May 18, 2026

One of Minnesota Avenue’s more well-known storefronts is about to be filled.

Juniper Apothecary will move from its 8th & Railroad Center location to 2019 S. Minnesota Ave., the former Spoke-N-Sport building, after remodeling is completed in late June.

“We are on top of each other,” said Joshua Sopko, whose wife, Brittany, started the business. “In the eight years of being in the space we are in, we’ve remodeled five times. We’re out of space. There’s no more remodeling we can do.”

The move is one of several being made along Minnesota Avenue, where long-vacant or underutilized properties are seeing new uses.

“We want people to feel safe, warm and comfortable,” Sopko said. “We don’t want to feel big-box retail.”

Added options

Juniper Apothecary not only has expanded its line of products but also now accepts wholesale orders, Sopko said. Because almost all its products are made in-house, when a large order comes in, the retail side of the store must be converted to manufacturing.

Customers also frequently ask for raw herbs so they can make their own products or blend their own teas, Sopko said. Juniper Apothecary will have more room for herbs, and it also will have space for classes and workshops.

Juniper Apothecary officially opened as a retail business in August 2018. Brittany Sopko began making bath and body products for her family, wanting to ensure that they had items she knew were safe, clean and healthy. She first sold products from her home, then started a website.

The business’ first location was in The Empire Mall, before moving to 1,400 square feet along the boardwalk at 8th & Railroad in January 2019.

The new location will offer more than 8,000 square feet over three levels. About 2,700 square feet will be retail. Space near the rear will be used for making teas and mixing essential oils, and the new location will have a refillery for laundry detergent and sell bulk herbs. The basement can be used for storage and production of soaps and shampoos, with an open area on the second floor used to homeschool the Sopko children.

When it moves, the holistic health and wellness shop also will have something new to offer: a coffee bar.

The coffee and herbal tea bar in the retail space will be named Moss & Mugg, Sopko said.

“We have always thought a coffee concept would be super-fun,” he said.

The coffee machine will be a showpiece of the space, set in the center of the area with “a huge black top and green with gold accents,” said Sopko, a contractor by trade who is doing much of the renovation himself.

“I want them to walk in and say this was designed with a warmness in mind, that it feels cozy and comfortable. And this will be a coffee that has ingredients you can trust because it comes from us. We use organic syrup, and we’re still crafting some of our syrups. Everything from the milk we use is stuff we trust bringing into our family.”

Vacant space

After Spoke-N-Sport consolidated to one location in 2024, broker Sam Assam of Assam Cos. said there was a variety of interest in the Minnesota Avenue space.

“I turned down a couple deals for lack of financial strength because I don’t much like the revolving door,” he said. “Juniper is strong, and I like their business model. They’ve got a big following.”

While that move fills a vacancy, Assam also has multiple properties along the west side of Minnesota Avenue listed for lease.

“They’re a little rougher to rent,” he said, adding that there are planned improvements to some of the parking in the area.

Wayne Huber, a broker associate with Lloyd Cos., said he thinks the street’s proximity to an also-flourishing downtown is attractive to many business owners.

“It’s kind of driven by people want to be downtown but not necessarily in the core of it,” said Huber, who is seeking an occupant for a building between 14th and 16th streets. “There’s more parking to it. A lot of developers are looking to aged assets and looking to make renovations and looking to make a really beautiful the entrance to downtown, especially south to north.”

The building next to the railroad tracks on Minnesota Avenue south of 14th Street, once owned and operated by the Sioux Falls Housing Authority, will look completely different when interior and exterior remodeling is completed this year, Huber said.

With more than 8,300 square feet, the property is well positioned for long-term growth and accessibility, he said. RCM is the general contractor for the renovation.

“It can be office use or even medical, chiropractors or specialties from the hospital like dermatologists or plastic surgeons,” Huber said. “There’s a lot of good opportunity in that building, especially since an elevator was installed in 2002.”

The building itself was constructed in 1976 with the square footage balanced equally between floors. The interior already has been demolished in the renovation process, Huber said.

“I think it’s just great how developers are not only investing money in downtown but also in these adjacent areas near downtown as well,” he said. “It’s great to see those newer buildings and renovations be successful as well.”

Just to the south, the Tre Ministries development is starting to come together between 18th and 19th streets and Minnesota and Dakota avenues.

The concept calls for apartments, a stand-alone retail site and a two-story office building that would include the faith-based nonprofit that works with college students and young adults.

Tre Ministries is working with an architect to finalize design, said Sandy Berven, who leads the nonprofit.

“As we progress into the summer, we are hoping to get them finalized and to start moving into the construction side of things around the Labor Day time frame,” Berven said. “We see great things for this city block in late 2026 and 2027.”

New construction, renovations take shape 

The changes along Minnesota Avenue largely involve restoring established structures with one notable exception. CorTrust Bank will move from its leased quarters at 29th Street and Minnesota to a new building at 22nd Street and Minnesota later this summer.

“We’re looking at an Aug. 3 occupancy date, barring something coming up,” said Jack Hopkins, president and CEO of CorTrust Bank. “So far, it’s on track, and we haven’t seen any holdups. I’m optimistic that we’ll make that target.”

CorTrust will consolidate several departments located elsewhere into the new building. Initially, it will be the headquarters for about 45 people. Hopkins expects it to expand to nearly 60 at some point.

The new location is about twice the size of the leased quarters. The expansion will include a large training room and several conference rooms.

The bank will include a traditional teller line with several different interior features. It will be the first building in this area to use a particular kind of material indoors, offering modular walls with a different look, Hopkins said.

The exterior is relatively close to being done, with metal fabrication in place and stonework awaiting completion.

“It’s the interior where things are going fast and furious,” Hopkins said. “There are 30 to 40 contractors between the two floors.”

Customers using the outdoor teller stations will be able to exit onto either 21st or 22nd streets.

CorTrust has occupied its leased location for about 30 years. Its employees will receive a glimpse of the new building next month, Hopkins said. He describes them as “curious and ready to move.”

“Our leased location served us well,” said Hopkins, who joined CorTrust 37 years ago. “Our needs just outgrew that location.”

Just south of 41st Street on Minnesota Avenue stands a newly remodeled building that contains 21 individual suites that can be leased by beauty-industry professionals. Deb Compson, owner of Von Rae Salon Suites, said that 12 suites are leased, with several other businesses planning to move in soon.

Compson decided to renovate the building, located next to her family’s T&A Automotive Repair, after visiting another salon suite and familiarizing herself with the concept.

Constructed in the 1930s, the building was originally a grain elevator and at one point held a small movie theater. Deb and Mark Compson spent several years contemplating what to put in the building after a warehouse of old items was removed, at one point considering a childcare center or an Airbnb.

“For a couple of years after we bought T&A, we had to figure out how we can capitalize on this,” she said. “It was a complete gutting and remodeling. My job’s at T&A, so I’m always there pushing papers. My background is as a nurse, but somehow I ended up in the auto repair businesses and as a landlord.”

The first business opened in Von Rae in early February. Compson designed six suites to be set up for spa services, while the others have the sinks and furnishings needed for hair salons.

Each owner can personalize their own suite. Compson used Jason Baker of Design Builders for construction along with interior designer Lindsay Chicoine. Compson wanted a timeless style for the public areas, she said.

“We are a one-of-a-kind boutique style. We’re the foundation to growing your own enterprise. We take care of our tenants. It’s not like you sign a lease and you’ll be on your own.”

Here are the current tenants inside Von Rae Salon Suites:

Cosmetology:

• MH Beauty with Mekayla Halverson
• Velvet & Vine with Lisa Johnson and Kristin Harkema
• Divine Hair Design with Lori Williams
• SB Studio with Saylor Booth

Men’s cuts: JR Studio with Jhei Roewart

Massage: Massage by Allie

Nails: Glam by Lamb with Morgan Lamb

Estheticians:

• Aesthetics Lash Studio with Andrea Cato
• Luxury Skin & Lash with Destiny Esthetics