Current mix of 15 tenants working well in historic downtown district

A mother and her two daughters are among the latest people to hang shingles in Reeder's Alley.

The quaint downtown district, home to some of the oldest surviving buildings from Helena's earliest days as a mining camp, currently has tenants in all of its 15 available spaces.

Two of the newest are Gayle Agostinelli, a lifelong Helenan who opened Cinnamon Toast, a vintage/home decor shop, and her daughters, Amy Swanson and Mary Gillette, who own Sorella Massage around the corner from mom (Sorella being Italian for sister).

Agostinelli, 52, who's also director of annual giving at Carroll College, said Reeder's Alley is a great spot for her part-time business, which is open regularly on Saturdays and by appoinment during the week.

"I have been dreaming of having my own store since I got out of school, but life happens and all these things get put off," she said. "But I decided there's no time like the present, so here we are."

And despite the limited hours, she said the business has been profitable so far.

Her daughters have been trained and practicing in massage for several years, but only last year decided to go into business together. Swanson, 29, focuses on prenatal massage and is working to become certified as a doula, a woman who assists women during labor and after childbirth. Gillette offers hot stone massage and is getting certified in infant massage, a technique she will then teach to parents.

The sisters say their by-appointment-only business works well in Reeder's Alley.

"We had always talked about doing it together, and right now it works well since we both have families," said Gillette, 25. "We can trade places and share babysitting duties."

Reeder's Alley has for nearly a decade been owned by the state of Montana and managed by the Montana Heritage Commission, which also manages historic Virginia City and Nevada City.

Heritage Commission Director Paul Reichert said the current mix of tenants, including some modest retail along with a handful of professional and nonprofit offices and two restaurants -- Karmadillos Southwestern Cafe and the Caretakers Cabin -- is working well.

"It's kind of free-form, a combination of who's interested in the space and what do we want here," he said. "Our goal is to keep it fully occupied. Certain spaces lend themselves to certain uses, and I try to match people with what works for them. Every space has its own challenges. One is a fully functioning apartment, some are literally closets with no water, no bathroom."

Reichert said a volunteer Elder Hostel group from the University of Montana-Western in Dillon did a number of volunteer improvement projects in Reeder's Alley last summer, including building and repairing decks, painting bricks and improving signage. He's hopeful that a budget bill will emerge from the current legislative session that will include enough funding for more significant structural improvements, like roofing and better drainage.

Agostinelli, who said she had visitors from several states as well as outside the U.S. in the first few months she was open last year, hopes to lure additional vendors to an antique/vintage market planned for the first Saturday of every month from May through September. Lining the area's sidewalks with booths, she said, would be a great way to attract people to Reeder's Alley, and if it's successful, the market could occur more frequently in the future.

Reeder's Alley was built in the 1870s, a decade after the first mining claims were staked on Last Chance Gulch. While it's not a thriving retail mecca, it's nonetheless a popular stop with tourists and other visitors to Helena seeking a glimpse of some of the city's earliest history.

"It's a neat little piece of Helena, and it survived the earthquake, two rounds of urban renewal and some neglect," Reichert said. "It's an interesting story, how it survived all those eras."

Reporter John Harrington: 447-4080 or john.harrington@helenair.com.