Nov. 2, 2021

Jacky’s Restaurant has opened in The Empire Mall food court. It’s the fourth location for owner Jacky Vanloh, who started the restaurant in 2009.

Mexican restaurant Plaza Azteca, which started on the East Coast and then expanded to Fargo, is coming to Sioux Falls. It will be built at 3500 W. 69th St., south of WilLiquors.

The Cookie Jar Eatery has suspended lunch service but will continue to be open in downtown’s Shriver Square for bakery and take-and-bake sales. Chili and chicken tortilla soup also are available in microwavable bowls to go. “With the holidays fast approaching, grocery bills on the rise and a labor shortage, we have come to the difficult decision that we can no longer serve a daily lunch until further notice,” owners Glen and Elaine Koch wrote to customers in an email.

Pet Wants, a national pet retailer specializing in fresh and natural food, is opening in south Sioux Falls. Franchise owner Melissa Brandner has been operating out of a space in Tea but is moving the business to a retail center along 85th Street near Walmart sometime this month. It sells other pet supplies, and the new location will include two self-service wash bays.

The owners of Mekong Asian Market have purchased the former Subway building on North Minnesota Avenue and will start a Thai restaurant. Ruth and Seuk Kitilach plan to open ThaiTen next summer.

A retail meat market has opened in Hartford. Casey Remmers and Troy Grocott have started Creekside Meats, cutting and selling fresh beef and pork, along with items such as bratwurst, sausage and jerky made on-site, marinated chicken breasts, wings and frozen prepared foods such as soups and cinnamon rolls. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

North Dakota-based First International Bank & Trust has purchased the former First Premier Bank headquarters as its next location in Sioux Falls. The plan is to renovate the building on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Minnesota Avenue and open sometime next year.

Sunny’s Pizzeria is taking over the kitchen at EightyOne Arcade Bar. It will be a second location for the neighborhood pizza shop, which opened in late 2019. Sunny’s will begin serving pizza Thursday at the arcade bar, which is in The Carpenter Building at 221 S. Phillips Ave. The kitchen will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday.

A hot dog cart that started this summer in Brandon has moved inside with the cooler weather. Fred’s Franks is open Wednesday through Friday for lunch in Kingbird Coffee Shop on Splitrock Boulevard.

Natural soap shop Buff City Soap has opened in Sioux Falls. The national retailer specializes in customizable plant-based soaps, and bath and laundry products. There are more than 40 scents that can be combined or further customized at the on-site soap makery. Buff City Soap is at 4025 W. 41st St. in the new Empire Place development. It’s open daily.

A 133-unit senior living apartment building that’s just starting construction in south Sioux Falls will be filled with amenities such as a workshop, creative studio, library and theater. Omaha-based Essex Corp. is building The Parkwood on the southeast corner of 85th and Western. It’s expected to be completed in spring 2023.

Wings Gymnastics Academy has opened a second location. The new gym is at 2556 S. Lorraine Place in a retail center at the Lake Lorraine development. It offers classes for children of all ages and will start a ninja program this winter for girls and boys.

BoxLunch, a pop culture gift store, has opened in The Empire Mall. It’s located next to Aerie and American Eagle in the JCPenney wing. It offers licensed apparel, accessories and other merchandise and collectibles. Brand include Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pokemon and more.

A Sioux Falls couple has expanded their liquidation retail business with a second location that sells entire pallets stacked with merchandise. A Crate Deal Liquidation Outlet offers sales every other Saturday from a building in an industrial area on the north edge of Tea. The shrink-wrapped pallets are sold exactly as they come in from the distributor. Prices will vary at each sale, but they ranged from $350 to $800 at the first one.

Kids ‘R’ Kids is building a child care center along 85th Street, west of Western Avenue. The locally owned franchise will be licensed for up to 255 students, from 6 weeks old to 12 years, including before- and after-school and summer care. It’s expected to open next year in May.