July 11, 2023

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

Sioux Falls-based KAJ Hospitality has acquired five hotels in the city: Hilton Garden Inn South, Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHills Suites by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. Those are the first properties in Sioux Falls for the company, which now manages a portfolio of 15 upper-midscale and upscale hotels in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Kansas.

Scooter’s Coffee will build a drive-thru kiosk in Harrisburg. It will be at Willow Street and Creekside Avenue and is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2024.

Chef Lizzie Stewart has started The Dirty Bird, which is operating out of a food truck owned by A Homestead Brew. It specializes in smoked chicken wings. She’s planning to run The Dirty Bird at the brewery east of Sioux Falls most Saturdays this season from 2 to 7 p.m. or until the food runs out. Stewart also has created Sioux Falls Supper Club, a pop-up dinner re-creating the supper club experience she grew up with in northwest Wisconsin.

A new gastropub, The Commonwealth, will be part of The Steel District development. It will be the fifth full-service dining establishment in the city from Kirby Muilenberg and Bryant Soberg. The menu will be centered around small plates, and The Commonwealth will have a full liquor license. Build-out is expected to begin in spring 2024.

Pizza Hut has opened at 824 S. Highline Place in the Dawley Farm Village development. The new location includes a drive-thru and is carry-out only. It replaces the Pizza Hut at 10th Street and Cleveland Avenue. It’s open daily.

A new food truck features flavors of central Mexico. Ricardo Gonzalez has started Taqueria Gonzalez. It’s based in the parking lot of Food-N-Fuel at 100 N. Kiwanis Ave. and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Along with the usual tacos, burritos, quesadillas and quesabirria, Gonzalez makes mulitas and vampiritos. He also serves hamburgers topped with more meats and hot dogs wrapped in bacon.

A mobile boba tea and bakery business is on the road in Sioux Falls. Shibi Tea is the creation of friends Gabe Carlisle and Jesse Frederick, who share a love for the ancient Japanese dog breed Shiba Inu. In addition to traditional Taiwanese bubble tea, it serves baked goods, and everything is made from scratch.

Quoin Financial Bank, which has locations in Sioux Falls, Highmore and Miller, is selling to a Minnesota company. Independent Bancshares Inc., which owns FM Bank, has formed a new subsidiary holding company, Quoin Bancshares Inc., to support the acquisition. The new owners will retain the name Quoin Financial Bank as well as the employees and the Peterka family management team. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.

Sinless Sweets is closing its storefront July 14 at The Bridges at 57th. It will return to being an in-home bakery that takes custom orders for its gluten-free and vegan sweets.

Paxton Alsgaard and Jeff Hayward have started Dakota Adventure Supply, which features outdoor gear designed and manufactured in South Dakota. It has launched its first product: a durable tote bag. The company primarily will sell online but is looking at pop-up events.

Bit of Everything Discount Store has opened a storefront. It’s next to Ruby Tuesday at 2425 S. Shirley Ave. and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Owners Diana Navas and Victor Diaz started selling overstocked items from other stores last year as an online business.

Sharing the Dream in Guatemala is closing its store in the Jones421 Building once another tenant is found. The store in Vermillion will remain open, and the fair trade gift shop that features the work of Guatemalan artisans plans to expand its online and wholesale markets, along with pop-up shops.

Lance Brouwer has opened 506 Gunsmithing at 47070 104th St. near the Tea exit for Interstate 29, offering firearm cleaning, maintenance, inspection and Cerakote. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Branden and Abby Hiles have started Atlas Gutter Co., offering gutter installation, gutter guards, gutter cleaning, soffit and fascia. The company uses field software allowing customers to schedule, view progress and pay digitally. Branden Hiles is a military veteran who worked in the homebuilding industry. Atlas Gutter has two crews operating and is based in Harrisburg.