ELECTRICAL OPTIONS

is everybody’s motor supply store

By Sara Schroeder

• Whether you are looking for someone to repair or service your pump, gearbox, generator, electrical control pump or power transmission, you need to look no further than Electrical Options, LLC.

• Electrical Options believes in offering high quality parts, including conveying systems and components along with a variety of brands to choose from.

• We also design and build custom control panels for all different types of industry needs. Whether it be a new project or an upgrade, we will always strive to exceed your expectations and standards.

• Leading the way in motor repair and supplies, our team is here to answer questions and offer solutions that meet your needs.

• Our professional technicians have the skills and know how you can trust.

• Allow us to be your motor supply store.

• Call 218-828-7062 to schedule your free estimate today.

• We honor all manufacturer warranties.

Serving and servicing the Brainerd lakes and the surrounding area with high quality electric motors and repairs since 1996.

yards, patios, fire pits, water features, outdoor living spaces and custom metal working. The business specializes in large and commercial custom landscape projects.

Around 2015, Hall bought the land where Copper Creek is now located.

“I actually bought four different parcels of land from three different owners, and I combined it all up to make one parcel here on the highway,” he said. “I bought it for a real estate investment and it was a good buy at the time. I actually didn’t know what I was going to do.”

As the Copper Creek business kept growing, Hall realized he should turn the land he owned into something and take a run at the retail side of the business.

Copper Creek Landscapes opened The Garden Center on that property in 2020, selling annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

“Each year I keep trying to expand a bit,” Hall said.

To that end, he added The Market in 2021 with outdoor furniture and home decor, and the Bouquet Bar inside The Market in 2022 with floral and fresh cut flowers and arrangements. The Market online store launched last fall.

The Market, which also houses the business office, is where the former longtime business Johnson’s Personality Plus Interiors was located.

Copper Creek offers family events that cater to children, including Christmas Acres, Easter Hop Around and Fall Festival Days.

“My goal with that is to try and really be family orientated and create a tradition or a fun activity in town for kids and families to do together,” Hall said.

The business continues to evolve.

“Everybody that works here just tries to keep coming up with new ideas on what we can do bigger or better, exciting or fun,” Hall said.

Regarding staff, Hall strives to provide a fun workplace where employees are proud of what they do.

“My goal is to create a very fun place to work, that people enjoy it, that they enjoy who they’re working for and what they’re doing and that they take pride in it,” Hall said. “And all the staff that I have do that and enjoy that. That’s a high priority for me.”

Dedicated employees include Nikki Holst and Nick Hoffmann. Holst is the director of retail and customer experience.

“I love the variety of things that we do across the year,” she said. “I enjoy doing new things and thinking about what will change for the better for the next season.

“I love our staff and love working with them and supporting them in their various roles. And I love that the majority of the customers that walk through the door here are here for fun,” she said, noting there are a lot of pleasantries.

“And that can make for a very good day.”

Hoffmann does digital design for landscape projects.

“I love creating environments and the creativity behind that — thinking through that for people and trying to match that to the specific client,” Hoffmann said. “And I just love the people I work with.”

Hall finds excitement in new challenges, and failure has never limited his desire to try something new.

“I’m not scared to fail,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of stuff and tried a lot of stuff, and I’ve been like, ‘Yeah, that doesn’t work.’ But you keep going.”

His goal for his business is to continue to grow and expand into more retail offerings, as well as offering a food venue. He wants to keep expanding the family atmosphere where people can shop and attend events.

“Really try to make it another destination in the area for people to come and enjoy it,” Hall said.

He credits his staff with Copper Creek’s success.

“I don’t want anybody to be fooled that I have done all of this on my own,” Hall said. “I haven’t. I’ve just been blessed to be able to find very good people and talented people to help create all this with me.”

For your information

Business: Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center.

• City: Nisswa.

• Number of employees: 35-40 in the high season; 15 in the off-season.

• Interesting fact: Copper Creek owner Joe Hall has a goal to create a student scholarship for Pequot Lakes High School students pursuing a horticulture trades program.

Nancy Vogt, Echo Journal editor, may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy. vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook.

BY JODIE NORQUIST

unmire’s Bar and Grill in East Brainerd and Dunmire’s On The Lakes on North Long Lake are synonymous with outstanding food, a dedicated staff and effortless event planning. Whether it’s a cozy gathering or a grand banquet, Chris Dunmire and his seasoned team have the experience and expertise to make your next event unforgettable.

Dunmire’s menu features over 120 delicious options, ensuring every guest leaves satisfied. Their culinary offerings are diverse and delectable, ranging from gourmet burgers and pastas to seafood and ribeye steaks. Their commitment to quality has earned Dunmire’s On The Lakes a spotlight on “America’s Best

Restaurants Roadshow” in 2023, recognized for its top-tier food and stunning lakeside ambiance. The North Long Lake location also offers a rental home for 15 guests. At the heart of Dunmire’s success is a dedicated staff that goes above and beyond to ensure every event runs smoothly. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction make event planning stress-free for hosts. For a flawless event experience backed by exceptional food and quality staff, contact Dunmire’s Bar and Grill at 218-454-0625 or Dunmire’s On The Lakes at 218-454-0690. Explore their full menu and learn more at dunmiresbar.com.

Burton said the event has garnered enough excitement that they have started to receive inquiries from food truck owners asking to be added to the list.

“We get regulars now, not even county employees, just people from the community who love food trucks and like coming and chatting with us,” Burton said.

Crabby Dales BBQ

A self-taught barbecuer who was looking for his next adventure, Nate Albertson said he could always be found at parties standing around the grill and when presented with the opportunity to jump into the food truck business in 2022, he jumped at the chance, opening Crabby Dales BBQ, and never looked back.

Leading up to opening his own truck, Albertson said he took first place in the 2021 Brainerd Jaycees Ribfest and won.

“Took first place in the 2021 Jaycees Ribfest and then that’s really when I was like, ‘OK, maybe this opportunity really will work out for me. Maybe I do have something here,’” Albertson said.

Barbecuing for the past 16 years, Albertson said the idea of owning his own business had always been in the back of his head, then he found the truck in Grand Rapids after a business closed down.

Albertson said the truck had everything he needed and was ready to go, though getting the truck was the easy part.

Learning food codes and different regulations for each city and county he operates in is not something to be taken lightly, or something that can be overlooked, Albertson said.

“Every town has its own codes and permit fees and stuff like that; you have to get that all in order before you can do anything and there are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to food,” Albertson said. “It’s hard work, not something you can just think you’re going to go do 10 minutes of research and go. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Albertson said the rules and laws for food truck vary wildly, even from Brainerd to Baxter, making it a tough learning curve to figure out what is and is not allowed.

“Even just Minnesota Health code stuff, from someone who’s never ever worked in a commercial kitchen before, it was a lot of reading and studying for food safety,” Albertson said.

Albertson said there is also plenty of prep before heading out to an event — such as how many people are expected, what type of event it is and whether there’s seating. Seating or no seating changes the menu. If there are no seats for people to eat, they tend not to make ribs or meal plates as people would shy away from them because they would be walking and eating. Determining how many people he needs to prepare for is a work in progress, he said.