The Downtowners’
City Center Newsletter
September 29, 2011
What You Will Find…
□ Downtown Momentum
□ ND Downtown Conference Nov 8-9
□ Street Fair THANK YOU
□ Downtown Updates
□ Upcoming Events
□ Association News
Momentum Continues in Downtown Bismarck
Restaurants, Retail, and In Demand Property…
Bismarck residents have noticed some obvious changes in Downtown Bismarck over the past two years, and the next two years will be just as busy. Local furniture stores, new boutiques, specialty shops, private health services, and local restaurants have been popping up all over the city center. Space Aliens BBQ Pit opened in the former Mr. Delicious space to a busy Tuesday lunch crowd. The Blarney Stone’s expansion is well on its way, not to mention the restaurant space that is currently being built into two new Downtown building projects. Retail traffic has seen an uptick with new boutiques Hey Ocean and Lot 2029, as well as new record store and café Rhythm Records. Wellness services like CCs Physical Therapy and Kaysi Jochim Therapeutics and Massage have located their new businesses Downtown. Local furniture stores Spaces Inc and Amish Country Furnishings chose to open their new businesses in the city center.
So what’s in store? Here’s a taste…
Three large building projects hold a lot of new potential. AmericanBankCenter’s building on N 4th St will complete their new campus. Dr. Rick Becker’s new structure on 500 Block Main Ave will have restaurant, retail, and office space. Steve and Carla Pine’s development will also have restaurant, retail, office space as well as Residential Condos. JL Beers is scheduled to renovate and open in 2012 in the former Bain Agency building. The Cowan Building on 4th and Broadway is for sale and has great potential. There is also discussion of a green space. In short, what’s not in store for Downtown!
Our office receives daily calls from businesses looking to locate to our bustling little Downtown. Here’s to a productive future!
1st North Dakota Downtown Conference, Nov 8-9
Creating Vital Downtowns for Community Sustainability
The Bismarck Downtowners will host a statewide conference focused on North Dakota Downtown topics including redevelopment programs, tax efficiencies, trends, planning, and cohesive design. The conference will be November 8-9 in Downtown Bismarck. Opening speakers will begin at 3pm Nov 8th at Dakota Stage Theater. Day two of the conference will run 8am-4:30pm at the Radisson Ballroom. We’ve got an amazing line-up of speakers from Bismarck, Fargo, Rapid City, Minnesota and surrounding region. Any Downtown Stakeholders or those interested in Downtown topics are welcome to attend. Invitations will be sent shortly, please let us know if you’d like an invitation: kate@downtownbismarck.com.
Goals of the Downtown Conference:
1. Create a network of Downtown Stakeholders to learn about revitalization programs, successful Downtown community programs, and action steps in forming Downtown revitalization groups, efforts and policies.
2. Provide a forum for Downtown stakeholders to learn about the positive impacts of healthy Downtowns including but not limited to: economic impact, tax efficiencies, community sustainability, affordable housing, mixed used planning, civic participation, community’s sense of place, and historic preservation.
38th Annual Downtowners’ Street Fair
Thanks for another Great Year…
Year after year the Downtowners’ Street Fair continues to be a success! Weather didn’t stop the hungry crowds and shoppers from taking in the fun at the 38th annual fair. We can’t begin to thank the countless volunteers, generous sponsors, and great Downtown business owners for making this event possible. Not to mention our vendors, service clubs, non-profits and the like for being a part of the success. THANK YOU!
The 39th Annual Downtowners’ Street Fair is scheduled for Sept 14-15, 2012.
Downtown Updates
-The Bismarck City Commission approved a motion to disperse approximately $9 million from the city’s TIF Fund toBismarck’s taxing entities (School, Park, County, City) at the Sept 13 meeting. Commissioner Grossman made the motion stating he’d come to the figure by estimating costs of projects he’d like to see happen Downtown (Quiet Rail, Parking, CORE Programs). The remaining funds haven’t been tied to those projects formally. The city maintains it will not make any TIF expenditures until the lawsuit has been resolved.
-Anyone interested in spaces for purchase or lease downtown can check out our website’s Real Estate Section. www.downtownbismarck.com or call for more listings.
Upcoming events
What’s Shakin Downtown…
October 4-22BAGA Fall Art Show
October 5
Amy Grant+Michael Smith Concert
Sponsored By:
BismarckCancerCenter
BismarckCivic Center
Ticketmaster or 222-6119
October 6
1st Thursdays: Alive After 5!
DowntownBismarck
October 6
Savor the Flavor
www.medcenterone.com/savortheflavor
October 13-23
Dakota Stage Presents:
DixieSwim Club
Downtowners’ Association News
Organization and member news …
□ The Downtowners welcome two new members!
Space Aliens BBQ Pit and Kaysi Jochim Therapeutics
□ Multi-platinum recording artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are bringing their “2 Friends Tour” to theBismarckCivicCenter on Wednesday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m., sponsored by the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation and theCivicCenter. Proceeds will support the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation in helping cancer patients with financial assistance and needs of the body, mind and spirit throughout the cancer journey. An added bonus:North Dakota’s first Pink Glove Dance flash mob!!! During one of Amy’s numbers, all audience members can put on pink surgical gloves and dance in honor of breast cancer awareness! Ticketmaster or 222-6119 for tickets.
□Thank you to New York Life member agents Jeff Japel and Chris Filibeck for hosting the Downtowners Fall Mixer Sept 20! We had a great time grilling and touring your new office.
□ Anyone interested in being a Director of the Board for the Downtowners Association can contact the office at 223-1958. There will be a few spots opening in January 2012.
Please send all member business news and events to: kate@downtownbismarck.com. Check the Downtown Business Association’s websites for updated news and events www.downtownbismarck.com or www.bismarckribfest.com
Please forward this on to people interested in Downtown news!