Progress 2021: Your Downtown by MinotDailyNews

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SPOTLIGHT ON PROPERTIES

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021 MinotDailyNews.com • Facebook • Twitter

Your Downtown

City looks to build up downtown Minot By JILL SCHRAMM

Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com n striving for a more vibrant downtown, Minot leaders are looking to spruce up buildings, create more options for underutilized buildings and find new uses for properties that Trinity Health eventually will no longer need. City government should have a role in ensuring these changes happen, said Minot City Council member Paul Pitner. The city needs to promote loan and grant tools already available and then consider whether the city should also invest, as it did in replacing downtown infrastructure a few years ago, he said. “We can’t just sit there and wait for something to happen. We have to take an active role,” Pitner said. A downtown building will be undergoing renovation with city investment. The city purchased the former Wells Fargo bank building for $2.6 million for a new city hall. The city has hired an architect, who is conducting a space analysis and designing floor plans. The city also has tasked its economic developer, Jonathan Rosenthal, with spearheading implementation of community recommendations related to downtown development. Rosenthal said initial projects could move forward once funding is identified. One proposal is to create a forgivable loan program for downtown property owners to encourage and support renovations to their buildings’ facades. Rosenthal said the renovations should preserve the historic features of the buildings and the original architectural intent. In working with the Downtown Business & Professional Association, the city’s approach has been to design a program that supports renovation of the entirety of a building’s facade and not just the lower, street level face of the structure. A program also would require that a building’s roof be in good shape and the building be fully secured, such as eliminating any windows that have gaps allowing pigeon entry. “A facade program is a wonderful opportunity to regain some of that original historic architectural intent,”said Josh Wolsky, interim director for the Downtown Business &

Professional Association. “Those buildings are a particular challenge for the owners. There are significant new code requirements that have gone into place, which make renovations and improvements considerably more complicated than other projects.” Brain Billingsley, the city’s director of Community Development, said property owners would be expected to have some level of financial stake in the improvements. Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma said investing city dollars in such projects would be difficult at this time. “We are running too many big projects to basically try to solve all the problems ourselves on the tax dollars,” he said. Rather, he said, the city needs to highlight every opportunity for redevelopment and remain business-friendly to help with that process. Although the improvements might not directly translate to increased business income, there could be savings with any accompanying energy efficiencies. Property owners also could see new revenue if efforts to incentivize use of under-utilized buildings comes to fruition. Rosenthal said the city is working with private banks on a potential revolving loan fund for property owners interested in turning vacant upper levels of their buildings into housing. He said there are many buildings with only first-floor occupancy.

Jill Schramm/MDN

TOP: Main Street has attracted entrepreneurs but the City of Minot wants to encourage increased vitality, starting with its own investment in the former Wells Fargo building, at left, for a new downtown city hall.

File Photo

BOTTOM: Trinity Hospital is one of the properties to be vacated when the health system completes and moves into a new facility in southwest Minot, projected to occur in 2023. A committee will be looking into the future of Trinity’s vacated downtown buildings.

INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN See DOWNTOWN — Page 2

By JILL SCHRAMM

Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com

olfers will want to check out a new restaurant and bar coming to downtown Minot this fall. Construction is starting this spring to renovate a downtown Minot building for Whiskey Nine, a golf-themed establishment to be located at 111 W. Central Ave. The business will have golf simulation equipment and will be starting golf leagues to run in the winter. Opening is tentatively set for Oct. 1, according to the business partners. Kevin and Kalli Black with Creedence Energy Services, Andrew and McKenna Gudmunson with 701 Realty, Jeremy Mahany with The Starving Rooster and Jason Sanders with Rolac Construction are the partners. Black said there’s been interest in the Minot region in a golfthemed establishment similar to others that have been appearing in the state’s larger cities. He said the goal is to appeal to all types of golfers but also to people who have never golfed but are interested.

Jill Schramm/MDN

A seating area in the new Creedence Energy Services offices in downtown Minot takes advantage of a historic window feature. “This is a place where you can come and have fun and enjoy the simulator,” he said. “Obviously, there’s a whiskey theme throughout the whole place. There will be a lot of whisky-infused flavors in foods as well, and what I’m guessing will be one of Minot’s better selections on whiskeys.”

Andrew Gudmunson said the local restaurant will have a broad menu, with snack items, appetizers and sandwiches as well as a dinner menu with steaks and seafood. The owners plan to gut the building to give it an interior upgrade. The building will receive a new facade and upgrades on

windows and other elements. “We’re going to be returning the facade of the building to much more of a traditional look,” Black said. “It’s going to be much more an English pub style architecture with a lot of nice wood trim features.” Gudmunson said it will have the combined feel of an old golf

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Entrepreneurs see opportunity in rehabbed buildings clubhouse and speakeasy. The project is located in Minot’s Renaissance and Opportunity zones, which provide some tax advantages. The Opportunity Zone eligibility aided in the building purchase, and Renaissance Zone assistance is being sought on the improvements. The owners also have worked with Souris Basin Planning Council and its business assistance programs. Both the Gudmunsons and Blacks are completing other downtown building projects. Finishing touches have been going into the Gudmunsons’ 701 Realty at 24 1st St. NE. The company has offices on the main floor of the former warehouse, with office space on a lower level to expand. A portion of the building used for apartments will remain in use. Creedence Energy has moved into the completed second floor of the renovated building at 21 E. Central Ave. Black said the third floor should be completed by the end of this month to accommodate Companions for Children and Cory Garber Photography. An additional 2,400 square feet remains available on that floor.

The first floor could be completed by early summer. On the north side, an axe-throwing bar called Up Your Axe will be taking up residency. “It will be, again, another one of those things that other major cities in North Dakota have. We do not. So you’ll be able to hone in on your axe-throwing skills,” Black said. Dakota Burger Company will move into the south half of the first floor this summer. The business started with a food truck and has been evolving, Black said. It will be evolving again in the new location with a new brand, new menu and new name, to be announced. “We hope more and more entrepreneurs will take the risk and people will put up the capital investment to invest and to bring new ideas downtown,” Black said. “There’s a lot of really great economic tools out there, whether it is the Renaissance Zone, Opportunity Zone, Souris Basin Planning Council. There’s a whole host of financial tools that people can tap into, and the more people know about it, I think the more attractive those investments are.”

Page 2

Downtown

Continued from Page 1

“All these upper floors are greatly under-utilized and they have been that way for half a century or more,” he said. “If we don’t take some active role, it will continue to be that way.” Rosenthal said utilizing upper floors will increase the value of the properties, which is advantageous to the city. Attracting residents who have disposable income to spend downtown also benefits merchants directly, he said. “We know that – and we’ve seen it in other places – when you have people living in the downtown, they create more customers for the businesses on the main floor,” Wolsky said. “They create more atmosphere for the people who are visiting downtown because people attract people.” Wolsky said momentum has already started in many respects and just needs to be given a nudge to keep it going.

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown “The private sector has already identified the opportunity and they’re doing what they can, but some of those other challenges are really significant,” he said. “We really owe a lot to these individuals that have invested downtown and show that it can be done. They’re not easy projects. You have to have a passion for it,” Pitner said. “That’s the goal with economic development is to have these tools in the toolbox for the city and for private investment to make sure that they’re able to capitalize on these and make these projects viable.” Pitner said the city’s economic development fund, the MAGIC Fund, is a tool that hasn’t been maximized. The fund needs to be more strategic and flexible, he said. “To tax citizens, just to let their money sit in a bank account, isn’t, to me, the highest and best use of those funds. We have to put them to work for the city of Minot,” he said. Rather than saving up for home runs, the city needs to put some focus on the base hits that

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add up and make a home run that much better, he said. “We have to invest in the people that are here and the people that want to be here, the people that want to invest here,” he said. “Would you want one primary sector win that gives you 100 jobs? Or would you rather have 10 different businesses that you invest in that give you each 10 jobs. The diversification is going to be better in the long run.” The focus on downtown development has been heightening as progress is made on construction of a new hospital and clinic in southwest Minot, moving Trinity Health closer to the day when it will vacate some of its downtown properties. Efforts have begun to organize a committee to investigate repurposing the buildings. Randy Schwan, a Trinity vice president, said Trinity already has had conversations and input into studies on facility planning for downtown. Those discussions identified the former health sci-

ences building as a location for a future Career and Technical Education Center. “We look to partner with others as well and repurpose some of these facilities,” Schwan said. “People have expressed some interest but right now we’re just listening to possibilities and learning how we might plug into that to improve downtown.” Schwan said Trinity will continue to use the leased Medical Arts building, St. Joseph’s hospital building and parking ramp and Health Center West, which would continue to house out-patient services. Trinity will not be using Trinity Hospital or the Health Center East building across the street, which houses a pharmacy, medical library and certain specialty practices. Pitner said the first step is to find out more about Trinity’s plans. “When they’re ready to broach the topic, the city would be willing to listen and see what the plan is and see what their intentions are

and how we can collaborate,” he said. Pitner said it will be important to gather as much information as possible before making a decision on the viability of rehabbing buildings, demolishing buildings or repurposing buildings. Sipma said he expects the Trinity properties committee to begin work in mid-summer. “We do have a little bit of time, but we certainly don’t want to squander what time we do have left,” Sipma said. “We’ve got to get everybody together to look at all potential possibilities because it’s that important to the community. “Once the Canadian border reopens, we don’t want Minot just to be a gas stop or a rest stopover place on the way to other communities in North Dakota. So I think it’s important to put some re-emphasis on the uniqueness of our downtown and general retail of Minot,” he said. “We are a commercial hub, but we definitely need to put some emphasis back on that.”

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Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

OUTSIDE

Businesses give diners outdoor experiences

By JILL SCHRAMM

fering an attraction that appealed to a wider group of Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com people. Another was the brevity of North Dakota sumSome Minot businesses mers and desire to keep are taking advantage of the clientele coming to the bar summer sun while it shines. during the summer days Others are finding ways to when they would prefer to be take advantage of sunshine outside. “The idea was to turn our year round. Outdoor venues have long summer season into our busy been popular with diners and season,” Mueller said. “Last shoppers, and Minot is look- summer exceeded our expecing to increase those opportu- tations, even dealing with the nities, particularly around its coronavirus.” Having outdoor space acdowntown area. One business offering an tually worked in the bar’s outdoor setting is Sports on favor when COVID-19 reTap, which opened its strictions loosened on outrooftop patio along Broadway door venues first. Mueller said the patio has complein May o2020. “Basically, it’s been on the mented the indoor space, back of our minds since we which has its own appeal moved into this building in with DJ entertainment. The popularity of the 2002,” Sports on Tap owner Tony Mueller said. The idea patio has had the space at cabegan taking hold 10 years pacity at times, but Mueller ago and gained traction about said crowding generally is five years ago. After two years avoided naturally, because of active planning, construc- the rooftop attracts different age groups at different times tion started in 2019. Mueller said trips to the of the day. In terms of attractroof to service HVAC units ing a broader range of clienhad disclosed the striking tele, the venture was view of the city from 25 feet successful, he said. The intent is to have the above ground. “It really shows Minot off outdoor patio open from April 15 to Oct. 15. Mueller up there,” he said. There were a couple of said the increase in business motivations for creating the has Sports on Tap considering new activities, such as outdoor space. One was to broaden the weekend brunches, to further bar’s base of clientele by of- appeal to its new crowd.

Another downtown business, High Third, just opened its outdoor dining section last October on the rooftop of the adjoining building. The rooftop is open year-round. “We actually have had people use it every month so far,” said Tawnya Bernsdorf, marketing manager for the company. “They love it. They love the skyline view. It’s just a nice atmosphere to hang out.” Heaters installed above the tables keep temperatures comfortable, even during the winter. A pergola provides some shaded shelter for warmer days. The space can accommodate around 100 people, and it has been close to capacity on balmy days this month, Bernsdorf said. The rooftop patio is for patrons 21 and older because of its connection with the bar service. Televisions can be tuned to sports or music video programming. Bernsdorf said High Third will be watching to see how the public takes to its new rooftop setting this summer while keeping options open for potential ground-level, outdoor dining at some point in the future. The Starving Rooster plans to open its outdoor dining area in front of the restaurant soon. The outdoor area

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Patrons enjoy the rooftop venue at Sports on Tap last summer. The bar opened the patio in May 2020. will be open for dining from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the warmer months. The area will seat about 20 people. The City of Minot aims to encourage more street-level, outdoor use with the streeteries and parklets proposal approved by the Minot City Council this month. Streeteries and parklets are extensions of a platform from the curb into a single, paved parking space, with screening from traffic and adjoining parking. Streeteries allow for outdoor dining, while parklets provide public seating in a mini-park setting. The proposal approved by the council would allow streeteries and parklets between April 15 and Oct. 15 and only in parallel parking spaces and on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. Jonathan Rosenthal, economic developer with the City of Minot, said there’s been business owner interest in the streetery concept, although it is expected, at least initially, that there may be only two or three. “These are successfully used in Grand Forks already,” said Josh Wolsky, interim director for the Minot Down-

town Business & Professional Association. “I think in places where they’re used, they create just more atmosphere and more space for people. That’s the goal that we have for downtown is to make it a center of culture and commerce, and all of that starts with bringing more people and creating more experiences for people.” Wolsky said Minot has been progressing toward more outdoor venues for several years. A couple years ago the city relaxed regulations around serving alcohol in outdoor venues. New rules allowed for shorter fences and more people-friendly barriers. A few businesses have been using outdoor dining under the new regulations on a temporary basis, Wolsky said. “We’ve seen the merchants excited to add these spaces and when they add them, the people come and use them. So this is just a logical progression that the city is exploring,” he said. Minot City Council member Paul Pitner, who has been engaged in the discussions on downtown development, said there is a demand for

outdoor venues that streeteries and parklets can provide. He also sees the city’s policy to pilot streeteries and parklets as a way to promote economic development. “It is essential that the city be involved in economic development and control its own destiny in economic development,” Pitner said. “I want to give those business owners and property owners the tools to be successful. We’re putting tools in their toolbox that allow them to do projects like this that can expand their seating and expand their customer experience. “Now it’s up to business owners to take advantage of them,” he added. “Our discussions that we’re having and these projects that we’re piloting and the things we’re moving forward, they’re baby steps, but they’re all going towards a very attractive destination for the city of Minot. Because when you do things like that and you have a better experience downtown or with businesses or bars or restaurants or shopping, it increases your quality of life. More people want to live here. Less people want to leave.”

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Dakota Square welcomes new businesses Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

By ANDREA JOHNSON

Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com

It’s been a hard year for businesses at Dakota Square Shopping Center in Minot, but marketing director Mikalah Auer said shoppers are starting to come back. “As the weather warms up and events are starting to happen again” there should be more activity, said Auer. Target has been doing brisk business at the mall throughout the year, with added precautions to keep staff and shoppers safe. There is still a requirement that employees and shoppers wear masks, that they stay six feet apart and carts and other high touch areas are also sanitized to protect against the spread of the virus. Target has also been offering curbside pickup for its customers as well as in-store pickup and home delivery. Now that in-store shopping is back, individual retailers might

Thursday through Sunday to show blockbusters like “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Auer said there are also some exciting things on the horizon. Scheels is planning to expand its business into the former Sears area at the mall, which is “very exciting.” H.S. Master Stylist, a locally owned shop, also was slated to open the week of April 13 at the mall. The salon specializes in color and precision cuts for men, women and kids. The owner is a Wella-certified stylist and has extensive experience in hair services. Color services offered will include balayage, color corrections, highlights and more. “We are excited for this local addition to the property,”said Andrea Johnson/MDN Cathy Tweten, Dakota Square Mall Specialty Leasing ManDakota Square Mall is bouncing back after the pandemic year. ager, in information provided Auer said other retailers in the pickup during the pandemic. choose to continue precautions by the mall. “We’re proud to “The mall was never closed serve as a place where local ensuch as requiring masks, offering mall, such as “Buckles” have hand sanitizer at entrances and adapted to the pandemic with 100 percent,” said Auer and now trepreneurs can start a new spacing clothing racks farther options such as online shopping, more things are opening up. business or expand their busiAMC Theatres has reopened ness at the mall.” home delivery and curbside apart.

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THRIVING ON THE PRAIRIE

Saturday, April 24, 2021

By JILL SCHRAMM

Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com

HARVEY – When Paul Gunderson arrived in Harvey in January 2018 to direct the local Jobs Development Authority, CP Rail had just announced plans to decommission its terminal in the city, eliminating dozens of local jobs. Community leaders were worried how the blow might impact the town of just over 1,700 population. Gunderson, city leaders and the community went to work, and three years later, Harvey is thriving, having added 31 businesses. Its downtown business district along Lincoln Avenue has particularly benefited from new businesses and rehabilitated buildings. Gunderson attributed Harvey’s success to its abundance of energy and its capacity to think strategically about the future, as well as its wealth of civic volunteering and initiative. “That’s what’s really, in my opinion, fundamental to a community that needs to sustain itself and grow,” he said. Ann Adams, former mayor and executive director for the Harvey Chamber of Commerce, credits Harvey’s success to a variety of factors, from Gunderson’s knowledge and assistance to the presence of a Jobs Development Authority and strong banking community. She also places the people of the town high on the list because of their acceptance and encouragement of new businesses. “They embrace people coming here, and I think that’s very important,” Adams said. “We get an empty building on Main Street, we quick think what would be a great thing to put in here, and then we go after it and it gets done.” She added Harvey has produced its own entrepreneurs, which helps account for a downtown that’s basically homegrown. “A lot of young people are helping to create businesses in our town,” she said. “We’re just seeing it more and more that we’re getting the word out here that Harvey is an up and coming place.” Part of that comes from a strategic plan the city pulled together a few years ago. “We ultimately focused on about eight different areas, but a couple of them really pertained to revitalizing downtown,” Gunderson said. “We really embarked on a mission to create entrepreneurial capacity within. By the end of 2018, we had 11 new businesses in town.” Harvey added 10 new businesses in 2019 and eight businesses in 2020. The only loss was one restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year now, we’ve added two more in the first quarter, and there’s more pending, depending on how things kind of unfold nationally as well as here,” Gunderson said. Harvey still has three vacant buildings on Lincoln Avenue, but one is being seriously eyed by a potential business. Gunderson notes vacant spaces are down from 14 in 2018.

BEANS & BOUTIQUE

Misti Arnold had recently moved from the family farm into Harvey when an opportunity arose to open the coffee shop she’d always wanted. She bought a Lincoln Avenue building that came up for sale in January 2020, gutting and transforming it largely with the help of local contractors and suppliers. They removed the false ceiling and installed new flooring and shiplap walls. Marsai’s Bean & Boutique opened May 4 and employs eight people. Two hairstylists also rent space in the building, and Arnold’s daughter has a nutrition business there. Arnold partnered with The Farmer’s Wife Cakes in Rugby to obtain baked goods

Page 5

Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

Harvey creates strategy for business success

Marchand saw opportunity in Harvey after graduating from Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis. They returned to their hometown to become the familyowned company’s third generation. Having his sons to handle the day-to-day business frees his time to work on business and relationship building, said Rod Marchand, who recently authored a top-selling book on entrepreneurship. “They’ve been paramount on the back end of that, helping me build, strategize, bringing a younger perspective,” he said of his sons. “As much as I like to claim I’m in charge, it’s really always a collaborative effort.” “We really enjoy and are proud of our ability as a company – and with all of our employees – to perform and to really strive for that personal and professional excellence,” Quincy Marchand said. “People someJill Schramm/MDN times forget that even though Misti Arnold stands in the boutique area of her Marsai’s Bean & Boutique in downtown Harvey you’re just selling someone March 31. carpet or you’re just putting in a floor here or you’re givfor the coffee shop and reing someone a couch, that if cently started offering soups you do it right, it’s actually and salads once a week. an impactful way of improv“We have people who ing someone’s life that day. come to sit and visit, and it’s We really take that to heart – been fun,” Arnold said. “The try to do our best to make people have been just so people appreciate life a little supportive.” bit more, even through just The boutique was added simple acts of kindness and to add more value to the service.” space. It stocks largely Spencer Marchand also women’s clothing but restressed the importance of cently started a small men’s local businesses supporting casual clothing line, and each other. Arnold is considering adding “You’ve got to show peochildren’s clothing. ple that these small towns Her building isn’t the can be bustling communities only one recently renovated, again, and it all starts at the either. local level and starts with inJust up the avenue is dividual people,” he said. Northern Family Wellness “As a small business owner and Chiropractic, which rein rural North Dakota, we’re habilitated a building, movvery big on buying local, ing into the new location last supporting small business. July. The building houses a You’re not going to save and chiropractor, massage theraJill Schramm/MDN preserve rural communities pist and reiki therapist. Next if you don’t support each door to the chiropractic cen- Mosaic Wellness Center opened in Harvey this year following rehabilitation other, and so it’s all about, ter is one of Harvey’s newest of a downtown building by owners Jonathan and Nicole Franklin. for us, making sure that we businesses in a rehabbed do it for not only ourselves building, Mosaic Wellness but our surrounding comCenter munity.”

MOSAIC WELLNESS

Mosaic Wellness Center is one piece of the vision of Jonathan and Nicole Franklin, who returned to their hometown to recruit mental health services to the area. Nicole is a mental health therapist, and Jonathan sold his part ownership in a financial investments firm to move to Harvey and become principal in Mosaic Properties LLC. “Our goal together is to bring as many therapists to this area as possible, because we’re vastly underserved. It’s a mental health desert here,” Jonathan Franklin said. Mosaic Properties LLC has been among businesses taking advantage of Harvey’s new federal Opportunity Zone designation to rehabilitate a deteriorating downtown property for the wellness center. Jonathan Franklin said the property had been abandoned for about five years before Mosaic Properties acquired it, and there had been no improvements for many years before that. A wooden building on the property was removed with the help of a local JDA grant, creating an open area where the Franklins installed a fence and plan to create a minipark. A separate building with historical character was restored. The Franklins replaced all the windows and doors, making use of natural light, as well as insulating and putting in a high-efficiency furnace. They also modernized the decor. “We want people to feel good when they come in here – that they want to be in here,” Jonathan Franklin said. “It’s just eliminating one more barrier for people to overcome to get help.” Recently opened, the Mosaic Wellness Center currently includes space for Nicole Franklin’s therapy services, a naturopath and an addiction counselor coming part-time from Devils Lake. The building also has

COOPERATIVE APPROACH

Jill Schramm/MDN

Quincy, Angela, Rod and Spencer Marchand, shown at Tom’s Home Furnishings March 31, serve a national customer base from their Harvey store. meeting room space. The upper level of the building was refurbished as a two-bedroom unit for Airbnb rentals or to house traveling therapists needing an overnight stay. “People will come in and just say thank you,” Jonathan Franklin said of the community’s response to the changes. “So that has felt very good. The people appreciate all our hard work, appreciate our vision. And then they get it and they’re supportive. So that’s a good payoff already.” The current building is too small for the Franklins’ vision to bring in 20 therapists – the number they see as needed. But Mosaic Properties also has acquired another, larger building in Harvey where space does exist for the dream.

EVER-EXPANDING NOTION

Rod and Angela Marchand and sons Spencer and Quincy are pursuing another vision in Harvey through Marchand Retail Group. Tom’s Home Furnishings is the company’s showplace on Harvey’s Lincoln Avenue, where the flooring, furniture and appliance store encompasses about half a block.

The store has had a growing trade area, helped in part by e-commerce. “E-commerce is where the future is,” Spencer Marchand said. “You still get that same service that we have at Tom’s here, but all over the state of North Dakota.” Additionally, Tom’s Home Furnishings is the regional powerhouse in flooring, employing certified installation teams that work commercially across North Dakota and into Minnesota. The company has done commercial work for grocery chains, the railroads and school districts. Through connections and buying groups, the store has been competitive, and through its service, it offers something extra, Spencer Marchand said. Builders Corps, another division of Marchand Retail Group, helps North Dakota contractors broker their products and grow their small businesses through a buying group. A third division, Accord Comfort Sleep Systems, manufactures its own health-centric mattress brand in Chicago. “We’ve shipped beds to all 50 states and Puerto Rico. We’ve sold all over the coun-

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try in the last three years,” Spencer Marchand said. Having sold in-store, online and through Amazon, the company now is working on an international market with contacts in India. “We have another international company that we’re just forming, and we should be taking our products internationally and globally as a brand,” Rod Marchand said. “All of that has been basically built upon this kind of ever-expanding notion of our company – and I think our belief and desire to do something that is traditionally a little bit bigger than what you would do in a small community. But the world has shrunk with all the internet and global connections.” Rod Marchand’s father, Tom, started in electronics 41 years ago, selling televisions and home stereos. The business transitioned to furniture, and in 1999, Rod Marchand bought the company. He expanded the business beyond the traditional community boundaries to embrace a trade area that encompasses North Dakota and extends into Minnesota and South Dakota. The company now employs 14 people. Spencer and Quincy

The Harvey Chamber of Commerce takes a similar approach in supporting rural businesses. The chamber’s membership grew from 64 to about 150 as its emphasis on member promotion has attracted not only local businesses but businesses from area communities, including Minot, Bismarck and Devils Lake. Through the chamber, Adams launched Cruise 52, a free promotional site on Facebook for businesses in any community along U.S. Highway 52. Businesses receive signage for their windows to advertise their participation. Gunderson said Harvey has been helped by a few other developments. The governor’s emphasis on rebuilding downtowns rather than increasing sprawl and the local medical center’s plan for a large expansion of its clinical capacity made a difference. Also, the railroad determined it needed to keep some of those jobs it planned on eliminating. That’s not to say Harvey doesn’t have challenges. Among them has been recruiting natural gas service to be able to attract industry. Other concerns are asset transfer to ensure businesses continue to the next generation and workforce development to fill local jobs. Going forward, Harvey leaders will be working to address those issues, Gunderson said. An initiative currently is in motion for a proposed Learning Commons, where business owners can learn about asset transfer and people can gain job skills in needed areas such as information technology or truck driving. Harvey has been applying for and receiving grants to help establish the career training center downtown. “Good things are happening in our little town,” Adams said. “It’s amazing what this town is doing.”

Page 6

LEARNING

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

LEFT: Megan Wold oversees Meg-ALatte coffee shops, which are part of a collection of small businesses she and her husband, Eddie, have opened in Williston. BELOW: Williston’s Meg-A-Latte coffee shops have grown from coffee bars to cafes.

THE BUSINESS

Williston couple shares business experiences By JILL SCHRAMM

Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com WILLISTON – Eddie and Megan Wold have learned a lot in building their Williston businesses in the past 10 years, and they don’t mind sharing that knowledge with other fledgling small businesses. Williston Economic Development tapped the Wolds as a contact for some of its new businesses looking for mentors. The Wolds’ Meg-A-Latte coffee shops have three locations, and they last year opened Lounge 33, a beer and wine espresso bar. The coffee shops together have 45 employees and the espresso bar employs about 10 people. The coffee shops started with a small array of product choices and have grown to a full menu of breakfast, lunch and snacks. “We’re definitely a coffee shop but a cafe as well. We have a lot of food options that we just have added to the plate here in the last year and a half,” Megan Wold said. The Wolds built a large new drive-through location that offers more opportunity for an expanded menu – and more wall space for Eddie’s art. The artwork that was decorating the shops caught the community’s eye, and Eddie left the insurance business in 2013 to focus fulltime on his home business, Eddie Wold Art. Eddie Wold said his ground metal art form morphed from the original abstract works he created as something unique for the coffee shops to custom works with scenes of the outdoors, oil fields and other thematic pieces. “It really snowballed into its own little businesses,” he said. The Wolds had been living in Fargo before moving back to their hometown of Williston. Megan attended and graduated from North Dakota State University, and Eddie, who

trained in auto body, was working for repair and custom painting shops. He later operated his own shop, doing custom painting on cars, motorcycles and helmets, for three years. Returning to Williston, Eddie Wold took a position as an insurance adjuster. Megan Wold had worked in a variety of jobs but was working as buyer for an oil company in Williston when she felt the call to do her own thing. As a young mother, Megan Wold was looking for flexibility offered by running her own business. She had experience managing a coffee shop and thought that would be a good fit for her. The Wolds had moved back to Williston to raise their family in a small-town atmosphere just as the oil boom was heating up. Although it wasn’t what they expected, starting a business in a booming community proved to be a good move. Megan Wold said the development of their small businesses has veered from the original goal. Her intent was to run a small coffee shop on her own, with possibly one other employee. “Then the boom happened and we had a line out the door every day, and I had to hire 10 new people, and all of a sudden things started really getting busy here in Williston, which allowed us to expand fairly quickly. Within two years we had the second location. Williston was still very busy with oil and so that allowed us to open our third location,” she said. “It wasn’t really the goal, initially, but God graced us with the opportunity to expand.” Megan Wold received the Woman-Owned Business Entrepreneur of the Year from the North Dakota Small Business Development Center and Williston Economic Development in 2013. She already has had opportunities to share what she has learned with new entrepre-

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neurs. “It has been really fun to help new entrepreneurs just because we have now been at this for – it will be – 10 years, and so I’ve learned a lot in that amount of time. I do feel that I can give some advice and some support to someone that’s new to owning their own business,” she said. “Our advice is just to have some knowledge and maybe try and work in the industry that you want to pursue as your own business,” she continued. “Having the background in whatever it is that you have interest in doing is so important, because then you just really have more of an idea of what it takes.” “A lot of people fail in business, too,” Eddie Wold added, “because they think it’s something that looks easy, and they try to go at it with no knowledge. Then they don’t know how to run it or manage it. Having experience is absolutely a plus.” Megan Wold encourages prospective business owners to do their research, whether or not they are able to get actual work experience. When starting her coffee shops, she talked to staff at the economic development office in Williston, who provided valuable information regarding government rules, sales tax and checking all the other business boxes that needed to be checked. “My dad has been a good mentor for me as well. He’s a financial advisor and so he’s been very helpful in growing our business,” she said. Eddie Wold said starting his art business was a trial by fire. He had to learn to plan ahead to understand each customer’s unique request as well as understand how a customer wanted to display the art before he tackled the project.

About 80% of his work is company signage because that’s where demand has been. One of his pieces ended up at a church in Austin, Texas, after the congregation became aware of his art at a White House event. Eddie Wold Art was chosen to represent North Dakota in Washington, D.C, at a 50state Made in America showcase event. The trip to Washington was a great opportunity, although COVID-19 limited interpersonal interaction and the Wolds didn’t get to meet President Trump, who was being treated for the virus at the time. Operating their businesses has been as rewarding as they had hoped. “I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love every day and have Eddie by my side to help us with the coffee shop and have him be able to do what he loves as well,” Megan Wold said. “I don’t think we could ask for a better situation. We both have the time for our kids and we’re able to take the time needed for them because of the fact that we are our own boss.” Eddie Wold added it helps that they have a good team of employees and can feel comfortable that the shops will run smoothly if they aren’t there. Megan Wold said their business success is due to the Williston community as well. “They’ve embraced us,” she said. “We just feel like it’s a great place.”

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Saturday, April 24, 2021

Family-run cafe has long history in Stanley

CARRYING ON TRADITION

Page 7

Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

By JILL SCHRAMM

Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com STANLEY – Traditions help define the identity of a small town, according to the owners of a long-time Main Street cafe that has been part of the Stanley community’s tradition. Cory and Jamie Rice not only carry on Joyce’s Cafe, started by Cory’s grandparents, but they have retained certain aspects of the operation that respect the history of the restaurant and the familiarity that customers enjoy. “They kind of know what to expect when they’re coming here – almost like a comfort,” Jamie Rice said. Cory Rice’s grandparents, Alvin and Joyce Neether, originally opened a restaurant in Stanley in 1968 while continuing to farm and ranch. In 1973, their focus shifted to the farm, but when they later moved into Stanley, they decided to re-open a restaurant in a different building. In 1978, they left the business again, returning to the farm until the next year, when they bought two restaurants in Tioga and moved their family there. Their previous restaurant building in Stanley came up for sale in 1982 so they returned to purchase it for a cafe. They also operated a pool hall across the street. In 1983, they sold their various business interests, except for Joyce’s Cafe. Cory Rice recalls hanging out and helping at the cafe while growing up. His grandparents, who helped raise him and his sister, instilled in them the importance of contributing to the family business, he said. The Neethers sold the business at the end of 2006. The new owner, who renamed it My Cafe, left after a year, and Cory and Jamie Rice bought the building at an auction in February 2008. Cory Rice had been working in the oil field and Jamie Rice was operating a daycare in their home. The Neethers had encouraged them to buy the cafe, and they offered their business advice before their deaths. Alvin died in 2009 and Joyce in 2017. “I honestly look back at it and say

Cory and Jamie Rice own and operate Joyce’s Cafe, a long-time Main Street business in Stanley. the traditions that we probably kept, the values we probably kept, are Alvin’s and Joyce’s values,” Cory Rice said. Changes have come with modernization, such as computers and credit cards, although the red and white furnishings remain the same. “My grandfather loved red and white,” Cory Rice said. The cafe’s western feel promoted by the Neethers still exists to some extent, including a 1977 mural on one wall. However, the Rices added their own touch with sports memorabilia on another wall. “Their tradition and our tradition,” Cory Rice explained. “We put the Joyce’s name back on it because that was a good name to carry because of all the work my grandparents put into it.” He said it wasn’t surprising that he came back to the business. He had tended to gravitate back over the years, such as to assist when his grandparents were experiencing health issues. “It’s just a magnet to the fridge,” he laughed. “I couldn’t get away from it.” Jamie Rice had started as a waitress for the Neethers, learning under Joyce

about cooking and operating the cafe. Consequently, she adapted quickly to ownership. However, the demands of the job on her prompted Cory Rice to quit his oil-field job to become fulltime in the operation, which also allowed the cafe to expand its hours. Handling much of the cooking, they work separate shifts to maintain hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The evening hours prompted them to adjust their menu to include items such as wings and ribeye steaks. The cafe’s re-opening came around the time the Bakken oil boom was impacting Stanley. “That was crazy those first couple years. We were super busy,” Jamie Rice said. “There was so much going on. The town was expanding,” Cory Rice added. “I was coaching football and baseball at the time in Stanley here. We were just constantly go, go, go. You were running into a melting pot of personalities. You had people from all 50 states.” The restaurant saw times change

from an oil boom to a viral pandemic, and although Cory’s grandparents had warned them about good times and bad in the industry, the swings were more drastic than the Rices were prepared for. But they persisted, offering takeout and delivery when the pandemic was at its peak. The community also supported them. “The community really gathered around us so we’re very happy for that. We love our community,” Cory Rice said. The Rices didn’t take the advice of his grandparents regarding keeping their distance as business owners from community involvement. Jamie serves on the school board, and Cory has been involved on various boards in the community. “We want Stanley to excel and keep its standard of living here,” Cory Rice said. As the pandemic has eased, routine has been returning to Joyce’s Cafe. Jamie Rice said the cafe has its regular breakfast crowd and three different coffee groups who meet there. The familiarity means they have a pretty

The great indoors. We didn’t check the forecast for cold weather. Or bring out the coloring books and crayons. But we did provide the heat so this family could enjoy the day together. When the energy you invest in life meets the energy we fuel it with, indoor fun happens.

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good idea which menu items to prepare and which channel to tune in on the television even before their regulars arrive. Cory Rice said they have needed to adjust to reach the next generation of diners, though. “That’s why we’ve had to expand our menu so much,” he said. The cafe also acquired a liquor license to serve alcohol with food, although he said it still promotes a family atmosphere. The cafe was back to employing three additional workers this spring after having to cut back during the pandemic shutdown. The Rices can’t began to count all the individuals who have worked for the cafe over the 50 years, but it would be numerous. “There’s been a lot of good people over the years,” Jamie Rice said. “Lots of good friends.” The Rices are considering a second restaurant along U.S. Highway 2, which ran through the city until rebuilt to bypass downtown in the early 1980s. Closing the Main Street cafe is not an option, though. “There’s too much tradition here,” Cory Rice said.

Page 8

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Minot Daily News • PROGRESS: Your Downtown

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