June 15, 2021

Mini-Critters is adding a second Sioux Falls location. The local pet retailer is leasing the building at 2621 S. Minnesota Ave., which most recently was Fit My Feet. The new site is expected to open in August.

Sioux Falls-based POET has acquired Kansas-based Flint Hills Resources’ bioethanol assets, expanding the company’s production capacity by 40 percent. The acquisition includes six bioprocessing facilities in Iowa and Nebraska and two terminals in Texas and Georgia. POET now will operate 33 bioprocessing facilities across eight states with a combined annual capacity of 3 billion gallons.

Construction work has started on an apartment complex north of Madison Street along Marion Road. Aspen Heights will have three 50-unit buildings, one 30-unit building and an outdoor pool and clubhouse. The plan is to open the first 100 units in 2022, beginning in early spring, and continue building into 2023.

North Carolina-based Grover Gaming is getting into the video lottery business with a new Sioux Falls location. The software company develops electronic games. Its office at 1404 N. C Ave. includes space for assembling machines.

A traditional Japanese teppanyaki restaurant is coming to the west side of Sioux Falls. The owner of Tasteas is opening Samurai Tasteas in a retail center on Sertoma Avenue north of 41st Street next to Flyboy Donuts and Stensland Family Farms. In addition to teppanyaki, which is cooked in front of diners, there will be a sushi bar. It’s expected to open no later than September.

Buff City Soap is bringing its all-natural, create-your-own soap store to Sioux Falls. The franchise will be in one of the retail centers being built at Empire Place in front of The Empire Mall. It’s expected to open in early fall. Products include bar soap, foaming hand soap, shower gel, laundry soap and bath bombs.

Average Joe’s Gaming & Hobby Store has opened near Tea. The store sells tabletop games, crafted figures and pop culture trinkets and features spaces where customers can play tabletop, virtual reality and arcade games. Average Joe’s, 27294 Verhey Place, is open daily.

Chuck’s Drive-In has opened in Lennox. The menu features burgers, sandwiches, chislic and ice cream. There’s a walk-up window for ordering and pickup, as well as indoor seating with 10 booths. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

A fire has temporarily closed the Phillips Avenue Diner.

 Design and engineering firm ISG will be moving to The Bancorp building at Cherapa Place that will open in 2023. The firm has outgrown the downtown office it opened in 2018 in the CNA building. ISG is initially leasing 10,000 square feet but envisions ultimately needing the amount of a full floor, which is 18,000 square feet.

Scooter’s Coffee plans to open a new drive-thru location next year in northwest Sioux Falls. It will be along Marion Road directly across from the main entrance to Jefferson High School.

Women’s apparel and home decor store Anthropologie is coming to The Empire Mall. It’s taking more than half of the former Gap space and is expected to open before Thanksgiving.

Casey’s General Stores has purchased land at Benson and Louise for a gas station and C-store.

Sub Zero Nitro has opened in The Empire Mall. The business, which has a lease through August, uses liquid nitrogen to make flash-frozen ice cream for each order.

Silverstar Car Wash has reopened at 41st Street and Grange Avenue after a full renovation. The exterior got a face-lift, and the parking lot was redesigned to improve traffic flow. New wash equipment was installed inside the wash tunnel.

A franchisee for Minnesota-based Face Foundrie is opening a location in Sioux Falls. The facial bar offers a variety of skin care and facial services, including mini facials, focused facials, brow services such as waxing and lamination, and lash services. The owners are looking for a site and expect to open before the end of the year.

Yellow Cab Co. Inc. has closed after 70 years in business. “Lyft and Uber are definitely the reason we’re closing,” owner Tallie West said.