Jan. 9, 2024

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

Verde Lounge in the Holiday Inn City Centre has reopened after being gutted and remodeled. The lounge now is part of the atrium in the downtown hotel. A top-to-bottom renovation of the 51-year-old property is almost completed.

Fat Kid Pizza in the food court at The Empire Mall closed just before Christmas, but owner Cody Sauers of Salem said he’s looking for another location in Sioux Falls. It had been open for three months.

Kenards Grille in The Gaslight Lounge has closed after four months, but the owner hopes to bring it back as a food truck someday. It would become the second food truck for Ken Leonard and his wife, Calain, who started Tacos de Gringo in 2021. Some of the Kenards menu items will live on this winter with occasional appearances on the Tacos de Gringo food truck.

Japanese-inspired general merchandise retailer Miniso is coming to The Empire Mall. It will be the first South Dakota store for the growing China-based company. The store will be between Express and Footlocker. It’s expected to open in the spring.

Avera is expanding access to inpatient care for behavioral health in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. In Sioux Falls, Avera Behavioral Health will finish shell space in the new Helmsley Behavioral Health Center, adding 16 beds for adult patients with more serious mental health disorders. In Aberdeen, Avera will create an 18-bed unit for adults, seniors and crisis stabilization for adolescents in vacant space on the fourth floor of Avera St. Luke’s Hospital.

Although a Garretson sports bar and restaurant has closed, it’s living on in a longtime bar and grill in the community. Leroy Austin opened The Combine two years ago in the former ‘O’ So Good Restaurant space but closed it in mid-November after buying the Sports Cabin in June. Some of The Combine menu items are being incorporated at the Sports Cabin.

Spoke-n-Sport is closing its store in Brookings on Jan. 13. The Sioux Falls-based bicycle and winter sports retailer expanded to Brookings in 2017.

Apple Tree Child Care Centers has delayed its closure from mid-January until at least the end of February while the owner sorts through options that could keep the centers open. Before the latest announcement, a deal already had been made for Apple Tree West, which will remain open.

GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness is expanding its location in Harrisburg, almost doubling in size and adding basketball hoops. The indoor turf area will expand, as will the area for cardio and strength equipment and free weights. The plan is to open the new addition by summer.

Giliberto’s Mexican Taco Shop at 10th and Bahnson is closed for maintenance and remodeling. It’s expected to reopen in mid- to late January.

Discovery Real Estate Co. has moved to Real Broker LLC,  a new brokerage in South Dakota. Broker Destinie Marshall is joined by five broker associates and two administrative assistants.

Code Ninjas closed at the end of September. The franchise location opened in 2019 in a retail center along 85th Street in front of Walmart. It taught computer coding to kids using a game-based curriculum and martial arts belt system of advancement.

Send Comings & Goings news to [email protected].