Jan. 23, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Kwik Star and Les Schwab Tire Center are the latest national retailers heading to Brandon and potentially the first of multiple new names that could be announcing this year.

They’re locating in the Brandon 90 Plaza, off Interstate 90 in a multiuse commercial development that includes Heartland Appliance and a new retail center that includes Jimmy John’s.

“It’s a gateway to Sioux Falls,” property co-owner Marwin Hofer said. “Metro Sioux Falls starts at that exit.”

Les Schwab Tire Center, one of the leading independent tire dealers in the United States, plans a full-service facility that will have seven bays. Offerings will include brake services, alignment, shocks, oil changes, custom wheels and batteries.

This will be Les Schwab’s first Brandon location and the company’s seventh South Dakota store, after opening six locations in 2024.

“South Dakota has welcomed us with open arms,” area manager Casey Longacre said. “We’re excited to meet more of our neighbors in Brandon ahead of and after our opening in 2026.”

Kwik Star plans to build on 3 acres at Brandon 90 Plaza starting this summer, Hofer said.

The gas station, convenience store and car wash opened its first South Dakota location on the west side of Brandon in 2023.

Within the broader Brandon 90 Plaza development, “the master plan is to continue with a strip mall, and we’re talking to a hotel group,” Hofer continued, adding that there’s strong interest from national food and service-based retailers.

“It takes a long time,” he said. “But I think Brandon has changed. Ten or 15 years ago, it was almost a bedroom community, but now I find they’re great to work with, and I’m excited by what’s happening. I really am.”

There’s reason to be, those close to the community say.

“The community of Brandon benefits from strong demographics and access to the broader Sioux Metro region,” said Tyler Tordsen, president and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“There have been numerous encouraging deals already, and we see a lot of potential here going forward.”

So does Ryan Tysdal of Van Buskirk Cos., who already has helped bring national retailers such as Scooter’s Coffee and Domino’s to the community.

“Scooter’s popularity has been off the charts,” he said. “The day they opened was really exciting for Brandon, and they’ve been really generous with the community and schools as well. We have one vacancy right next to Scooter’s in that strip mall that we’re currently negotiating on with a national tenant.”

Tysdal also worked on a deal for a second Casey’s location in the community, this one on Aspen Boulevard across from Brandon Golf Course.

“Casey’s in Brandon has always performed very well, and we looked for the right second location for a number of years,” he said. “Aspen Boulevard will be a great site to service all the existing and new neighborhoods on the east side of Brandon.”

A timeline for construction hasn’t been set yet.

In Brandon, buying local is a community priority, City Council member David Kull said. The Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce continually brings forward a Buy Local campaign, and citizens respond.

“Having these additional retailers within our city limits allows more opportunity to do just that, and I’m looking forward to these businesses and hopefully many more to move to Brandon,” Kull said. “Aside from being able to shop locally, these businesses will result in an increase in sales tax money staying in and benefiting our city budget. As these businesses are opened and realize success, they will in turn provide incentives to others to move to town.”

While Brandon counts a city population of more than 11,000, “our broader area is about 20,000,” said Patrick Andrews, development director for the city of Brandon.

“We could draw from eastern Sioux Falls, but it would have to be a significant retail presence.”

As more residential growth occurs, “I imagine retail will pick up,” he said. “We expect the Chestnut Ridge neighborhood on the east side to start developing, and there are plans for about 160 townhomes.”

Additional national retail likely will be a fit at Van Buskirk’s River Park neighborhood, one of three subdivisions the company has underway in the community.

Located on the city’s west side along Holly Boulevard, it’s envisioned as a mixed-use development with residential lots opening this year.

“We have a bunch of lots that back up to rivers and parks, and it’s extremely beautiful,” co-CEO Steve Van Buskirk said. “We’re getting a lot of interest in the multifamily market. People are interested in the Brandon market for that. Our feeling is we’ll land a multifamily builder before long, and then the follow-on is commercial. The Holly Avenue corridor keeps getting busier and busier, and we’re getting a lot of interest and activity there, including from national retailers.”