About the Owners: Susie and Sam Drukman have made Southwest Montana their home for many years. Susie moved here in 1988, Sam in 1993. They both love the outdoors (which they don't get to see much anymore, because they now own a restaurant )and the laid back lifestyle this area affords. They and their three children live on a picturesque ranch located about 20 miles from Butte.

Susie has had a very successful career as an environmental engineer, mostly in the Bozeman area. However, she always dreamed of doing something entirely her own. Her family has always appreciated her great skills in the kitchen. La Hacienda now provides Susie an opportunity to show off her stunning Mexican cooking to a very appreciative public.

Sam Drukman has been designing award-winning fly fishing rods for the R.L. Winston Rod Company of Twin Bridges, Montana since 1993. He also loves building and remodeling. In 2001 Sam completed work on a beautiful self-designed straw bale home. La Hacienda gave him the chance to apply his skills to lovingly restore a historical building to something of its former grandeur.

Butte, Montana once known as the "richest hill the world" has been more recently called "the ugliest city in America" because of the cavernous expanse of the old Berkeley Pit copper mine. "The Pit" dominates the landscape directly to the East of the city. In spite of this visual obstacle (Susie and Sam actually find that the pit can be quite beautiful in certain light) Butte is city with great heart and history. The Drukmans have found Butte to be a fascinating and very welcoming city.

Susie and Sam purchased the building that is now La Hacienda in April, 2005. The 1860's brick structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was Butte's first City Hall. Over the years it has housed a mercantile and a dance studio, as well as many other businesses. Many Butte residents know the location best as the home of Ming's Chinese Restaurant, which occupied the space since the early 1960's.

116 West Park Street was not in good condition when Sam and Susie took possession. The interior was dirty, moldy and dingy. The basement and second story were full to the rafters with a century's worth of dirt and debris. The restaurant kitchen was a health inspector's nightmare. But the Drukmans believed they had a diamond in the rough. Above two layers of greasy acoustic ceiling panels was a beautiful stamped tin ceiling. Behind dilapidated walls was a beautiful storefront. After months of hard gritty work, Sam and Susie were able to transform a cramped, stuffy interior into a bright cheerful, welcoming space. The front façade, which had been obscured by a "modern' plastic sign and canopy was repainted and restored. Long time Butte residents can hardly believe their eyes.

A visit to La Hacienda will convince you too.