By Jodi Schwan

Amanda Wermers hasn’t opened her business yet, but she already knows the holiday shopping season will be critical for it.

The plan was to open Game Chest this month in the first-floor marketplace under construction at the downtown Jones421 building.

When it became clear the space wouldn’t be ready in time, “I started brainstorming about what we should do,” Wermers said. “We were in a bit of a panic. It’s hard being a business owner and terrifying when you have financing not knowing when you’re going to open.”

So Wermers, whose business is part of the Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. retail incubator program, called the downtown organization to talk about a potential pop-up shop.

“We needed to do something. We needed a place to set up games and have people come get games for the Christmas season.”

Game Chest will temporarily open in the former QT Cakes.

The answer came in the form of a recently vacated space at 127 W. 10th St. The Game Chest is leasing the former QT Cakes space for the next two months.

“They’ve been so flexible and friendly and kind,” Wermers said. “So we’re going to paint the walls so they’re not lime green any more and put up our shelves.”

Some renovation is being done inside the future Game Chest.

While the business eventually plans to rent out  games, the focus for the holiday season is on selling them.

“We’re not even doing our original inventory,” Wermers said. “We’re going to target party games and big sellers for Christmas and some stocking stuffers.”

The plan is to open at 11 a.m. Nov. 18. The new store joins another newly opened business, neighbor Hydra Beer Hall.

“I love that we’re right by them and we’ll be giving each other business,” Wermers said.

The plan is to move to Jones421 in December, where Game Chest will join several other businesses, including multiple restaurants.

Local shops, restaurants sign on for new downtown marketplace