Oct. 5, 2021

Here’s a look at recent changes in the business landscape in the Sioux Falls area.

Elite Autoworks LLC has opened an automotive repair shop at 5200 W. Eighth St., Elite is a family-owned and -operated automotive repair shop, specializing in foreign and domestic automotive repairs and services. The business offers electrical diagnostics, mechanical repair, brakes, exhaust, upgrades, tires and welding/metal fab. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Vanilla Bean Kings of Hartford is expanding to a building that’s under construction in the community’s Western Meadows Industrial Park. Taylor Ernster started the e-commerce business in 2014, importing vanilla products from all over the world. “We specialize in vanilla products – beans, vanilla paste, vanilla powder – anything that has vanilla in it we resell,” he said. And we’re trying to educate people in the proper ways to make extract.” Much of the 11,000-square-foot building will be warehouse space.

Groomer’s Choice Pet Products has added 70,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space to its site at 4401 N. Northview Ave. The extra room was needed to keep up with demand for its products, most of which are sold directly to groomers.

SudShare, a next-day laundry service, has launched in Sioux Falls. Customers use the app-based service to connect with “Sudsters” who pick up the dirty laundry, wash and dry it in their home, fold it and return it the next day. The national platform began scaling up last year. Customers pay $1 per pound of laundry. The Sudster keeps 75 cents, plus tips.

Starbucks has opened at 4704 E. 41st St. The new location, which is east of Sycamore Avenue, was developed by Cresten Capital Holdings, which also is developing the newly announced Starbucks on the west side at 41st Street and Ellis Road. Hours at the new east-side store at 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s temporarily limited to drive-thru service as are other corporate stores in the city.

Monica’s Menu began serving food earlier this summer, featuring the flavors of the cultures of three friends. The food truck is owned by Monica Castello, who is Puerto Rican. She’s assisted by husband Bob Berg with American fare like burgers and goulash and their friend Laura Espinoza with Mexican tacos, burritos and taquitos.  Castello’s Puerto Rican dishes include options such as fried pork, roasted pork and arroz con gandules, or seasoned rice with fried pork. Her signature dish, also called Monica’s Menu, includes all of that along with fried plantains and macaroni salad. It’s based on the north side of the Amazon fulfillment center that’s under construction in Foundation Park and serves food from lunch into late afternoon during the week and sometimes on Saturdays. It’s also available for public events and catering.

Dave & Buster’s has confirmed that it’s resuming construction on its site at Lake Lorraine. The original project completion was set for mid-2020, but work was paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic as Dave & Buster’s suspended all construction projects. The building’s shell on the east side of Lake Lorraine was completed in early 2020 and is awaiting the interior build-out and exterior finishes. Now, the opening is expected to be in early 2022.

A new east-side development will bring the city’s largest stand-alone apartment complex and a slate of amenities to match. The 425-unit PowderHaus Apartments plans to break ground this month on the northeast side of 41st Street and Veterans Parkway. It’s the first multifamily project in Sioux Falls for Talon Development, a family firm connected to Sioux Falls-based Eagle Construction. It will include four 88-unit buildings and several townhome-style buildings, along with a clubhouse, two outdoor pools, a splash pad, a basketball court, sand volleyball courts, dog parks, rooftop patios and fire pits.

Developer Kevin Tupy of Cresten Capital Holdings is buying Lucky’s bar and the building where it’s located at 224 S. Phillips Ave. The deal with owner Jason Froehling is expected to close this month. Tupy plans to update the bar while keeping it open and convert the top floor of the building into a loft.

Locally owned ice cream shop Sweet Cheeks has opened at 3609 W. Avera Drive. Owner Tasia Guericke offers a self-serve bar with 50 topping options. In addition to ice cream, Sweet Cheeks serves gelato, frozen yogurt and sorbet. Customers pay based on the weight of their creations. It also sells frozen novelty treats and 12 flavors of cotton candy that are made in-house daily. It’s open seven days a week.

A longtime Sioux Falls home furnishings and interior design business has opened a retail shop in the Jones21 Building. Interiors Etc. was started in 1975 by Mary Kelly and now her son, Richard, expanded it into retail. The store offers high-end furniture, lighting, art, rugs and accessories. It’s in the former Bella Rosa space in the downtown mixed-use building at 421 N. Phillips Ave.

A $1.5 million gift from Denny Sanford will bring the Woster Plaza at Falls Park to reality. Efforts have been underway for years to build an interactive outdoor plaza dedicated to agriculture. The Woster Plaza will be named after Jim Woster, who envisioned a place to build on the connection between consumers and ag producers.   The first phase of the project, the Stockyards Ag Experience Barn, opened to the public in 2017 at Falls Park.

An Omaha couple has expanded their New Age crystal store to Sioux Falls. Awakenings is at 3500 W. 41st St. Owners Eric Abts and Kelli Miller sell crystals, sage products, decor, home, beauty and wellness products, essential oils, pendulums, salt lamps, dreamcatchers, jewelry and gifts. It’s open daily.

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