09/23/2010 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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AARON VEHLING KARA HILDRETH JESSICA HARPER

Explosion shuts down Black Dog power plant 6A Farmington Business Association seeks new partnerships 47A Oasis Market stores to be auctioned 48A

dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz

DATE ##, 2009 SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 30

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INSIDE BIZ

A labor of love

FORUM

The next governor will need to cut spending and raise taxes to keep the state solvent. The $6 billion def icit cannot be ignored. DON HEINZMAN 4A

Owners Wanda Oland and Dewey Johnson renovated Rascal’s Apple Valley Bar and Grill on their own

BUSINESS 101

by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

When owners Wanda Oland and Dewey Johnson renovated the dining room at Rascal’s Apple Valley Bar and Grill, it was more than expense — it was a labor of love. Every detail, from the retaining wall to the dining tables were hand-crafted by Johnson. “It’s amazing how he takes something normal and plain, and turns it into art,� Oland said. The design of Rascal’s dining room was inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement, a design movement that flourished between 1880 and 1910. The room is filled with pieces that Johnson hand-crafted, such as a decorative buffet and a hand-carved mantel shelf. An antique Danish dining Photo by Jessica Harper side table that Johnson In addition to building pieces of furniture, restored also sits in the Johnson restored several pieces such as a room. Danish dining side table, which is used by Johnson created a the wait staff. new space by dividing the room with a retaining to work late at night when the ing wall, which will allow parties bar and grill were closed. to have more privacy. Another “In this economy, we can’t close wall was added to conceal the the doors, which restricted my kitchen as well. hours,� he said. The most difficult aspect of The couple declined to reveal the remodel wasn’t the labor itself, the cost of the remodel, but Oland Johnson said. Rather, it was hav- would say that it as between 60

DEANN ENGVALL

Creating the right logo can make a big difference in getting noticed and conveying your message to your market. 5A

BEST PRACTICES

Photo by Jessica Harper

Owners Wanda Johnson and Dewey Johnson renovated the dining room at Rascal’s Apple Valley Bar and Grill on their own.

KEVIN STIRTZ

Online comments from unhappy customers can damage your reputation. Be proactive — request feedback 5A

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Medi-Car Auto Repair owner shares her experiences as a woman-business owner in the auto repair industry. DEBBIE MCCONNELL 6A

Photo by Jessica Harper

Every detail, from the retaining wall to the dining tables were handcrafted by Rascal’s co-owner Dewey Johnson. and 75 percent less than what it would cost for a contractor and retail furnishings. “If we would have paid retail and hired someone, we would

have gone out of business,� Oland said. Johnson said he developed his passion for carpentry as high

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General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011

See Rascal’s, Page 48A


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09/23/2010 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly by Dakota County Tribune - Issuu