Randy M.
Yelp
It's an impressive thing to see honest businesses that can not only survive for more than three decades, but also weather various cultural changes.
Way back in the 80's, Butterfly Herbs was a place that my friends, myself, and most of Missoula's misfits used as a meeting ground, community hall, and daily gathering place. This was at a time, that in an effort to attract new customers, they offered a bottomless cup of coffee for a buck- A godsend for unemployed punks living on the dole. No doubt that while the employees found us amusing (especially when we would bring in our cassette tapes) the owners found us... annoying. But in any case, it was an excellent place for the freaks and misfits of Missoula to congregate, socialize, and generally keep warm while the Montanan winter wore on outside, not to mention installing a chronic case of caffeine shakes.
Since then, not much has changed. The bottomless coffee deal comes and goes. But more importantly, the atmosphere is still just as warm and inviting as the day the business first opened its doors to the public, perhaps even more so.
First and foremost with this establishment is, as the name obviously indicates, the herbs. Two-plus walls are filled with the most commonly used to the extremely rare. The staff is quite knowledgeable in their use and applications. Everything from a simple cup of herbal tea, to battling fatigue at ultra-high elevations and everything in between- they should be able to set you up, or at the very least check their reference books.
As you traverse to the rear of the store, you will encounter the coffee bar. Everything here is what Starbucks was, and still attempts to be. As previously noted, three decades of Missoula's artists, creative types, scenesters, hipsters, malcontents, and misfits have congregated here to eat drink, and exchange thought-wave patterns of all sorts, all at a low price, and always with room for everyone.
So, if you find yourself trapped in Missoula on a cold winter's afternoon (or any time of year, for that matter), stop in. Get yourself a sandwich, a cup of coffee, and let your imagination flow. Strike up a conversation or two. Quite possibly you'll find yourself never wanting to leave.