Cornerstone Family and their Restaurant

   

Last month, I sat for lunch at the Cornerstone Family Restaurant prior to a Central Montana Regional Water Authority meeting. I heard rave reviews on Greg Muller’s hamburgers. So, I had to pass on the compliments when Muller and I got together for an after-work hours newspaper interview. Greg took the compliments in stride, saying, “I only burnt three that day.”     Greg is the head cook at the restaurant and performs that duty practically every day of the week. Even when he takes a day off, he usually ends up getting involved in some project in the kitchen or on building repair. Once in a while, he sneaks away to go fishing and/or kayaking.     That’s what he was up to the other day when I tried to catch him for a “family photo” to go with interviews which were done many days previously. But, Greg was driving down the alley in his jeep to spend time on the river and the Muller children were still in bed after a hectic 4th of July weekend. So, we postponed the photo session for a couple days which also gave me time to review this article.     The Muller family purchased the Cornerstone and moved to Harlowton on December 26, 2000, taking over the business from the previous owners. But, they had to close down within a year because of high electric bills, the drought, the reopening of the Graves and presence of a number of other cafes nearby, and the fallout from 9/11.            Both Greg and Denise worked at the school during the restaurant’s closure. They both found one big consolation in that time. It helped them to become even more a part of the community. “We like it here. There are a lot of good people here.”     Greg also worked for a while in the meat department at the grocery store. Later, he relocated for several months driving a logging truck to earn enough money to reopen the Cornerstone and pay off bills. The Mullers restarted the restaurant in March and have been working hard to make the second run of the Cornerstone successful.     The “new” Cornerstone Family Restaurant relies largely on the talents and skills of Greg and Denise Muller who grew up in Billings. The Mullers were Billings West High School sweethearts and married shortly after graduation. Denise spent most of her time and energy in the early years raising their family of three and doing in-home day care. She also was a personal care attendant, for a time.     After graduation from Billings West High, Greg was store supervisor for Rent-A-Flick and store manager at Aladdin’s Castle in Rimrock Mall where he honed his knowledge of electronics. Muller moved on to selling cars with three different dealerships including Midland Dodge and Selover Honda. But, he eventually decided, “I’m tired of working all these hours. It’s time to punch a time clock again.”     So, Greg went back to welding and fabricating aluminum with Beall Trailer for 5 years. (Greg started to learn welding - sticking pieces of metal together - from the age of 10. His father was a machinist for 40 years at Billings Machine and Welding.) “I wanted to learn a trade that I could do anywhere in the world. So, that I could travel the seven seas.” Greg has sailed only once on Puget Sound, but still dreams of being near the oceans and sailing them as well. Ah, some day!     Eventually, Greg and Denise purchased a custom-designed catering coach which featured a steam table, a display oven a 9-gallon coffee urn. Greg traveled a circuit of stops at 17 industrial sites each weekday morning for two years. He sold everything from biscuits and gravy to turkey dinners. Denise handled much of the prep work for the moving mess hall.     In the same time period, Denise opened and ran a commercial janitorial business for three years. Greg somehow found time to start Muller’s Driver Service, doing commercial truck driving for a variety of Billings companies.     But, being on the road so much caused Greg and Denise to look again. They decided, “We need a family-owned business.” Having sold their catering firm, “We started to go through food withdrawal and went looking for a small town restaurant. We found the Cornerstone Family Restaurant.”     “Family” has become a key part of their business in Harlowton. The Mullers employ six people outside the family to run the restaurant. “We treat our help like family - sometimes maybe even better. And, they treat us the same way as well. They take a lot of pride in their work. We are very pleased with our employees.        “It’s nice to be able to employ people in a small community like this. Even though it can be a tough go here, every little bit helps.”     Daughters Angela and Autumn help out by waiting tables. Son Austin started out washing dishes. He thought it would be a great job. But, that didn’t last. Now, he helps out by making pizzas which are a popular item at the restaurant. In a typical month, the Cornerstone sells 200 pizzas.     The Mullers pride themselves in food quality as well as family style service, starting with quality ingredients so they can make a quality product. Pizzas, homemade soups, great hamburgers, and choice meats highlight their menu.     “We are doing well. We are satisfied with the business since we reopened in March. We want to continue providing a good service as a family business serving family customers.”     But, running a restaurant is not just cooking and serving food. There is a host of equipment to maintain and care for, especially the refrigerators and freezers. Jimbo Fisk takes up the slack when Greg can’t fix things. Then, there is the roof . . .     While Greg is almost always at the restaurant, Denise takes care of a huge part of the business needs. She does all the cleaning, schedules the waitresses for work, and handles bills except for payroll.     Denise also works once or twice a week as a CNA at the nursing home. She says. “I absolutely love working at the hospital. That’s my hobby.” Greg goes to the river, Denise travels to Wheatland Memorial.     Denise adds, “Friends and relationships with people is what life is all about. I have made a lot of friends here. I’m really pleased how things are going. I’m the optimistic one in the family.”     Bring your family to the Cornerstone. The Muller family will take good care of yours.