After having been closed since 2021, Matt’s Place in Butte is back in business, serving the same iconic burgers, fries and shakes as before.
BUTTE, Mont. – Matt’s Place, an iconic burger joint in Butte, has reopened after being closed for the past four years.
The beloved restaurant, located at the corner of Montana and Rowe just off I-90, is under new ownership and back in business as of late October.
The new owners, Daniel Lee and Lyndee Elmer, have brought back the classic burgers, shakes and fries that made Matt’s Place a staple in the community. The drive-in restaurant, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, has been a part of Butte’s dining scene since 1930. It closed in 2021 after the previous owner passed away.
Lee and Elmer, who previously operated a burger tent in Coeur d’Alene, were inspired to purchase Matt’s Place after a visit to the vacant location earlier in 2025.
While in Coeur d’Alene, the couple often served their own take on Matt’s famous Nut Burger, a beef patty topped with a mix of mayonnaise and crushed peanuts.
“It was so popular that we kept it as an off-menu item,” Elmer said. “On our way to see friends in Bozeman, Daniel wanted to stop by [Matt’s Place] and show me its namesake, its inspiration. And we pulled it in, and it was closed down and for sale. That’s when the wheels started turning, and I guess the rest is history.”
Lee and Elmer are committed to keeping Matt’s Place authentic, as most menu ingredients, including buns, beef, and milkshake ice cream, come from Montana.
Ever since Matt’s return, the customer response from both locals and out-of-town visitors has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m starting to see more and more what this place really meant to the community,” Elmer said. “People are coming from all over Montana just to see this place open again, and we hope to make them proud.”
“It’s been really heartwarming to have people come in and be so excited, and be like, ‘I’ve got to bring my dad tomorrow,’ or ‘I’ve got to go tell my mom!'” Lee said. “It really goes Montana-wide, family-wide, and community-wide.”
With Matt’s reopened, the iconic Nut Burger is being served once again, although other selections have been equally popular.
“Deluxe, add bacon,” Elmer said with a laugh when asked about the most-ordered menu item.
“[We’ve served] more milkshakes than we could have ever imagined,” Lee said. “Thank you, everyone… We’re learning how much ice cream to order.”
“Our favorite is the double smash,” Lee continued. “It’s kind of the flagship–meat, cheese, and sauce.”
Matt’s Place currently operates Thursday through Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., though Lee and Elmer are hopeful to expand those hours next summer once they’ve secured more employee staffing.
