41st Street Boom

After a few years of too many vacancies and falling rents, business is picking up along 41st Street. That's especially true of a quarter-mile stretch between Grange and Western.

You've heard about the big box stores like Costco and the grocery store Fareway going in, but plenty of other businesses are popping up too.

If you've taken a drive down 41st Street lately, you've probably noticed quite a bit of construction. At least seven businesses are either coming in or being remodeled. 

"It's fantastic. We actually own a business over here, Gary's Gun Shop, and it has really been picking up. 41st Street is a great place to have a business because that's your main street right through Sioux Falls," Jackie Naatjes said. 

In a strip mall on Grange and Western Avenues, a Hibachi Grill is going in one end and a golf indoor driving range the other.   Another block away, the Dollar Loan Center is putting up a new building at its site and next door, the Omaha-based Pepperjax Grill will open in a few weeks. 

"What you've seen over the years is that it's gone from small houses, they get converted to a small business or office or store and now we see some of those getting replaced with new, bigger retail facilities.  That's the evolution of a major street like this we see happening," City Planner Mike Cooper said. 

And with 24,000 cars a day going down this stretch of street, it's no wonder as economic times improve, so does the retail landscape.

"I think some of the financial ability to get business plans implemented is better than it has been in the past.  So whether you're looking at the retail chains or small independent businesses, they're looking at this is an opportunity to invest in Sioux Falls," Cooper said.

Cooper says after people heard that Costco was coming to town, his office received calls from other retailers looking to locate in Sioux Falls.