Fresh Start On Familiar Track: JB’s Diner Opens In Culbertson

Biscuits and gravy for breakfast. A burger or french dip for lunch. For Culbertson residents who have missed those familiar diner favorites, an old railcar is welcoming them back to the table.

Jim Olson and Brandy Bowland, the new owners of JB’s Diner, are beginning a new chapter in a building whose history in the community stretches back nearly seven decades. Their goal began with something straightforward: giving people another place in town to enjoy a meal.

“We just needed a place to eat and there was not much in town,” Olson said.

Turning that wish into a business took some consideration, but the couple ultimately decided to reopen the familiar diner.

“We saw the need for a diner in town and decided to reopen the diner after much thought,” he said.

The life of the railcar as a restaurant began in 1957, when Thelma Smith converted it into a diner. Through changes in ownership and menus, the distinctive building has remained a recognizable part of Culbertson.

Bob and Marie Damm purchased the diner in 1982 and operated it until the Baldwins took over in 2008. The Baldwins continued running it until 2024, when it became Maria’s, a small Mexican restaurant.

Now, Olson and Bowland are putting their own names into its story — quite literally. The “J” in JB’s stands for Jim, and the “B” stands for Brandy, giving the business a name that reflects the people behind its newest beginning.

While the name is new, there is a familiar face in the kitchen. Bob Damm, who once owned the diner with Marie, has returned as its cook. His involvement connects the restaurant’s earlier years with its fresh start, bringing the former owner back to help serve another generation of customers.

Joining him are waitresses Hydie Danielson, Kirsten Olson and Brooke Boulin.

The menu o rs reasons to stop in for breakfast or pull up a chair at lunchtime. Morning choices include biscuits and gravy, french toast, buttermilk pancakes, and steak and eggs, along with other breakfast classics. From a stack of pancakes to a hearty plate of steak and eggs, customers have several ways to start their day.

Lunch brings its own lineup of familiar favorites, including burgers, french dip sandwiches, BLTs and hot hamburgers. Wraps, salads and chicken strip baskets o r more choices, while a children’s menu includes options for younger diners. A soup that changes daily gives customers something di rent to ask about when they stop in.

Olson and Bowland also have ideas for what comes next. They hope to introduce more baked goods and coffee o rings and eventually extend their hours as they settle into operating the business.

For now, JB’s Diner is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nearly 70 years after Smith first turned the railcar into a place to eat, its story is still being written. With Olson and Bowland taking their turn as owners and Damm returning to the kitchen, the next chapter comes with a familiar invitation: pull up a chair and stay for a meal.

For Jim and Brandy, those o rings are a starting point. They hope to introduce more baked goods and co e choices in the future, along with longer hours as they settle into running the business.

Nearly 70 years after Thelma Smith first turned the railcar into a place to eat, its story is still being written. With Jim and Brandy taking their turn as owners and Bob Damm returning to the kitchen, that next chapter comes with a familiar invitation: pull up a chair and stay for a meal.