New Website Now Online

Bismarck Pride's newest website is now online. Not much has changed in the site's overall function or design, but features many new and exciting features including, for the first time, a fully searchable database and self-hosted blogs. This new venture is only a test, however if all goes well, it become a permant upgrade.

New or upgraded features:

• Fully searchable database, including the Bismarck Dictionary.


• Self-hosted blogs and articles.


• Slightly reworked design and layout, featuring a new drop-down menu bar.


• Brand-new homepage with featured articles, sections, and content.

If the new website features prove to be a success, there will no longer be any further blog postings at this location, instead future postings will be at http://www.bismarckpride.com/blogs.
More changes are on the way. Stay tuned for further details.

New Home For Conlin's Furniture?

Rumor has it, this warehouse on the corner of 17th Street & Broadway Avenue will soon be home to Conlin's Furniture upon its departure from Gateway Fashion Mall later this year. This building has been owned by Conlin's Furniture for several years, one of two warehouses the retailer owns in Bismarck, and is currently undergoing major renovation that is said to include the installation of public restrooms.

Furniture stores tend to be destination-type stores, meaning they don't need to be situated in high traffic areas to be successful, instead relying on reputation and product lines. This new building seems to be a good fit for Conlin's Furniture, and returns to their pattern of owning their buildings as their location at Gateway Mall was the first in the company's Bismarck history to be leased, rather than owned by the company.

Conlin's Furniture is regional furniture chain with locations in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Montana. This move will mark their fourth location since Conlin's purchased Bismarck-based Reff's Furniture in 1955.

Learn more about Conlin's Furniture here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/conlins.htm

Bill Barth The Latest Victim in Auto Crisis

When Penske Auto announced earlier this week that they were withdrawing their bid to purchase Saturn from GM, it left long-time Mandan car dealer Bill Barth as the latest victim in the auto crisis. Bill Barth, who originated as a Ford dealer, and also currently handles the Mazda line, built a brand-new Saturn dealership directly across from his Ford/Mazda dealership following the closure of Wilhelm's downtown dealership. This is the second time Bill Barth has lost a GM-backed line, having previously offered the short-lived attempt by Daewoo (50% owned by GM) to enter the U.S. market earlier in the decade.

This is not the first time in recent years that a Bismarck-Mandan dealership has lost a major line due to its discontinuation from one of the "Big 3" companies. The first recent example occurred when the Plymouth brand was discontinued by Chrysler in 2001, just three years after Corwin-Churchill built their brand-new dealership. Jamestown-based Wilhelm's was forced to close its Bismarck dealership in 2007 after it lost the Cadillac and Buick brands, both of which were taken over by Schwan GM Auto Center. Earlier this year Cedric Theel, who also recently built a brand-new dealership, lost its Dodge line during Chrysler's reorganization, of which has yet to be picked up by any other area dealership.

Perhaps the unluckiest of the area's dealership is Schwan GM Auto Center, who not only lost the Oldsmobile line in 2004, but will soon also lose the Pontiac line when GM phases out the brand.

Although disappointed with the events, Bill Barth, Cedric Theel, and Schwan are all optimistic about their businesses' future. All three have been braving the auto crisis strongly, with some of their highest sales on record. Schwan will continue to sell the Buick and GMC line; as Cedric Theel will continue its Toyota and Scion lines; and Bill Barth is already seeking a replacement for its brand-new $1 million facility, in supplement to its current Ford and Mazda lines.

To learn more about Corwin-Churchill, click here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/corwin.htm

To learn more about Wilhelm's, click here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/wilhelm.htm

Read the related Bismarck Tribune article here: http://www.bismarcktribune.com/business/local/article_8ad3c346-aee0-11de-ba49-001cc4c002e0.html

Departing Hansen's Menswear Adds to Growing List of Vacancies For Gateway Mall

Another long-time tenant at Gateway Fashion Mall has announced they are departing. Hansen's Menswear announced they are relocating to 1003 East Interstate Avenue, near Bob's Photo/A&B Pizza. According to the report, Hansen's has been at Gateway for 30 years, which presumably means it was an original tenant since Gateway Mall is celebrating its 30th anniversary this exact month.

According to an article posted by KXMB, Hansen's Menswear is relocating to "cut expenses". It is interesting to note that Cheryl Hansen is the Mall Manager at Gateway, and has been for many years, so the departure of her husband's retail store is definitely a surprising development.

This is the third major retailer to announce their departure in recent months, beginning with the June announcement of Conlin's Furniture and Joy's Hallmark. The recently renovated center has still yet to fill the former CVS/pharmacy spot, left vacant since February of this year.

Gateway Fashion Mall's owner is currently battling a fraud lawsuit for both the Bismarck shopping center and two he owns in California. This, on top of the mounting vacancies certainly puts a dark shadow on the mall's future.

Hansen's Menswear is expected to relocate in October into the Interstate Office Building at 1003 East Interstate Avenue, next to A&B Pizza and Bob's Photo.

Read the KXMB article with the announcement here: http://kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=443076

Related Blog Articles:

Gateway Fashion Mall's Owner Faces More Fraud Allegations Gateway Mall Suffers Another Loss

Why Does Downtown Bismarck Need Another Parking Ramp?

A few weeks ago, the City of Bismarck announced intentions to construct yet another downtown parking garage, next to the City/County Building. The $7 million garage is expected to have a capacity of about 500 cars. My question is simply... why? There are already a total of 6 parking garages located downtown, 3 of which are city-managed. Not to mention, this proposed garage will be located directly across the street from the Parkade.

On the rarity I go inside either of the two "main" garages there are practically no cars parked inside, sitting practically abandoned. I took the picture above in mid-afternoon during the recent Downtowner's Street Fair - an event that draws thousands of people to downtown each year. The access to the Parkade was readily open on 6th Street, unaffected by the fair, and yet I found only a very small handful of cars inside. Instead, people were parking several blocks away, crossing busy streets and causing a hassle for traffic.

Parking and traffic have been concerns in downtown for decades, causing numerous problems for the historic district. The Pakade was constructed in the mid-1960s to alleviate some of the issues, and a set of confusing one-ways were enacted in 1973, but the issues continued to escalate. The newest downtown garage was built in 1993, and yet parking remains a problem. Building another 500-car capacity garage is not going to solve downtown's parking issues; it will sit mostly empty, as the others do, while taking up valuable real estate.

Part of why the garages are rarely used is the cost. Granted, the cost for a monthly parking pass is far below the $100+ you'd find in a city like Minneapolis, but a parking pass at the garages is beyond affordability for most who either live or work in downtown Bismarck. Many of the downtown employees only make $8-$9 an hour. Most of the downtown apartments were built long before the automobile was a common way of life, therefore do not have parking lots, and rents tend to be on the lower end for the majority of these units, typically around $400/month.

Here's my solution: make the parking garages free to park in, even if it's only for a limited amount of time (say 2 hours). Better yet, give free passes to those who live and work downtown, freeing up street parking for their patrons.

Yes, I do know that it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to maintain the parking garages, and this additional cost would be a big burden on the city. But, on the other hand, downtown Bismarck is notorious for business turnover and building vacancy, often because of the parking issues. We are already taking up large chunks of valuable real estate for parking garages people rarely use. Let's find a reason for people to use the garages we already have before building another.

Gateway Fashion Mall's Owner Faces More Fraud Allegations

When Raymond Arjmand purchased the plagued Gateway Mall in 2006, it seemed like the 30 year-old center would finally get the push it needed to survive. Almost immediately after its purchase, Arjmand announced bold new initiatives to reinvent the failing center, including a multi-million dollar renovation project - the first major remodel since the center's opening in 1979.

Last July, the owner of Joy's Hallmark filed a lawsuit against Arjmand stating he charged tenants for common area maintenance and improvements above what was actually completed. Now, two months later, Arjmand is facing similar lawsuits at two other malls he owns in California. According to the allegations made against him, Arjmand and two business partners would inflate estimates for the cost of repair and renovation projects and then pocket the additional money.

Arjmand indeed did complete the promised renovations of the dated Bismarck mall, and in turn renamed the center "Gateway Fashion Mall", believing the new name and look would draw higher profile stores to the center. Major cosmetic upgrades were made inside and out, and Arjmand also announced intentions to expand the mall with another anchor tenant, rumored to be Macy's.

On the surface, it appears Arjmand has had good intentions to revitalize the center, but these common area improvements seem to be at the heart of the lawsuit filed against him. Is it possible he's only making these improvements as a part of these alleged business dealings, profiting off of the improvements?

This is not the first time Arjmand has come under fire in the Bismarck region. In September 2007, it was reported that Arjmand was demanding $20,000 from the CAT busing system and a $2 million insurance policy, or else he wanted the buses to stop using Gateway Mall's parking lot as a stop. This was definitely a clear sign of greed on Arjmand's part, but also a sign of poor business practices as the busing system drew potential shoppers to Gateway Fashion Mall, many of whom cannot drive to the center on their own.

Beyond that, many consider Arjmand plans for the mall to be unrealistic for Bismarck-Mandan. For example, the likelihood that Macys would open a store at Gateway when its parent chose not to convert the Kirkwood Mall Marshall Fields into a Macys, instead closing the store. It also seems unlikely that other higher-end retail stores, like Nordstroms or Bloomingdales, would open in Bismarck when they primarily focus on big metropolitan areas. Even Minneapolis-Saint Paul has only a small handful of these types of stores.

Did Arjmand just purchase Gateway Mall to be another victim in his scheme of corruption? Perhaps. Or, maybe he does have a genuine interest in seeing its success. It'll be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

Read Bismarck Tribune's article on this topic here: http://bismarcktribune.com/business/local/article_daaae9dc-a3c1-11de-9e06-001cc4c002e0.html

Learn more about Gateway Fashion Mall here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/gateway.htm

Read my original blog on Conlin's & Hallmark's departure here: http://randy394.blogspot.com/2009/06/gateway-mall-suffers-another-loss.html

Mayor Warford Changing His Mind On Raising Sales Tax?

Yesterday, Warford proposed delaying the vote to raise the city's sales tax another 1%, barely ten days after he first announced his intentions to raise the tax. It's not that he's changed his mind on raising the tax, but rather postponing it until next year.

Warford stated that timing may be poor because the "recession has come to Bismarck". What happened within a week that convinced him that the recession has finally come to Bismarck? It wasn’t Bobcat’s closure, because that came almost an entire week before. How could he (and other local politicians) not have realized this ten days ago, before proposing a sales tax increase, when I've been predicting Bismarck's economic woes since last year.

This sudden change in opinion is more likely a reaction to the negative feedback generated by the original announcement, than it is a sudden realization that the recession's affecting Bismarck.

Read my original blog about this topic here: http://randy394.blogspot.com/2009/09/sales-tax-increase-civic-center.html

Read my January 2009 blog predicting how the recession would affect Bismarck here: http://randy394.blogspot.com/2009/01/bismarck-is-not-immune-to-economic.html

Remembering Gourmet House Restaurant

Gourmet House was a highly rated restaurant with locations in both Bismarck and Mandan. The restaurant first opened in 1959 on the Mandan Strip, by Bob & Eileen Clifford. Gourmet House received numerous awards, and was the first restaurant in North Dakota to be recognized with a four star rating in Holiday Magazine. Gourmet House also received a Gold Seal Award from the National Restaurant Association in 1967, and was once featured in the New York Times.

Gourmet House ended operations on June 30, 1989. The restaurant was later sold and reopened in January 1990, however closed again, for the last time, in September of that year. The former Mandan location now houses a funeral home.

Gourmet House was known for its "nine spice" seasoning called Gourmet House Seasoning, which is now sold and distributed by the Clifford's daughter.

External Link:
www.gourmetseasoning.com

Sales Tax Increase & Civic Center Expansion Concerns

Bismarck Mayor John Warford has proposed a one percent increase in the city's sales tax, bringing the total sales tax to 7% in the city of Bismarck. If approved, Bismarck would have the highest sales tax of any city in North Dakota. This comes after a failed attempt earlier this year by the state legislature to eliminate all sales tax on clothing, in reflection to Minnesota's similar tax program.

Warford claims one benefit to the increased tax is that it will actually lower property taxes; a tax for a tax if it were, however he doesn't seem to realize the impact it may have on local businesses, especially those specializing in big-ticket items like cars, boats, and even electronics, as many citizens already travel to nearby Montana, which has no sales tax. Car dealerships in Bismarck would have a tremendous disadvantage to those located in Mandan or other nearby cities. A 1% increase on a $20,000-priced car equals an extra $200 simply in sales tax. Now, this may not turn the average citizen away, but the increasingly more common penny pinches might be more apt to buy a car from say... Resslers rather than Stan Puklich simply to save that $200.

Why is the mayor proposing this sales tax increase? Amongst other projects, the additional income will primarily provide funding for a $26 million expansion of the Bismarck Civic Center. Built in 1969, and already expanded several times since, the Bismarck Civic Center is the state's third largest public venue, behind the Fargodome and Grand Fork's Alerus Center.

The planned Civic Center expansion is to be completed in three phases, one of which will include a 16-story 260-room hotel & waterpark, built by Winnepeg-based Canad Inn, who is in the process of building a similar hotel adjacent to the Grand Forks Alerus Center.

One issue that arises is that the proposed hotel, which will stand just three stories shorter than the State Capitol, is to be built in the lot between the Civic Center and former Dan's Supervalu (now Gold's Gym). This will seriously reduce the amount of parking space for the Civic Center, especially considering that the hotel patrons will also have to find a place to park. The plan does include an underground parking garage, however I fear it may not be enough accommodation.

This hotel's construction could also seriously impact other area hotels, most notably the Ramkota and Expressway Inns, as their already close proximity to Kirkwood Mall and the Civic Center represents their primary patron. Another question is if Bismarck needs another hotel, especially one as large of 260 rooms, after the opening of three hotels in 2007-2008 totaling 250 rooms.

This is not the first major project proposed recently, following the nearly completed Bismarck State College Aquatic Center, which too was partially funded by the city, and a poised multi-million dollar expansion of the State Heritage Center. It seems that the city and state governments are eager to spend money on non-essential projects in the midst of one of the nation's worst economic downfalls, as if trying to prove to everyone that North Dakota's economy is not affected. North Dakota may currently have a huge budget surplus, but if this massive spending continues we will be bordering the deficit line like most other states.

There does not seem to be much public support for either a sales tax increase or the proposed Civic Center expansion, and it therefore seems unlikely to pass if it goes to a public vote, however if local history is representative, it will continue to be pushed until it does pass.

Remembering Bismarck's Past Retail Favorites: Webb Brothers

Webb Brothers was an early furniture and department store located in downtown Bismarck for over sixty years. The Webb brothers, William and Philip, came to Bismarck in 1884 from New Jersey and opened a furniture store. Webb Brothers later expanded their merchandise to include dry goods and carpet. For five years, Webb Brothers was the only dry goods store in Bismarck; and was also the only furniture store between Jamestown, North Dakota and Glendive, Montana for twelve years.

The famous August 1898 Fire destroyed the Webb Brothers store, forcing them to construct a brand new building to house their business at the intersection of Third Street & Main Avenue, where it remained until ultimately closing in December 1945.

When competitor A.W. Lucas and Company opened in 1899, Webb Brothers welcomed the competition, so much so that they provided financial assistance to their competitor. Webb Brother's move paid off as their business actually increased after the opening of A.W. Lucas.

Philip retired in 1921, but William continued to operate the business. In 1928, Webb Brothers opened Bismarck's first funeral home. It was at this time that the store exited the dry goods business, and instead expanded their furniture selection. 1928 also saw a change in ownership to the sons of William Webb, Philip and Robert.

The Webb Brothers often had annual sales nearing half a million dollars (not adjusted for inflation). In addition to their retail store, the Webb Brothers were also active in real estate, developing and purchasing several buildings in Bismarck.

In addition to running his store, William Webb served one term as Bismarck mayor. He also served on the city council, and as chairman and president of several organizations, including the board of county commissioners.

Webb Brothers was first located at 514 Main Avenue, then relocated to 223 Main Avenue. The Webb Brothers Block was completed in 1900, housing the retailer until its closure. The second floor of the Webb Brothers Building housed the Federal District Courtrooms until the completion of the first Federal Building in 1913, and also housed state government offices for a short time following the Capitol's destruction in 1930. Immediately following Webb Brother's closure, the building underwent major renovation, initiated by national retailer Sears, who then occupied the building until it relocated to Gateway Mall in 1979. Conlin's Furniture then occupied the building, until it too relocated to Gateway Mall in 2004. Today it is home to Zimmerman's Furniture.

This article is part of an exclusive series on BismarckPride.com, click here to read them all.

Bobcat Announces Bismarck Closure

After months of speculation and rumors, Doosan Infrastructure officially announced its intentions to close the Bismarck Bobcat Plant, in a cost-saving effort to consolidate North Dakota operations into its Gwinner, ND plant. The move will result in the termination of approximately 475 jobs in the Bismarck-Mandan area, a metropolitan area that's seen little impact on the failing economic conditions. Melroe Manufacturing, who established the Bobcat name in 1962, opened their Bismarck plant in 1974. The company has gone through several owners over the years, most recently purchased by Doosan in 2007.

This announcement comes after months of layoffs and cutbacks at both the Bismarck and Gwinner plants as the company faced a major downturn in sales in this increasingly tough economy. Until recently, the Bobcat Plant was considered to be good, stable employment for anyone seeking work in the manufacturing industry. Many of Bismarck's employees had been with the company for over twenty years.

North Dakota has frequently been in the national spotlight for its reported job growth and seemingly unaffected economy, but this unfortunate loss of jobs will no doubt impact the city's much bragged about 3.6% unemployment rate.

One big problem for Bobcat employees is that there are very limited open positions in the state for their high specialized skills. Bobcat is one of the only manufacturing companies in North Dakota, and certainly the largest of such companies in the state. With the increasing opportunities in the state's wind energy programs, certainly some will find work in that field, but let's not forget that the state's oil industry too has taken a hit, after booming just over a year ago.

Bobcat had been such an important factor for the Bismarck-Mandan economy that the local NAHL hockey team, Bismarck Bobcats, was named in the company's honor.

On the same day of Bobcat's announcement, another long-time local business also announced its intentions to close. Captain Meriwether's Restaurant on the Missouri River shore, adjacent to Keelboat Park and the Lewis & Clark Riverboat, announced that it was forever closing on September 5.

Click here to read more about Bobcat/Melroe.

Click here to read my blog article dated January 20, 2009 entitled "Bismarck Is Not Immune to Economic Conditions", which details my belief of how Bismarck's bubble can and will burst, in which I also predicted Bobcat's closure.

Bismarck Public Schools By The Numbers

Back to school for Bismarck Public Schools today, and I thought it'd be fun to take a look at statistics of the state's largest school district.

• Bismarck Public Schools serves more than 10,700 students.
• Bismarck Public Schools employs more than 1,600 people.
• The first graduating class, in 1887, consisted of just 2 students.
• The largest graduating class, in 2003, consisted of 826 students.
• Bismarck Public Schools maintains 15 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and an alternative school.
• The oldest remaining school building in the district is Bismarck High School, opened in 1935.
• The newest remaining school building in the district is Horizon Middle School, opened in 2001.
• The Bismarck High School Demon Mascot was first used in 1922.
• Wachter was the first school in North Dakota to switch to the Middle School format, when it did so in 1991.

Read more about Bismarck Education here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/about/schools.htm

Memorial Highway's Ghostly Reminders of What Once Was

Take a drive down Memorial Highway in Bismarck and it's hard to miss the ghostly reminders of what once was a thriving part of the city. Named for the historic Liberty Memorial Bridge, which was the region's first vehicular bridge to span the Missouri River, and remained the only such bridge within 500 miles. Completed in 1922, the Liberty Memorial Bridge completed the coast-to-coast link of U.S. Highway 10.

Major development near the bridge did not begin until the 1950s, and was primarily residential construction. Due to its close proximity to Sertoma Park and the Missouri River, it was considered a privileged area to reside in.

With thousands of vehicles crossing the region's only vehicular bridge each day, Memorial Highway and the concurrent Main Avenue were one of the busiest stretches of roads in the city at the time, poised to be a major business hub. U.S. Highway 10 was the main route through the state, running from Washington to Michigan. It directly connected the region to such major cities as Seattle and Minneapolis.

Bismarck's downtown district had already been firmly established by the time the highway was laid out, which ran through the very heart of Bismarck's central business district. Downtown businesses were thriving amidst the never-ending flow of traffic from the highway and railroad. But, as the city expanded, new businesses had to find new ground to be successful.

When Bismarck's Holiday Inn opened in 1962 at a cost of $1.3 million, it immediately sparked rapid construction in the area. The Holiday Inn had been built at the very spot where Memorial Highway and Main Avenue joined on their approach to the bridge. It was perhaps the city's most important chunk of land at the time.

The opening of the Holiday Inn was quite an exciting event. At a time when the historic Patterson and Grand Pacific Hotels still reigned, the Holiday Inn forever changed the way commuters spent a night in Bismarck.

Although other modern motels had been built before the Holiday Inn, it was the first hotel in Bismarck to feature an indoor swimming pool, and it by far housed the biggest conventional hall of any other hotel in the region. With 108 rooms, the Holiday Inn was also the largest hotel in the region.

Overnight, the hotel instantly gained dominance in the city. The aging Patterson Hotel, which had once been reigned as the most luxurious hotel between Seattle and Minneapolis, was nowhere near able to compete with the luxurious amenities offered at the city's most modern hotel.

Other businesses soon opened near the Holiday Inn. Among the most prominent included a Standard Service Station, A&W Drive-in Restaurant, furniture store, and bars and restaurants. Strip malls also began appearing along Memorial Highway. One of the city's biggest and luxurious apartment complexes of the time was built in 1969 only blocks from the Holiday Inn.

It was indeed the hustle and bustle of the city at the time, second only to the downtown business district. The Holiday Inn was enjoying major success, both financially and by reputation. It received top ratings from the most important agencies, including AAA. Dan Mayer, the hotel's sales director, was recognized at the chain's corporate headquarters for the successes of the hotel; and the hotel's restaurant manager was also recognized for his achievements.

With all these successes, you'd think that the Bismarck Holiday Inn would still be raking in the dough. So what went wrong? How did a nationally recognized hotel, top rated hotel succumb after less than four decades?

That important chunk of land at the entrance of the Liberty Memorial Bridge ended up not being as prominent as originally thought. No one had anticipated when the hotel opened in 1962 that a new interstate highway would be built two miles north of the former U.S. Highway 10. Interstate 94 and the Grant Marsh Bridge opened in 1965, just three years after the opening Bismarck's finest hotel.

The opening of the new highway put an incredible strain on all businesses located along Highway 10, including the highly rated Holiday Inn. The opening of the Town House Hotel (now Kelly Inn) in 1970 near the newly completely interstate put a greater strain on the profits of the Holiday Inn, however it still continued to find success. So much success, that the Holiday Inn completed a new 6-store tower in 1972, more than doubling the room count to 261 rooms.

The opening of the Kirkwood Motor Hotel (now Ramkota Inn) in 1974 put the greatest strain on the Holiday Inn. Located across from the region's largest shopping center, which had opened three years earlier, the Kirkwood Motor Hotel also had a larger convention hall than did the Holiday Inn.

Other major hotels soon followed, each located on better real estate than the Holiday Inn. From 1975-1983, seven major hotels opened, include large-scale luxury hotels Ramada Inn (now Doublewood) in 1975 and Sheraton Inn (now Radisson Inn) in 1982.

By the late 1980s, the poorly located and increasingly outdated hotel was no longer able to compete. The hotel would soon become Hotel Bismarck & Convention Center, and later the Palace Arms Hotel. The pool area was filled in and closed, along with the lounge and award-winning restaurant.

The Holiday Inn was not the only business in the area to suffer following the opening of the Grant Marsh Bridge, and later the Expressway Bridge. The Amoco gas station and A&W Restaurant both closed sometime in the early 1990s, amongst other businesses.

The hotel had gone from an award-winning hotel, one of the most successful in the chain, to a local hangout for criminals. In 2001 alone, the year the hotel ultimately closed, there were nearly 200 police calls to the Palace Arms Hotel.

When the hotel closed in December 2001, most of the building had already been closed off. Less than a dozen rooms were rented, all weekly renters. Garbage and other debris filled the badly lit building, and vandals had repeatedly struck the building inside and out. The building was demolished in 2006 to make way for the new Bank of North Dakota building.

The Holiday Inn brand did not leave Bismarck upon vacating the west Bismarck hotel. The Sheraton Inn was re-branded a Holiday Inn for years before once again re-branding to Radisson Inn, as it remains today. A Holiday Inn Express was built in 2004 in North Bismarck and is all that currently serves the Bismarck area with the Holiday Inn name.

Driving down Memorial Highway today, there are still remnants of what once was a thriving business center for the city. The Standard Service/Amoco Station still sits with most of its features in tact, housing a soup kitchen. The former A&W Drive-in is home to a veterinary clinic; the carports were carhops once skated out your food still standing. Many of the houses, apartments, and businesses are starting show obvious signs of aging. The only sign of revitalization is the completion of the beautiful new headquarters for Bank of North Dakota, sitting on the site of the former Holiday Inn Hotel, pointing ever-so-boldly at the New Liberty Memorial Bridge.

Old Habits Die Hard With Bismarckans

Bismarckans are very set in their ways, and often extremely loyal to their stores and restaurants. Bismarck's city slogan could be "The City Who Never Forgets". I swear here in Bismarck we have more survivors of former national chains than anywhere else.

Take The Woodhouse Restaurant, the only known survivor of the multinational chain King's Food Host, which went out of business in the last 1970s. At its height, King's had restaurants in 17 states and 1 Canadian Province, but today Bismarck retains the only survivor. Scotty's Drive-In was also once a regional chain. Although no longer a chain, Bismarck contains one of only four remaining Scotty's restaurants.

Let's ponder for a minute what would happen if one of Bismarck's long-time restaurants were to close, say... Big Boy. Not that that's likely to ever happen considering its popularity, but what would Bismarckans do without their Hot N Tots and Pizza Burger Flying Styles? There would likely be a widespread panic felt not only in the city, but across the country. Bismarckans have already proven that they couldn't survive without their Cheese Frenchees or Rebel Burgers by keeping The Woodhouse and Scotty's alive all these decades later.

If you know anyone who grew up in Bismarck, but no longer lives here, ask them sometime what they look forward to most when returning (other than family and friends, of course) and they often say... "Big Boy" or "Scotty's" or maybe "Space Aliens". Former Bismarckans can't even escape the large chain restaurants like Hardees - who now have only two locations in all of Minneapolis-Saint Paul - the metro where most ex-Bismarckans live.

Bismarckans tend to favor the same retail stores too, local or national. Home Depot's closure, just three years after opening, is a good example - as Bismarckans continued to shop at nearby Menards. For years, people had been wanting another choice in the home improvement field, but when Home Depot finally arrived in 2005, the Menards parking lot remained packed full. Bismarck's first modern-day discount store, Kmart, opened in 1971, and continued to thrive even after the arrival of White Mart in 1979, Target in 1980, and Wal-Mart in 1990. In fact, the Bismarck Kmart was ranked in the top 10% of the company for many years, despite major competition. Although Wal-Mart's arrival on State Street four years ago took a dip in Kmart's business, the store continues to survive due in part to its loyal fanbase.

Local retailer A.W. Lucas continued to thrive amidst increasing national competition, again due in part to its intensely loyal customers. Even today, thirty years after its closure, those who remember Lucas's (as most of them call it) talk about how much they miss it. People still have not fully accepted the closure of Herbergers at Gateway Mall either, despite that the Kirkwood location is much larger. I still hear people saying how much they miss the Gateway Herbergers.

Considering how loyal Bismarckans are to their long-time stores and restaurants, it would be quite a dampener if one were to ever close. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs would probably have a spike if people could no longer get their Cheese Frenchees or Hot N Tots.

Gateway Mall Suffers Another Loss

It was announced on June 26 that two stores, Conlin's Furniture and Joy's Hallmark, would be leaving Gateway Fashion Mall. This is just another blow to the recently renovated shopping center, which first opened in 1979, who already is searching for a tenant after CVS/pharmacy (an original tenant) vacated earlier in the year.

Joy's Hallmark had been at the center for over twenty years, and also has a location at Kirkwood Mall, which the company says is staying open.

Conlin's Furniture, who first arrived in Bismarck upon purchasing Reff Furniture in 1955, relocated from downtown to Gateway Mall at the end of 2004, occupying a space left mostly vacant since 1994.

The space that currently occupies Conlin's Furniture originally housed local department store A.W. Lucas, a company first established in 1899. Lucas closed not long after relocating to the mall, but was immediately replaced by Herberger's, who also left in 1994 upon expanding their Kirkwood Mall location. Since then, the space was unable to maintain stable tenants for ten years until Conlin's occupied the spot. Jacob's Trading Company, later known as World's Greatest Deals, occupied the space for a short time inbetween Herberger's and Conlin's.

This now marks the fourth time a major retailer vacates the space occupied by Conlin's, at a time when the mall is already facing high vacancies. The space is lsited at 70,000 square feet, which is a typical sized department store. In an down economy, it seems likely the space will sit empty for some time.

Although Conlin's new location has not been confirmed, many suspect it will occupy the former Home Depot building, empty since the big box DIY chain left in 2008. This seems to be the only space large enough in the city to house Conlin's Furniture, and it seems unlikely they are planning to construct their own location.

The Home Depot building is larger than the space it currently occupies, which means the retailer may be sharing part of the building with another business, much like Office Depot and Big Lots! share the former BEST building. Or, if Conlin's chooses to occupy the entire building, the retailer may be planning to build a furniture "super store" with a larger sales floor; or relocate some of their warehouse space into the building.

To read more about Conlin's Furniture, click here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/conlins.htm 

To read more about Gateway Fashion Mall, click here: http://www.strekonline.com/bismarck/terms/gateway.htm

Remembering The Flood of April 1952

Recent flooding has caused devastation across the state, and within Bismarck itself. It has left many in southern Bismarck worrying about flood potential of the Missouri River. 2009 marked the first major flooding of the Missouri River in 57 years.

Flooding was a common occurrence in Bismarck prior to the closure of Garrison Dam, which occurred in April 1953. It was not uncommon for springtime floods to cover much of the land south of present-day Main Avenue.

One of the worst of such floods occurred in April 1952, when the Missouri River crested at 27.9 feet. On April 6, the river rose 5 feet in just 2 hours, increasing from 20.2 feet at 11:30am to 25 feet at 1:30pm. Nearly everything south of U.S. Hwy 10 (Memorial Hwy/Main Ave) was under water. 200 houses were destroyed and the Wachter Family reported the loss of 300 cattle.

The completion of Garrison Dam allowed, for the first time, major development south of Main Avenue. Prior to this, the Wachter Family and Yegen Family owned most of the land.

Like the flooding seen this year, the 1952 Flood was also primarily caused by ice jams. According to the National Weather Service, the April 1952 river level was the 4th highest recorded. The highest was 31.6 feet on March 31, 1883. Flood stage is 16 feet.

Click here to read more.

Weather Déjà Vu

This storm really has that feeling of déjà vu. Winter seems to be heading out like it arrived, with a repeat storm much like that seen on November 5-7. Just as the November 2008 storm, this recent winter storm also started with rain and thunder, and turned into heavy snow and wind.

Making things worse, of course, is the widespread flooding across the state. Entire cities across the region have been evacuated do to severe flooding, and it is now being felt in Bismarck-Mandan. Apple Creek, Heart River, and the Missouri River are all seeing flooding, forcing mandatory evacuations at Fox Island and the Marina Bay area.

More than 80 inches of snow has fallen across Bismarck-Mandan this season, nearing the all-time record of 101.4 inches set in 1997. This has been the wettest winter in over a decade, and Mother Nature seems to be making up for it.

Whether Bismarck hits the all-time record or not, this winter is one for the history books.

• The season's first major snowstorm began on November 5, when thunderstorms turned to snow, dumping a total of 9.4 inches.
• Bismarck Public Schools cancelled school for the first time since April 1997.
• December 2008 snowiest month of all-time, with 33.3 inches.
• 1 degree away from all-time coldest temperature recorded in Bismarck, at -44 degrees.
• Rain fell on the region on February 9 & 10, less than one month from nearly reaching all-time lowest temperature recorded.
• Widespread flooding seen beginning Mid-March, forcing evacuation of entire cities, and certain parts of Bismarck.
• Thunderstorms once again lead into a major blizzard beginning on March 23 - adding more precipitation to the region.

Hopefully this storm will be the last of the season, however some sources point to another storm lurking on the horizon. Bismarck is less than 20 inches from the snowiest season of all time. Will we reach it?


December 2008 saw more snow than any other month.On top of the snow, we've seen rain several times this winter.

Response to Pharmacy Ownership Bill Vote

After months of advertising, debates, and heavy anticipation from both sides, North Dakota senators voted 57-35 against repealing the current pharmacy ownership law, enacted in 1963.

Clearly the majority of North Dakota’s state senators are not for the common citizens, but instead filling their own pocketbooks with bribes from their pharmacist cohorts. By their own admittance, they have been inundated with phone calls and emails urging them to vote for the repeal, and chose to ignore those pleas. Clearly most North Dakotans want to see this law repealed.

By voting against this law, many North Dakotans will continue to go out of state to obtain their prescriptions, handing important tax revenue to neighboring states. Many of our local pharmacies now hold monopolies on the cities they serve, and this bill would have ended that. Competition keeps everything in check, and is necessary.

If these senators were complaining about the amount of messages they had before, just wait until now, after they chose to ignore the needs of the people they represent. I commend those 35 senators who voted for the repeal, and applaud them for standing up for what was right.

Thrifty White Drug Is Going Too Far

A recent article posted in the Bismarck Tribune has revealed an e-mail sent out by a Thrifty White Drug executive to pharmacists of the regional drug chain with a disturbing message. In the email, employees were told that unless they oppose repealing the pharmacy ownership law, they will not see raises this year.

Other statements in the executive’s email were also questionable, including a statement that read, "For those of you who have failed so miserably in this cause, reward will be based upon cooperation and performance."

It is a personal choice whether or not to support a law, and employees cannot be punished for their opinion on such a law. There is no law saying a company has to grant raises at all, but granting them to only those who support a law is not right. The tone of the email is not acceptable either.

I suspect many employees will look for other jobs following this, and that some customers may be turned away. Thrifty White has been a well-respected company across North Dakota for many years, but this conduct now casts serious doubt on the company’s ethical practices.

Clearly Thrifty White is concerned about increased competition should the law be repealed, and responding irrationally to the situation. The company is one of only two chain drugstores in the state (the other being CVS/pharmacy) and has locations in all major cities, where national chains would most likely build.

Amusingly enough, Thrifty White has been one of the leading opponents of the repeal, claiming it will destroy locally owned pharmacies, of which Thrifty White itself does not classify.

This desperate attempt at coercion is appalling and disgraceful.

To Read More About Thrifty White Drug, Click Here

To Read The Bismarck Tribune Article, Click Here

The Truth About Pharmacy Laws of North Dakota

There has been another recent push to repeal the pharmacy law in North Dakota that restricts pharmacy ownership. The law, which was enacted in 1963, was created to protect locally-owned pharmacies from national and/or regional chains. This is not the first time this law has been challenged, however.

One notable challenge came in 1973 when regional drug chain Snyder's Drug made claim that the law was unconstitutional. Snyder's parent, Red Owl, already had several grocery stores within the state and had hoped to expand into the pharmacy business. In 1977, Osco Drug and White Drug also challenged the law alongside the National Association of Chain Pharmacies, but lost.

North Dakota has two exceptions to this law, CVS/pharmacy and Thrifty White Drug. CVS had purchased Osco Drug in 2006, which, along with White Drug, had locations in North Dakota prior to the law.

Those who support the law say repealing it would put an end to local ownership. Many argue that they receiving better customer service and one-on-one attention from the pharmacist. Some have also argued that a locally owned pharmacy is safer; claiming that a pharmacist takes a less active role in national chain stores.

Those who want the law repealed claim that national competition will provide more options and lower costs. No doubt about it, the moment the law would be repealed, national stores such as Walgreens and Wal-Mart would rush into the state. North Dakota is the only state of which Wal-Mart does not operate pharmacies.

It is true that national chains often rely on pharmacy technicians to fill prescriptions, however a pharmacist is still ultimately responsible for each script filled. A pharmacist is always present and must personally verify each script. He is putting his career and reputation on the line with each verification. Secondly, pharmacy techs must become certified, and typically undergo rigorous training. There are even college degrees targeted for pharmacy technicians. Additionally, if a technician and pharmacist are both working on your script, that makes two people making sure there are no mistakes. Most local pharmacies have just a pharmacist on duty.

Saying that a local pharmacy is safer than a national chain just isn’t true. Yes, there have been circumstances across the country of wrongly dispensed medication at national chains, but even those are rare. CVS and Walgreens alone have over 12,000 stores in the United States, so there is bound to be a mistake once and awhile amongst the millions of prescriptions filled each year. It is not always the pharmacy’s fault either, but sometimes the doctor who prescribed the medicine.

This country is built on free enterprise, and yet North Dakota is restricting that freedom by not allowing these companies to do business in this state. With this law in place, it is also limiting competition in the state, and in turn creating local monopolies.

Residents are worried about their small-town pharmacy going out of business. First off, if your local pharmacy is as great as you make it sound, it will be able to effectively compete against the national chains. It will only fail because it is not as good, and then I ask you if that’s what you want – an inadequate pharmacy.

National chains offer more than just pharmacies, they offer a full array of household merchandise as well. It’s hard to find a candy bar in a local pharmacy, much-less a bottle of laundry detergent. National chains often have longer hours as well, and many even have in-store walk-in clinics such as CVS’s Minute Clinic.

In the end, your small-town pharmacy will survive. Only pharmacies near the larger cities, especially Bismarck and Fargo, will be affected. Most chains won’t even consider a store in a trade area less than 50,000 people.
 

North Dakota Has Also Had Governors Removed

The eyes of the nation have been on the removal of Rod Blagojevich from governorship of Illinois, but what many have forgotten or never known is that North Dakota has had two governors removed from office.

The first was Thomas Moodie, who served January-February 1935. It had been revealed that Moodie did not satisfy residency requirements to be governor and was removed from office.

The second, and far more controversial, was William "Wild Bill" Langer, who served two stints as North Dakota Governor. His first term, from 1933-1934, ended in his forced removal from office following two felony convictions .

Even though Langer's initial term was short, lasting just over one year, it was filled with important events. It was the heart of the Great Depression. Langer was also governor during the final stages of completion of the new North Dakota Capitol, replacing the former capitol that burned down in December 1930.

It was during the construction of the new capitol that Langer faced his first significant issue, when the construction laborers went on strike. The strike lasted for weeks and resulted in several arrests and several injuries. To settle the dispute, Governor Langer would eventually call in the National Guard and declare martial law.

The capitol was completed in 1934, but the eyes of North Dakota and the nation was focused elsewhere, on the forcible removal of William Langer as governor.

Langer was facing two felony charges, conspiracy to extort funds from federal employees; and blocking orderly operation of an act of congress.

Four coconspirators stood trial with Langer. The accussed all faced a maximum possible fine of $10,000 and up to two years in prison.

Langer was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and required to pay a fine of $10,000. Three of his co-defendants were sentenced to thirteen months in prison, with a fine of $3,000. The remaining co-defendant, Harold McDonald, was sentenced to only four months.

Despite having been found guilty on two felony counts, Langer did not willingly step down. Instead, he declared martial law and called a special session of congress, where he would appear before the house and proclaim "I am still your governor." Langer also asked for the impeachment of all members of the supreme court and Ole Olson, who had already been recognized by the United States congress as the official governor of North Dakota. Langer has declared North Dakota's succession from the United States.

Langer eventually was forced to step down, and Olson took his place. Langer remained a resident of the governor's mansion through the remainder of what would have been his term.

Even following his felony convictions, and his controversial actions following, Langer remained extremely popular amongst North Dakota citizens. Interestingly enough, his wife Lydia, ran for governorship later that year, but lost.

The following year, Langer was acquitted of all charges. He would once again be elected governor of North Dakota, serving his only full term from 1937-1939. He then went onto represent North Dakota in the United States Senate until dying in office in 1959.

Langer was a member of the Nonpartisan League (NPL), who was mainly responsible for the creation of several key industries, including the Bank of North Dakota and State Mill. The NPL was created to represent the common man against the then-powerful "McKenzie Machine," despite many similarities between the two groups. The NPL dominated local politics for many years.


To read more about William Langer, click here..

Bismarck Is Not Immune To Economic Conditions

A common belief amongst Bismarck citizens is that we are all immune to the current economic conditions felt across the country, despite the fact that this is perhaps the worst recession in decades.

What people seem to forget is that many of Bismarck’s top industries are directly dependant on the rest of the country. In fact, North Dakota’s largest commodity, agriculture, is sold all over the world. Bismarck’s strong economy can collapse like a chain reaction if we continue to hold onto the belief that we are invincible.

Our farmers do not grow food for just North Dakota. If people across the country are not buying as much food as before, than the farmers are making less money, which means they are buying less merchandise – including Bobcat machinery, which is also one of Bismarck’s largest employers.

Bobcat has already taken efforts to cut costs, including a temporary shut down and several rounds of layoffs. Bobcat ships its equipment all over the world, and is therefore already feeling the effects of the slowed economy. It would not be all that surprising if Bobcat were to close all together as a result of the nation's economic conditions. The closure of the Bobcat plant would greatly affect Bismarck's economy.

For the past couple years, people have flocked to North Dakota seeking jobs in the oilfields. With oil prices plummeting and the demand also lessening, those jobs could now fall by the wayside as well. In fact, some already have.

Many national businesses, such as Aetna and Unisys, have branches in Bismarck. If those businesses are affected on the national level, it will eventually dwindle down to our local branches. Retailers are amongst the most in danger now. North Dakota is often one of the top markets for retailers, so there on the surface there may not seem to be any danger of layoffs. Think again.

Also consider what would happen if one of the Big 3 Automakers went out of business. How would this affect the dealerships in Bismarck? What if a major retailer with a presence in Bismarck suddenly closed all of its locations nationwide – as many have in the past year.

Nonprofit agencies, hospitals, and schools are also vulnerable to national economic conditions, as many of them depend of federal grants to survive. If there is less federal money to go around, than these types of industries will have no choice but to cut costs – including payroll, or shut down all together.

Let’s see how the chain reaction occurs. What happens when many of the oil jobs dry up, farmers sell fewer crops, nonprofit agencies such as hospitals and schools receive less federal aid, and national businesses with local branches cut payroll. If even one or two of these occurred, it would put considerable strain on the families of those workers affected. They would have to cut their spending, which would now begin to affect the other businesses, especially retail and restaurants.

Many in Bismarck are already living paycheck to paycheck, and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. If someone were to loose their job, you can guarantee life would be difficult for their family. Unemployment only goes so far. Where are they going to find another job? If the chain reaction occurred, what industries would be hiring?

If people start losing their jobs, than they stop paying bills. Foreclosure on their home could be around the corner, and if enough of these happen, our housing market will also collapse.

It may be a stretch to say North Dakota’s economy will collapse, but to say we are immune is ludicrous. I have just shown you one possibility of how our economy could collapse. Some local industries are already feeling the strain. Could this be a sign of what’s to come?

Bismarck Needs To Get Their Head Out Of the Sand

Here we are with another snow storm and another pathetic attempt at Bismarck’s efforts removing the snow. I drove all the way from Pebble Creek Golf Course across Century Avenue and down Washington Street and did not see one ounce of effort by the city to remove snow until the intersection of Washington Street and Front Avenue, where the plows were blocking an entire lane of road and doing nothing. The last storm, the plows were blocking an entire lane on Century Avenue during 5:00 traffic.

The snow had stopped long before 7:00am this morning. Don’t give me this excuse that the wind was blowing, because it was still blowing when you were out plowing. Nearly all businesses, schools, and government facilities open around 8:00am so why weren’t the plows out BEFORE the commuters ventured out. Instead, they went out while the morning rush hour traffic was trying to get to work.

Then there are the Bismarck drivers, who are almost as much at fault. Here I am going a meager 30 MPH on Century Avenue, keeping from spinning out, and cars and trucks of all sizes are whipping right past me. I saw two accidents on my little trek, and several near accidents.

This has to stop. Bismarck, get your head out of the sand and plow those roads BEFORE rush hour traffic begins, not after, and certainly not during rush hour. And to most of your Bismarck residents, you too need to get your head out of the sand and learn that you have to adjust your driving behavior when the streets are packed full of snow and ice.

The first storm of the season was amongst the worst driving conditions ever, and the city was mostly to blame. The night before brought a thunderstorm, but the city chose not to do anything about the wet roads. A few hours later came the snow. There was at least 14-15 hours between the rain and the snow, giving the city penty of time to spread sand and salt onto the roads to prevent the ice from forming in the first place.

I don’t want to hear excuses, and don’t want to hear that Bismarck’s roads are just as bad as everywhere else in this state. We can do better, and must do better.

The following is a list of excuses I’ve heard, either from residents or the city itself, and my proposed solutions.

1.) Sand doesn’t stick to the roads and is ineffective at cold weather. ANSWER: Use salt and chemical mixture, which will bind to the road and provide a more even spread across the road.

2.) Salt is degrading to vehicles and roads. ANSWER: Vehicles nowadays are designed to prevent rust and corrosion for up to 10 years provided proper maintenance is maintained. In fact, many new car warranties feature a 10-year corrosion warranty. Either way, would you rather take the chance of your car corroding or smashing into something?

3.) Salt and chemical is more expensive than sand. ANSWER: Up front, this is indeed true, but when taking into account the additional cleanup costs in the spring from sand, the overall costs are very close.

4.) The wind blows the snow back onto the roads. ANSWER: Plow it twice, or three times, or however is needed to keep those roads safe.

Are Bismarck House Prices To High?

The Facts:

• Average home purchase price has increased from $133,381 in 2005 to $162,068 in 2007 (17.7%).
• Average income only increased from $41,030 in 2005 to $43,753 in 2007 (6.3%).
• Many houses are selling for more than their appraised value
• Average apartment prices have increased 6.8% from 2007 to present.
• Average house prices in Minneapolis are now only 5.8% higher, with an average income 32.8% higher

Higher pay and better opportunities are amongst the most common reasons cited for North Dakotans leaving their home state, most notably to the nearest major metropolitan area - Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Housing values all across North Dakota, have made sharp increases in recent years, while income levels have mostly remained stagnant. Western North Dakota has seen this more than anyone, mostly due to the increase in oil-related jobs. Williston's prices have increased by 24% since 2005, due to an increased demand for housing from oil-related workers moving into the region. Like Williston, Bismarck too is growing, but is not at the heart of the oil fields.

Williston is reluctant to construct new houses or apartment buildings, fearing that the boom is only temporary and will result in many vacant buildings in just a couple years. Much of Bismarck's growth is steady and permanent. Over the past couple years, Bismarck has had near record numbers of new house construction. Those, on top of existing homes, present many options for those seeking to purchase.

A recent search of Bismarck single-family houses for sale between $70K and $180K yielded 102 results. The claim for the sudden spike in house prices is increased demand. 102 houses for sale does not seem like there is a supply and demand issue resulting in an increase of 17.7% in housing prices over a two year period. The has been no official declaration of average prices from 2008 compared to 2007 in Bismarck, but it is expected to have once again increased.

In contrast, Minneapolis metro house prices have fallen 9.2% from 2007 to 2008. The average house price in the Twin Cities was only $175,000 last year, compared to an estimated average price in Bismarck of about $165,000. In further comparison, the median income in the Twin Cities was $63,898 for 2008.

The difference in income to housing for Minneapolis was 63.5%, compared to 74% in Bismarck. Minneapolis houses were only 5.8% higher, but the income was a whopping 32.8% higher. This suggests that a house is more affordable in Minneapolis than Bismarck.

Many in Bismarck claim that the region's housing market is stable, as opposed to other regions of the country which is seeing a major downturn. Many believe Bismarck to be immune to the economic conditions of the rest of the country, but seem to forget that many businesses located in Bismarck have national ties. One notable company is Bobcat, which already has implemented a temporary shutdown.

The apartment industry is another clear indication that housing costs are not increasing in line with average income, increasing an average of 6.8% since 2007. This is closer to the increase in average income than house prices, however is still increasing at a faster rate than income. Demand was high for apartments throughout 2007 and into 2008, sparking the construction of several new apartment buildings. By the end of 2008, the demand for apartments was quickly diminishing. Now, vacancies are plenty.

Could this increase in apartment vacancies be an indicator of economic change for the region? Many houses for sale are also spending more than the average amount of time on the market before selling. This could be a clear indication that housing prices have increased far too quickly, which may now take a sharp downturn.