It seems like Selina Pankovich has had the world placed on her shoulders.

First, she was the owner of the M&M, an iconic Butte bar and restaurant that we all wanted to be like the old days. While the M&M was great in the years after Pankovich bought the landmark in December of 2017, it could never be what it was like back in the days when the doors never locked. 

Then, on May 7, 2021, an early-morning fire brought the M&M to the ground. Only the iconic sign was saved. 

Butte was devastated. Montana Standard editor David McCumber wrote a story titled “Butte’s heart on fire,” calling the blaze a cruel blow. People compared the loss of the 131-year-old building to the loss of a family member, and we all understood.

We all loved the M&M. If ever did a building embody the heart of a community, it was the M&M. In the M&M, we were all equal. It didn’t matter the size of your wallet or influence.

Almost immediately after the fire, the pressure on Pankovich was times by a million. Instead of just making the Butte bar be like it used to be, she was now charged with rebuilding the bar — even if the finances of such a proposal don’t add up.

That is a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of one person. She was asked to replace the irreplaceable as we all bought the T-shirts and hoodies that say “Long live the M&M.”

Pankovich, though, stayed strong in her resolve, and she eventually bought the building next store. Now, the former OMG Mongolian Grill, which is also the former Richards and Rochelle Men’s Store, is now the new M&M.

No, it isn’t the old M&M. Nothing can replace that special place. But the new M&M is really nice. It also has that M&M feel about it. 

Pankovich made something great out of a horrible situation, to say the least. She has plans to do more, but is not quite so sure about those plans.

Listen in to this podcast, which was recorded Monday at the new M&M, to hear how Pankovich got into the bar business in the first place. Listen to hear how she heard about the horrific fire that rocked our community.

Listen to hear how she handled such a tragedy and how she made the best out of such a horrible situation. Listen to hear how she is planning for the future of the new M&M. The old building might be gone, but you can’t take away that M&M spirit.

Stay tuned to the end to hear Chad Okrusch’s great song, “St. Patrick’s Day at the M&M.”

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