This businessman built his empire when Whitefish was still young, but you've probably never heard of him!
This is the story of a hustler. Not a hustler in the sense of stealing, lying, and conniving. No, this is the story of the American dream. This Stumptown Stories newsletter is about one of the first businessmen in Whitefish. He started with nothing and worked his way into being a local legend. This is the story of Mokutaro M. Hori.
M.M. Hori's story is one of grit, determination, and business acumen. As you'll read below, Hori started out working for the Conrads at their mansion in Kalispell. He struck a deal with Mrs. Conrad to run the house help for her. She would pay him and, in turn, he would find, train, and coordinate all the house help.
Soon afterward, Hori had the Conrad house buzzing with workers. Hori, a Japanese immigrant, recruited other Japanese immigrants to work the house. The Conrads were pleased with the quality of Hori's work until they started hearing the Whitefish rumors.
Mrs. Conrad was worried when she heard Hori was buying land and businesses in Whitefish. She could not figure out how he was getting the money! The amount she paid him to run the house was insufficient to pay all the help and buy land and businesses in Whitefish. She confronted him and heard a wild tale.
Hori was a brilliant man! He knew countless smart men in Japan who hoped to come to the United States to work and study at a top university. So these men paid Hori for the honor of a job in the USA so they could learn English and pursue their dreams. Hori was making money on both sides! This business acumen carried Hori to a business empire in Whitefish, which we are here to tell you all about.
In the interest of full historical accuracy, there are some early source disagreements about how Hori got his start in business. Some sources recount the story above while some state that the Conrads gave him the money to buy the land in Whitefish.
An Empire Starts with Humble Beginnings
Hori’s journey in America began humbly but ambitiously. Arriving in Montana in 1898, he found work with Charles and Lettie Conrad in Kalispell, serving as a houseboy at their grand mansion. This job provided him a salary and a foundation for his business acumen. Soon, Hori devised a bold plan: he approached Mrs. Conrad with an offer to supply skilled Japanese workers for her household. He recruited young Japanese men from his homeland, providing them with room and board through the Conrads while covering their salaries himself.
This arrangement benefited everyone. The Conrads gained efficient, well-trained help, while the workers earned wages and cultural immersion. The Japanese-style garden the workers built on the Conrad property became a showpiece, admired by guests and locals alike.
Hori also used the profits from his arrangement to begin purchasing land near Whitefish. His investments grew steadily, and by the time he ended his association with the Conrads, he had established himself as a budding entrepreneur with his sights set on larger ventures.
Starting Small: the Hori Cafe
Hori’s café, established in 1907, became a cornerstone of Whitefish’s social and culinary life. Originally known as the Model Café, Hori purchased it from Chin Sing for an undisclosed sum. His renovations transformed it into a welcoming space where locals and travelers could enjoy affordable meals. Pictured above, a collection of kids, adults, and one dog pose outside the Hori Cafe. The banner above the door bears the name of the cafe before Hori bought it in 1907, the Model Cafe. In the next photo, waitresses stand behind the counter inside the Hori Cafe. This photo shows the counter side of the Cafe, where meals were cheaper.
In 1915, Hori upgraded the café’s interior, adding mirrored walls and marble tabletops to the dining room. Meals cost just 25¢ at the counter and 35¢ in the dining area, making it both affordable and elegant. Hori also enhanced the café’s atmosphere by investing $200 in local artwork, which adorned the walls and provided a cultural touchstone for patrons.
By the 1920s, the café’s success had expanded to include a bakery, supplying bread to nearby towns. Hori’s dedication to quality and community spirit ensured that the café remained a beloved institution until it was sold in 1942 during a period of financial difficulty.
Hori Expands: Farm, Ranch, Heifers, Hogs, and More
Roots in Agriculture
In 1911, Hori purchased 120 acres of prime farmland for $2,400, a bold investment that laid the foundation for his vegetable empire. Over the years, his farm became a model of efficiency and innovation, producing prize-winning crops like celery, potatoes, and carrots. By the mid-1920s, Hori was shipping over 1,000 sacks of potatoes annually to Seattle and Portland, using the burgeoning rail lines to connect Whitefish to larger markets.
Pictured above is Hori's renowned barn where he stored his livestock and crops. It was three stories high and described as one of the largest in the county at the time. The barn's basement was used for storing tons of vegetables, the second floor housed horses, and the third floor served as a hay mow with a storage capacity of 45 tons. His first barn burned down on 2/3/1931 and he built a larger, second barn later that year.
In 1927, his celery took first prize at the county fair, and his farm drew visitors eager to learn from his methods. Hori’s forward-thinking techniques included crop rotation and advanced irrigation, increasing yield and preserving soil health. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Early frosts, like the devastating freeze in September 1926, wiped out much of his produce. Yet Hori persevered, rebuilding his losses and continuing to supply vegetables to train dining cars.
In one humorous incident in 1927, thieves broke into his storage and made off with celery and sauerkraut, leading Hori to joke, “At least they had good taste!”.
The Place to Stay: The Hori Hotel
Hori’s ambitions extended beyond the fields. In September 1919, the Hori Hotel opened its doors with a grand banquet attended by over 100 guests. At the time, the hotel boasted 20 guest rooms, modern plumbing, and a dining room that became a focal point for local gatherings. The initial construction cost was substantial, but Hori’s vision paid off as the hotel quickly gained popularity among travelers and locals alike.
The hotel’s success wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was also about innovation. In 1919, Hori installed a coal-powered heating system that also warmed the nearby drugstore, demonstrating his commitment to modern comforts. Over the years, the hotel hosted countless events, from community banquets to social club meetings, solidifying its place in Whitefish’s social fabric.
In 1930, Hori found himself at the wrong end of a gun when a would-be thief decided to rob him at his hotel. The masked bandit made off with $200—a small fortune in those days—but Hori wasn’t one to let a little armed robbery dampen his spirits. True to form, Hori was back to work the very next day, proving once again that nothing, not even a stick-up, could slow him down.
The Hori Hotel, once a bustling hub of hospitality on Central Avenue, underwent a transformation in 1944 when it was rebranded as "The Palm." After years of being a cornerstone of Whitefish's social and business scene, the hotel was sold and adapted to fit a new vision. While the name changed, the building retained much of its charm and continued to serve the community. The Palm carried forward the legacy of a place where locals and visitors alike could find warmth, good food, and connection.
Overcoming Adversity
Hori’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. Fires, robberies, and health scares tested his resolve. In 1931, his barn was destroyed in a fire, resulting in losses exceeding $3,000. Undeterred, Hori rebuilt it that same year, incorporating fire-resistant materials and adding capacity to support his growing operations. Health scares, like an appendectomy in 1928, briefly slowed him down but never dampened his spirit.
The Hori Family: A Legacy of Resilience and Generosity
In 1915, M.M. Hori took a trip to Seattle and rumors spread through Whitefish that he would return with a wife! A few days later, townspeople were disappointed to see him step off the train alone. A few months later, however, he would return to Whitefish with his new wife, Aya Hayashi. Their marriage marked the start of a dynamic partnership that would define their legacy.
Aya, born in Tokyo in 1882, was a force of her own. After arriving in the U.S. in 1911, she worked alongside Hori to manage their ranch and farm, the Hori Café, and the iconic Hori Hotel after his passing in 1931.
The couple’s decision to “adopt” two sons—Toshio and “Ike” Hori—under the Japanese tradition of “Yoshi” showcased their commitment to family and legacy. Toshio, born in 1920 in Tacoma, Washington, carried the Hori name with pride, managing parts of the family farm and later moving to their downtown apartment in the Hori. Ike, a natural athlete and charismatic figure, lived with the Horis during his high school years before moving to New York in 1926.
The family’s contributions weren’t limited to business. The Horis were known for their philanthropy and cultural leadership. Aya’s hosting of a Japanese tea ceremony in 1939 brought together 50 women, showcasing both cultural heritage and community spirit. M.M. Hori also actively worked to build the community and honor his heritage by bringing in Japanese wrestlers, fireworks, and cherry trees. He imported and planted over 50 Japanese cherry trees, which may still be blossoming in some hidden corner off Armory Road.
Overwhelming Impact and Lasting Memories
When Hori passed away in November 1931, his funeral was attended by over 200 residents—a testament to the lives he touched. His will reflected his dedication to Whitefish, allocating funds for public parks and educational initiatives.
Pictured above, the entire town of Whitefish and many people from across the valley came to Hori's funeral. You might recognize this building as it still stands in the same spot today. It's the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street.
Today, the name Hori evokes not just the memory of a man but the enduring values of resilience, generosity, and innovation. Whether you’re enjoying a train ride with fresh local produce or walking through one of the city parks he helped create, Hori’s legacy is all around us.
The Hori legacy lives on today. If you walk into City Hall, you'll find a plack honoring him for the land he donated to the City. In 2010, he was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. Placks commemorating his businesses are also part of the historical walking tour of Whitefish. And if you would like to see a few pieces from his life, stop by the museum to see his hat, photos, and memorabilia from the hotel and cafe.
Thank you for reading this month’s Stumptown Stories, which honors Hori’s remarkable life and contributions to Whitefish. If you have memories or photos of Hori’s businesses or family, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at info@stumptownhistoricalsociety.org.
-The team at the Stumptown Historical Society