Restaurant Rumors and Rumbles in Laurel

We write a lot about food and restaurants in Billings, but today, let's check in with our neighbors just down the road in Laurel. As someone who lives in Laurel and works in Billings, I pay close attention to both, and restaurant developments are underway in Loco-ville.

First, this sad piece of news showed up in my Facebook feed over the weekend; the Cracked Egg announced it will be closing its doors in December. I wrote about the Cracked Egg's 12-egg omelet challenge back in February 2024.

Read More: The Billings Restaurants We’ll Never Stop Missing

The charming breakfast/brunch spot just north of the corner of 1st and Main cited financial struggles in its post, noting they will have reduced days of operation from now until they close permanently sometime after Laurel's Christmas to Remember event on December 7th. If you love the Cracked Egg, get there one more time before they say goodbye.

Activity underway at the shuttered Your Pie in Laurel.

It's only been a few months since the Laurel Your Pie location closed. This one was a bummer for my family, as we would order from them fairly frequently, rotating from Your Pie to Redneck (and occasionally Fowl Play) for our take-out pizza cravings.

I was wrong when I assumed the former Taco John's/Your Pie building would sit empty for a long time... renovation paper is already up on the windows, and a fresh coat of paint has brightened the exterior.

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Yes, I'll miss the pizza, but not gonna lie... I'm super excited to confirm that Mr. Burrito's is taking over the spot. Launched as a food truck in the Gallatin Valley in 2020, this Mexican immigrant-owned company now has several storefronts in the Bozeman area and is expanding its reach with franchise opportunities across the state.

When I called to verify, Mr Burritos said if everything stays on track, they hope to open the new Laurel location in January.

Out with the BBQ and in with Redemption

They say there are three sides to every story, and I'll just leave it at that when it comes to the drama regarding the former Owl Cafe spot on Main Street. The Owl has been closed since 2019. Burnin' the Bone BBQ came in and leased the spot in the summer of 2024.

Long story short, something happened with the lease agreement, and Burnin' the Bone is out. Now, workers are refreshing the building for its next chapter: Redemption Off the Rails. The coming-soon bar, restaurant, and casino is from the same folks who own Redemption Bar in Ballantine.

The Laurel Jersey Mike's is FINALLY opening soon.

The sandwich shop is set to open in "10 DAYS," according to the coming soon sign I spotted out front yesterday. So, November 19th, if my math is mathing. Construction delays kicked the opening date well beyond their mid-summer grand opening timeline. Better late than never, right?

Confirmed: Arby's is coming to Laurel

Construction is well underway on the new Loves Travel Plaza going up at the West Laurel exit, out by Golf Course Road. Most of these truck stops also have a fast-casual restaurant on-site, and this new one is no exception. Company officials confirmed to me that this new location will include an Arby's.