout Christian, he prayed about how he could inspire others. Thus, he created t-shirts emblazoned with JW’s on the front. “I received some puzzling inspiration from the Lord,” he reported. “Spread the word without saying a word.”

“How to do that?” he wondered.

He was inspired by scripture: 2 Corinthians, 9. Each of shirts has a different scripture reference on the sleeve – the citation not the verse. “Maybe the shirt wearers will be curious and read the scripture,” Jerry shared. “In life, we all go through trials and test. The question is what to do then. Go to God or the Creator. I hope the t-shirts will encourage that choice.”

Thex who was the Administrator of the Heritage Living Center, Ashland for many years is already learning the demands of being a small business owner. “I work from 12-14 hours every day of the week,” he commented. “You actually do not own a café. It owns you.”

Good luck JW’s. Your new business is a wonderful addition to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. We acknowledge, celebrate and will support another tribal member entrepreneur.

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereview@gmail.com)

The post JW’S Native owned café opens in Ashland, Mont. first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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