Grand Forks Economy

[werewolfoflondon]

They did have mini golf at Water World. I don't know what is there now.

There was a mini golf there. Goodwill or something like it there now. Use to be a mini golf on the south side of KMart's parking lot. There also was one where Paradiso is now.

[JohnboyND7]

Arcades died before I was born....that said.... I love them. Just sayin', good luck if you want to own an arcade.

[werewolfoflondon]

Arcades died before I was born....that said.... I love them. Just sayin', good luck if you want to own an arcade.

Tell that to Dave and Busters or Chuckee Cheese.

[darell1976]

Tell that to Dave and Busters or Chuckee Cheese.

Maybe he meant arcades that are not in restaurants.

[werewolfoflondon]

Thanks for dusting this one off, Werewolf. I had forgotten I wrote it.

With Scheels nearing completion and reality, this is a valid conversation to have. Of course, it's a good news/bad news thing, right? Great news for Columbia Mall and the key to a possible jump-start and renaissance. Not so good for the present location, which leaves a big footprint to fill. See, e.g., Exhibits A-Z: dozens of former Wal-Mart stores around the country abandoned for SuperCenters, the former still sitting vacant 5-10 years later.

Which leads me conveniently to the next point…we need somebody with vision and capital. The current Scheels store could be a great project. Think indoor entertainment venue. Think Dave & Busters. Think Incredible Pizza Company. How many putt-putt holes are there in the Forks? NONE. How many go-cart tracks? NONE. How many laser tag arenas? NONE. How many batting cages? A couple. How many arcades? A couple. How long was this past winter? SIX MONTHS! Anybody else smell opportunity here?

IMHO, Grand Forks needs a quality of living boost, and the Arts Corridor alone is not going to cut it.

Noises, Something like this. http://www.gameworks.com/

[werewolfoflondon]

Maybe he meant arcades that are not in restaurants.

I figured that is what he meant. I was just saying they have evolved. I wonder how long it has been since the one in the Columbia Mall closed? If anyone is ever in Las Vegas and like old video games and pinball machines check out the Pinball Hall of Fame. http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ Great organization that donates a lot of money to the Salvation Army and other groups.

[NoiseInsideMyHead]

Noises, Something like this. http://www.gameworks.com/

Or this, which just so happens to occupy former anchor space in an older strip mall (a la Scheels in GF):

http://www.amazingpizzamachine.com/

Or this chain I mentioned earlier, which in Tulsa sits in a former Venture department store:

http://www.incrediblepizza.com/

There are so many good examples of repurposed retail space...I just hope we can turn the Scheels experience into a win-win.

[werewolfoflondon]

Or this, which just so happens to occupy former anchor space in an older strip mall (a la Scheels in GF):

http://www.amazingpizzamachine.com/

Or this chain I mentioned earlier, which in Tulsa sits in a former Venture department store:

http://www.incrediblepizza.com/

There are so many good examples of repurposed retail space...I just hope we can turn the Scheels experience into a win-win.

I think any of them would be a great addition and a great use of that space. The size of the space would be perfect for these.

[Oxbow6]

Incredible Pizza is Chuckee Cheese jacked up on steroids and crack. Take the kids and their cousins to the one in Springfield, Mo when we visit. The food is served buffet style...decent. Think Pizza Ranch but def better pizza than CC. Laser tag, bumper cars and indoor go carts...'enuf said.

Would be a great addition to GF...and/or the FM area.

[darell1976]

Incredible Pizza is Chuckee Cheese jacked up on steroids and crack. Take the kids and their cousins to the one in Springfield, Mo when we visit. The food is served buffet style...decent. Think Pizza Ranch but def better pizza than CC. Laser tag, bumper cars and indoor go carts...'enuf said.

Would be a great addition to GF...and/or the FM area.

So a cross between pizza ranch and thunder road....cool!!

[NoiseInsideMyHead]

Scheels is supposed to move to the mall and be open in the Fall of 2014.

http://www.grandfork...o/3608328965001

Looks like June 28 is the date. From the looks of this video, we may have a bit of a crown jewel, and this can be nothing short of a kick in the butt and jump-start for Columbia Mall. Let us hope the area's retail and business communities rise up to occasion and honor Scheels' commitment to Grand Forks.

[SiouxVolley]

http://www.miamihera...for-curing.html

A small Grand Forks biotech company, Avianax, may have a significant treatment for parvovirus in puppies and dogs next year using goose egg antibodies. The revenue from this might give it the dollars needed to finance human trials for many other diseases, resulting in many more jobs.

Another Grand Forks biotech, NovaDigm Therapeutics, has a human clinical trial against a form of fungus in women. If the trial is successful, a major expansion could be in the offing.

[werewolfoflondon]

http://www.grandfork...o/3608328965001

Looks like June 28 is the date. From the looks of this video, we may have a bit of a crown jewel, and this can be nothing short of a kick in the butt and jump-start for Columbia Mall. Let us hope the area's retail and business communities rise up to occasion and honor Scheels' commitment to Grand Forks.

I am trying to picture in my head the size of the old Target space and where Scheels is now. I don't really think that the Target space is that much bigger. It is though a much better location for Scheels though. Way better parking and access to the Target spot. I think this is going to really boost Scheels sales which will lead to more jobs and sales tax collections. Win win for everyone.

[puck]

New store is 3X larger.

[jdub27]

I am trying to picture in my head the size of the old Target space and where Scheels is now. I don't really think that the Target space is that much bigger. everyone.

It's actually over 3 times bigger. The old Target building is huge.

Scheels will go from about 38,000 square feet to 125,000 square feet in its new spot, Heintz said.

[fightingsioux4life]

I am trying to picture in my head the size of the old Target space and where Scheels is now. I don't really think that the Target space is that much bigger. It is though a much better location for Scheels though. Way better parking and access to the Target spot. I think this is going to really boost Scheels sales which will lead to more jobs and sales tax collections. Win win for everyone.

It's tough to measure the square footage of a building from the outside or from faded memories of what was once there. This should help Columbia Mall out big-time.

[darell1976]

I haven't been in the GF Scheels for a while but how much "Sioux" gear is left? There is a little at the Fargo Scheels but it's getting less and less.

[siouxstudent]

I didnt see anything Sioux at the Fargo Scheels left last time I was in there.

[darell1976]

I didnt see anything Sioux at the Fargo Scheels left last time I was in there.

Last time I was there was early in the year.

[werewolfoflondon]

It's tough to measure the square footage of a building from the outside or from faded memories of what was once there. This should help Columbia Mall out big-time.

Thing is I can really picture the old Target real well. Yeah it is quite a bit bigger. Columbia Mall can use all the help it can get. This will really bring some life back into it. I am glad to see Scheels taking this space instead of building. Does anyone know if they bought this from Target Corp.?

[NoiseInsideMyHead]

Does anyone know if they bought this from Target Corp.?

Per GF County land records, it was purchased by Scheels from Columbia Mall Partners LLC in December 2011. Columbia Mall Partners had bought it from Target in October 2004.

[werewolfoflondon]

Per GF County land records, it was purchased by Scheels from Columbia Mall Partners LLC in December 2011. Columbia Mall Partners had bought it from Target in October 2004.

Thank you. Scheels had to be waiting for their lease to run out. I wonder how this will affect Cabelas? Easy off and on for people going fishing at Devils Lake or in Canada.

[darell1976]

Just checked out the new Scheels, it looks great. Saw lots of Sioux gear still in stock.

[NoiseInsideMyHead]

http://www.grandfork...uji-grand-forks

Arcade? Laser tag? Mini-golf? I must be getting clairvoyant in my old age. Not the old Scheels site, as I had casually proposed in this thread a couple of months back, but this may be worth a look-see once it's all done.

[darell1976]

http://www.grandfork...uji-grand-forks

Arcade? Laser tag? Mini-golf? I must be getting clairvoyant in my old age. Not the old Scheels site, as I had casually proposed in this thread a couple of months back, but this may be worth a look-see once it's all done.

Add go karts and you have Thunder Road. Does GF have mini golf currently? Water World was the only place I remember them ever having mini golf and that's long gone.