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California Entrepreneurs with Montana Tech ties buy Butte building and will move company.

Two young, California-based entrepreneurs have plans for the Uptown’s Imperial Block, 78-82 E. Park St. in Uptown Butte.

Max Detjens, 27, recently acquired the property and said he plans to move to Butte and take up residence in the building sometime after the holidays.

By Paula McGarvey for The Montana Standard

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/11/21/featuresbusiness/hjjfiihijjicia.txt

"I purchased the building and I’m going to be transferring it into the hands of Silverbow Properties, LLC,” said Detjens in a recent telephone interview from his Walnut Creek, Calif., home. "This is really part of a larger plan,” Detjens said.

Silverbow Properties LLC is a joint venture formed between Detjens and his childhood friend, Robert Edwards, 26, of Livermore, Calif. The two met while attending junior high school in Livermore more than a decade ago.

In addition to Silverbow Properties, Detjens owns a California-based Web design service and an e-commerce consultation company known as MikeAbleXray. The company was recently renamed Silverbow Software, LLC http://www.silverbowsoftware.com in anticipation of Detjens’ upcoming move to Butte. Detjens said he will continue to offer services to assist businesses looking build or expand their online services under the new, Montana name.

Edwards is also the owner of Blue Glass Enterprises, which owns and operates The Beaded Curtain, which Detjens said is among the top online retailers of beaded curtains.

Blue Glass Enterprises employs two workers, and Edwards said the jobs would not be following him to Butte. Detjens said that once he and Edwards relocate to Butte, they do plan to share a part-time office administrator and would also be looking for housekeeping services. Detjens said that further expansion may occur in the future.

When asked how the two had discovered Butte, Detjens said that Edwards had become familiar with the city while attending Montana Tech. Both men have friends living in the area and felt Butte has great investment potential — in addition to offering distinct economic advantages over living in California.

"With the high volume of available buildings in Butte, you can pick and choose your location,” Detjens said. "The extra benefits of living in Butte are tangible,” added Detjens, explaining that both he an Edwards are avid outdoors enthusiasts.

Detjens said Silverbow Properties will both manage the property and oversee the necessary renovations. Detjens added that he and Edwards plan to use one of the first floor retail fronts for the shipping and receiving end of their businesses. Detjens has also been in communication with a local artist about the possibility of using a second retail front for an art gallery.

Detjens said both he and Edwards will live and operate their individual business out of the second floor of the property. They also have plans to rent additional rooms on the second floor to college students.

For more information about Detjens’ and Edwards’ endeavors, visit the following Web sites: http://www.blueglassenterprises.com; http://www.thebeadedcurtain.com; and coming in mid-November: http://www.silverbowproperties.com and http://www.silverbowsoftware.com

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