Progress & Industry: The business scene in '19

Business flourished in the Brandon area in 2019, with 44 commercial building permits that added up to nearly $4 million in new property valuation.

Last year’s commercial landscape also included plenty of moving and shaking that didn’t require a permit. 

Let’s take a look at the progress of the business scene in 2019:

• Cindy Taylor and Brock Byington opened a pet salon, the Groom Room, on Holly Boulevard in April. 

• Gypsy Trading Co. sponsored Brandon’s first outdoor makers festival, McHardy Market, featuring dozens of area artisans selling everything from furniture, antiques and knickknacks to bath bombs and jewelry. The April event was held at McHardy Park and is returning again this spring, according to organizer Ellison Cutrer. She’s backing the date up, however, to the first weekend in May.

• A new convenience store, grill and casino, Broadway Gas & Grill, opened in Valley Springs, giving locals there a place to buy milk, bread and other essentials without leaving the city. 

• Woodworker, welder and builder extraordinaire Lisa Hokenstad opened an interior design consulting business, LH Design, in the lobby of Family, Floors & Furniture.

• After two years and one winter as a holiday pop-up shop on wheels, The Paisley Pod decided to settle into a storefront boutique. Owner Chrystal Rothenberger opened in the Holly Crossing plaza in June and has been making the most of her new location with lots of unique sales, private parties, and of course, that friendly hometown customer service.

• The Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce launched a monthly lunchtime series for member businesses, “On the Menu.” Brandon police chief Joe Weir spoke at the first event in June. Follow-up presentors have included BVHS Principal Mark Schlekeway, South Dakota State head football coach John Stiegelmeier, and Sheila Gestring, president of the University of South Dakota. Local entrepreneur Rebekah Scott is on tap for February.

• Feature film animator and children’s book illustrator Lamont Hunt opened Tally-Ho Art Gallery at 1324 E. Cedar Street. 

• Two local businesses gained new ownership. Jason Albertson and Paul Ode took over the Double D Saloon from Mark Fonder, while Mark Anderson purchased the Brandon Steakhouse from longtime owner Bob Miller.

• Alliance Communications broke ground in July on its new Brandon facility in the Alliance Plaza. The co-op relocated to its new home in January of 2020. 

• Curt Wrightsman opened The Wright Vacs at 101 N. Splitrock Blvd. in July. The shop is in the space formerly occupied by Verizon Wireless, which moved to the larger unit right next door.

• Avera purchased three acres on the corner of Splitrock and Aspen boulevards from landowner Alliance Communications in the new Alliance Plaza. An Avera spokesman said there were no plans yet for developing the land. 

• Beautique expanded its footprint with the construction of a 10,000-square foot warehouse that includes space for merchandise and photo shoots.

• The patriarch and matriarch of two longtime staples in Brandon – Sunshine Foods and Tony’s Catering – parted ways with the businesses they first started 43 years ago. In August, Tony and Pam Bosch passed on ownership of the local grocery store and catering business to a team of well-recognized partners. The new owners are Dan Roemen, Craig Bosch, Dee Millington and Chad Padgett.

• Kaleb and Haley Lindsey-Stevens opened a smoothie and tea bar, The Drop Nutrition, at 1302 E. Rushmore Dr.

• Steve Tripp and Amy Olson-Miller, partners of McKinneyOlson Insurance Group, acquired The Insurance Connection, a longtime business located along Minnesota Avenue, from Oscar and Lori DeVries. The acquisition allows Tripp and Olson-Miller to offer a wider range of insurance services.

• Agassiz Seed & Supply, a regional wholesale seed and agricultural supply company with locations in West Fargo and Mandan, N.D., and Eagan, Minn., expanded operations with a fourth location in the Corson Industrial Park.

• A video lottery, Dakota Star Casino, opened Sept. 5 in a quiet, comfortable space in the Cedar Plaza at 1320 E. Cedar St. They took over the space that Lisa Hokenstad had her home décor and consulting business in before moving into Family Floors & Furniture.

• The new Brandon Post Office opened in Alliance Plaza on Aspen Blvd.

• Libby Burns opened a photography studio in her name – Libby Burns Photography – in a commercial space at 308 Holly Blvd. The Brandon wife and mom specializes in newborn, family and senior graduation photography.

• Eric Anderson launched Turd Nerds, a home-based business clearing yards of pet waste, dog walking and performing other pet services. He’s presently securing clients for spring clean-ups and beyond.

• Billy Cutrer officially brewed up his first sale at Kingbird Coffee on Jan. 1, 2020, when Brandon’s second sit-down coffee shop opened in the Brandon Retail Center along Splitrock Boulevard.