About Us

An Old Western General Store

Located at the base of the Rocky Mountain Front in Augusta, Montana you'll find Allen's Manix Store (also known as The Trading Post). Built in 1902, we're an old-time mercantile that offers everything from groceries to hardware,including hunting and fishing supplies, clothing and attire, made-in-Montana items and more. Our slogan is, "If we don't have it, you don't need it." And chances are if we don't have it on the shelf, we can probably find it in our backroom.

While our store was built in 1902 and has been a longtime staple along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front, Allen's Manix Store was purchased by Don Allen and his father Clyde in 1974. Some say it was fate, while we say that Don - who was a rancher, farmer, cattle hauler and wild horse chaser - simply made one of the best decisions of his life when he decided to buy the Manix Store, which he then named Allen's Manix Store.

Don grew up on the bench, a short 7 miles from Augusta on a homestead that is still in the extended family. He fell in love and married the prettiest girl in Fairfield, who he and everyone else affectionately called Lady.  Together, they raised nine kids and were wonderful grandparents to 40+ grandchildren. During Don's cattle-buying days, he said "I use a broom to sort calves, and one day I walked into the store in Augusta and the old fellow who owned this place said, 'Before you walk out of here, I'm going to sell you this store.' I told him I wasn't interested, but he was right, I walked out of here that day owning the place." 

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A few years after Don bought the store, his daughter Susan Allen Ford came home to help for the summer. Well, as fate would again have it, Susie - who is Don and Lady's oldest daughter - took over the day-to-day management of the store in 1976. She has been running the store for the past 46 years and if you ask her, she loves this store like one of her own kids. Her and this old girl (as we like to call the store in the family) have gone through so much together. To our family, the store isn't just a store - it's an important part of our family history and heritage.

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Susan and her husband Steve, who she just so happened to meet when he was delivering Pepsi to the store in the mid-1980s, are the current owners of Allen's Manix Store. If you've tried a famous maple bar, cookie or sandwich, you can thank Papa Steve as he takes great pride in his goodies. Through the years, chances are you've seen one of their five children working beside them, or even a grandchild or two. Want to stay updated on the latest in Augusta? We can help.

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When you come into the store, you're sure to be greeted with a warm smile and if you're one of the lucky ones, a hug. While you're here, our staff and family just might remind you to "Have a happy day."