Dec. 7, 2023

A new fast-casual restaurant, a fitness studio and a medical office will be among the latest additions to a fast-growing south Sioux Falls intersection.

Atomic Wings, a national restaurant chain specializing in buffalo and boneless wings and other chicken dishes, will open in one of two retail centers under construction at Stadium Crossing on 69th Street just east of Cliff Avenue.

It’s being franchised by Eric and Stefanie Engelstad, who are franchisees for Firehouse Subs in Sioux Falls and will be Midwest-area representatives helping others open franchises for Atomic Wings, in addition to having one of their own.

“I love wings, and I love subs, so it’s the best of both world,” Eric Engelstad said. “I was impressed.”

The couple discovered the concept in Texas after assessing a number of franchising opportunities, Stefanie Engelstad said.

“Instantly, Eric knew this food is different,” she said. “I trust his knowledge of food and his gut feeling, and it got us to look into it further. The company is led by franchisees. They get it. In our build-out, we’ve already come up with new ideas and thoughts, and they’re so open to that.”

Atomic Wings began in New York in the 1980s and started franchising in 2016. The menu features 15 sauces, along with tenders, chicken sandwiches and salads.

“I was impressed,” Eric Engelstad said. “They have a lot of sides. The waffle fries are amazing. So we’re excited, and we’re just getting ready to start the build-out.”

The hope is to open in early spring,

“We just see that area growing,” he said. “We see it as an area that needs more options. We’re big in the community, and we see with Sioux Falls Christian and USF that there’s just a lot of development, and we thought it was a great area to put it. Starbucks, B&G, Roundhouse, a lot of things have done well.”

In a couple of weeks, Hotworx plans to open its second Sioux Falls location in the same retail center.

The 24-hour, sauna-style workout came to Lake Lorraine last year.

“The community has really enjoyed this one-of-a-kind concept with having access to the studio 24/7 and being able to work out in infrared sauna at their very own convenience,” general manager Trice Crump said.

“The results and benefits of infrared workouts are anywhere from muscle recovery, stress reduction to anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. Our members enjoy being able to come in and have a great workout, with sessions available from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.”

The south-side location “is well liked,” Crump added. “It is easy to locate. The neighboring businesses love it as well. We are currently hiring for talent as we speak.”

VanLaecken Orthodontics also is relocating its office at 4320 S. Minnesota Ave. to the new retail center. Dr. Nate VanLaecken; his father, Dr. Ryan VanLaecken; and uncle Dr. Rob VanLaecken will practice there. They formed the Sioux Falls office in 2020 and also have four other offices throughout South Dakota.

Services offered will include customized orthodontic care, including traditional braces, Lightforce clear braces and Invisalign clear aligners.

“This expansion is a strategic establishment of a new office to cater to the growing demand for orthodontic services in the area,” Dr. Nate VanLaecken said in a statement.

“We are excited to continue to serve the expanding Sioux Falls community. Our mission is to provide beautiful, confident smiles with a spirit of service, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of the community.”

The plan is to have the office ready to open in March.

The three tenants “will service the area very well, especially with the new apartments to the north,” said Zach Jacobsen, who represents developer Signature Cos. “Anytime a new franchise in town, like Atomic Wings, joins your development, it drives a lot of traffic from all over town, which will hopefully entice other tenants to want to be a part of the area.

“Hotworx had been looking for their second location for some time, and we are very happy they chose to bring that to Stadium Crossing, and they have been spectacular to work with on the build-out. The medical clinic will bring another much-needed service to the area as well.”

In the two retail centers, there’s room for several more businesses. There are two spaces left in the building that includes the announced tenants, and the other “is a blank slate at this point,” Jacobsen said. “The building is set up for five suites with around 7,200 total square feet, but we are willing to work with prospective tenants if they need more or less square footage than how it’s currently set up.”

There is “a lot of interest,” he added. “We had have number inquiries from a variety of users, from restaurants, larger salons, retailers and existing franchises. We are excited to see how both buildings fill up in 2024.”

In addition to the retail buildings, there are two lots open near Casey’s. The gas station and convenience store opened late this fall.

The Overture, a new amenity-filled apartment complex at the development, also has started to lease apartments, with the first new residents moving in early next year.

“We’re very excited for the new businesses to bring locations to the development as the housing nearby will have some built-in customers looking for their services and become a valued amenity for the neighborhood,” said Chris Daugaard, a partner with Ernst Capital, which assisted the property in its Signature Fund IV, which raised capital – largely from local investors – to support multiple projects for developer Clint Ackerman, owner of Signature Cos.

Booming south Sioux Falls development brings retail success, resident interest – with more ahead