Business

Poplar Golf Course Staying Open Due to Snow-Free Weather

DULUTH, Minn.- Poplar Golf Course in Wisconsin encourages people to take advantage of the snow-free weather and come out for a round of golf this weekend. Golf courses in the Northland are usually closed this time of year due to the snow season. But with temperatures rising the next few days, the family-owned golf course is still open. Poplar is…

Ski Hills Gearing Up for Winter Season

Right now, Lutsen Mountain's top priority is snowmaking which will happen when we get consecutive colder.

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northland’s Ski mountains are getting ready for the winter season. Right now, Lutsen Mountain’s top priority is snowmaking which will happen when we get consecutive colder days. With snow-making staff on standby, they have a goal of people coming in and skiing by Thanksgiving and are expecting a big season. “Last year we were in the…

City Of Duluth To Require Employees Get Vaccinated Or Test For Covid Weekly

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth will soon be requiring its employees to get vaccinated or get weekly COVID tests. A city spokesperson said the new requirement will start in December. This comes after President Joe Biden made an executive order in September telling employers with 100 or more people to require workers to get vaccinated or get weekly…

Bent Paddle Helping Raise Money, Awareness of Mental Health Services with New Beer Launch Thursday

$1 for each pint and $5 for every growler or crowler of the new Pay It Forward pale ale purchased will go back to Amberwing.

DULUTH, Minn.- Experts say mental health issues in kids and teens are rising, so one organization and brewery are teaming up to promote a new beer that raises money for mental health resources. Bell Bank’s Pay-It-Forward Launch Party at Bent Paddle Brewing this Thursday is raising funds for Amberwing, a Duluth-based center for youth and family wellbeing. In a survey…

Indigenous Business Owners Network at First-Ever Tribal Contractors Council Summit in Duluth

They also hope the event will help them connect and build relationships not only within the more than 65 industry members present but with other outside businesses or entities.

DULUTH, Minn.- Indigenous business owners throughout Northern Minnesota got together to network and discuss their industry at the first-ever Minnesota Tribal Contractors Council Summit at Pier B Resort in Duluth. Organizers say many tribal contractors and businesses who worked on the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline replacement project are in need of new work. They also hope the event will help…

Minnesota Power Requesting 18% Rate Increase to Offset Clean Energy Investments

An interim rate increase of 14% will start January 1st lasting until the Commission approves 18%.

DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesota Power is filing a request with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to increase its annual operating revenue by $108 million. This would mean an 18% increase or about $15 dollars more on customers’ monthly bills. But as the commission takes up to a year to approve their request, the company asked for an interim rate increase of…

Minnesota Power Requests 18% Rate Increase

Minnesota Power Files Request for Rate Change to Support Sustainable Energy Future

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Power announced Monday it’s filing a request with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to increase its annual operating revenue by $108 million and adjust rates for its retail electric customers. The company says the approximately 18% increase reflects changes in revenue and expenses related to Minnesota Power’s ongoing EnergyForward clean energy transition, evolving customer demand,…

Halloween Brings Boost to Local Liquor Stores after Record-Breaking 2020

According to the Minnesota State Auditor, sales at the state's more than 200 municipal liquor stores jumped 10% during the first year of the pandemic.

DULUTH, Minn.- Halloween weekend didn’t only fill up buckets with candy, it filled up many local liquor stores with customers. Over at Canal Park Liquors, staff say they saw heavy traffic Saturday, which thinned out Sunday. Beverages that were hot this Halloween included single shooters of Fireball and Tito’s, as well as cider to get into the fall mood. This…

Minnesota Liquor Sales Soared in 2020 for a Record Year

Sales at the state’s 213 “munis” jumped 10% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Sales at municipal liquor stores in Minnesota soared in 2020 for a record-breaking year. Sales at the state’s 213 “munis” jumped 10% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by State Auditor Julie Blaha. In recent years, a typical sales increase has been in the range of 1 to 3%. With many…

Vintage Hideaway Market Brings Out Christmas Decor

With eight vendors now using the new space, they wanted to make sure they get their holiday products out early for crafters.

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? One local shop in Hermantown doesn’t think so. Vintage Hideaway Market has already set out a variety of Christmas items as they anticipate a busy holiday season. With eight vendors now using the new space, they wanted to make sure they get their holiday products out early for…

Costco Hosts Grand Opening In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. —  “I think they will be impressed with their first time at a Costco,” Duluth Costco General Manager John Kuzas said Thursday. The wholesale retail store is now officially open in Duluth. “There was a lot of excitement this morning we had people lining up at about seven o’clock,” Kuzas said. One of those people was Myra Cloud…

Duluth Consignment Shop Stocked With Winter Apparel

DULUTH, Minn. – With the weather turning cooler, a Duluth consignment shop has ditched its summer items for winter apparel. The Great Lakes Gear Exchange on East 4th Street has more than 1,600 consigners with cold-weather items in their store right now. The switchover to winter was made in early October and will continue until the end of March with…

Outfitters Preparing for Winter Camping

The business' manager says there's nothing quite like winter camping at the BWCA.

ELY, Minn. — Camping became more popular as people changed up their hobbies and habits during the pandemic, and that includes even camping in the cold. The Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely is one of the few outfitting companies in the area which continues to draw in campers during the winter time. The shelves are stocked with everything they need…

Zup’s Opens In New Location

Store owners say they have added 30 employees giving them 90 total. 

ELY, Minn. — Folks in one part of the Northland have a brand new option for buying groceries. After closing their old location in mid-October, Zup’s has now officially opened a new store in Ely formerly occupied by Shopko. “They needed to expand, and they did. It’s a wonderful location,” Ely Resident James Stone says. While it’s still on the…

Duluth Vacation Rental Cap Increases from 60 to 70 Units

  DULUTH, Minn. — The city of Duluth will soon be allowing more vacation rental properties to pop up in neighborhoods, including short-term rental options while occupied by the homeowner. “We are trying to make sure that the kind of regulations that we have function well in the community and most specifically in our single-family residential areas where you have…

Whistleblower Haugen Says Facebook Makes Online Hate Worse

LONDON (AP) — Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told British lawmakers Monday that the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, fails to protect children from harmful content and lacks any incentive to fix the problems, providing momentum for efforts by European governments working on stricter regulation of tech companies. While her testimony echoed much of what she told the U.S. Senate this month,…

Duluth’s Clure Public Maritime Terminal to Receive More International Shipping

DULUTH, Minn. — Thursday, the Port of Duluth-Superior receives about 800 vessels and average of 35 million tons of cargo annually. But port officials made an announcement Thursday that could project these rates increasing, and the impact it’s going to have on surrounding areas. Duluths Clure Public Maritime terminal is expanding its capabilities now as larger volumes of international shipping…

‘Visit Duluth’ Board Agrees To Much Smaller Sales Role With City

DULUTH, Minn. – Visit Duluth — the city’s top marketing arm since 1935 — has agreed to a much smaller role with the city so it isn’t dissolved altogether. This comes after the city council recently approved a 2022 tourism marketing contract with Bellmont Partners out of the Twin Cities worth $1.8 million. The company came out on top after…

Local Appliance Stores Still Experiencing Supply Shortage

The reasoning behind the shortage? Lack of raw materials, shipping containers tripling in cost, and missing components all play a part in the long wait.

DULUTH, Minn. — Businesses in the area are continuing to see a supply chain shortage with not being able to get certain products in a timely manner, or not at all. “This all-new territory since probably the beginning of second quarter last year, Daughtery Appliance Sales Owner, Scott Boedigheimer says. Daughtery Appliance Sales in West Duluth has been around for…

Artists Create Mural To Support Fire-Damaged Bar & Grill

The restaurant is still months away from opening the kitchen, but Witherspoon says opening the bar in a few weeks is the first step to get back to interacting with the folks he loves to see.

DULUTH, Minn. — Spoon’s Bar and Grill in Duluth is getting closer to reopening. This after two fires in August and September caused over $400,000 worth of damage to the building. Now, the restaurant is getting a special new makeover on its siding. “It’s amazing how the smallest things in life mean the most ya know,” Spoon’s Bar & Grill…

Legacy of F and D Meats Continues Under New Ownership

The Previous Owners Left the Business in December of 2020

VIRGINIA, Minn. – After nearly 50 years in business, it can be difficult and nerve-wracking for new ownership to take over a strongly rooted establishment. “I just wanted to keep my shoulder behind the wheel and my toes out of the way,” said Joseph Walls, co-owner of F and D Meats in Virginia. Whether you’re a local, or just passing…

Costco Shelves Filling Up as Duluth Location Prepares to Open in 10 Days

With $10 million of inventory stocked to date and liquor shipments arriving this week, the big-box store is gearing up to open.

DULUTH, Minn.- Finishing touches are going into Duluth’s new Costco, set to open in just 10 days. It’s all coming together inside the Costco building on Arrowhead Road. With shelves filling up, the warehouse floor is bare no more. “Kind of the final process right now is setting up our checkout lanes and receiving the remainder of our inventory in…

‘Paint ‘Til You Faint’ at Pottery Burn Celebrates National Paint Your Own Pottery Day

People could pick and design their own pieces for about 12 hours, which staff then glaze and burn for pick up 7 days later.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Pottery Burn Studio in Superior celebrated National Paint Your Own Pottery Day with a marathon event Saturday. From 11 a.m. until midnight the 7th annual Paint ‘Til You Faint featured pizza and a pajama party. People could pick and design their own pieces which staff then glaze and burn for pick up 7 days later. Owner Amanda…

‘The Forge’ Set to Give Innovators, Entrepreneurs Space to Excel

The facility will give students another outlet for those interested in engineering and manufacturing fields.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Itasca Economic Development Corporation has received over one million dollars in grants to turn one of their multi-use buildings they have owned since 2005 into what they are calling ‘The Forge.’ “The Forge will provide an opportunity for entrepreneur innovators as well as education training and workforce development all in the same roof,” Itasca Economic…

Spooky Halloween Treats At Rocky Mountain Chocolate

DULUTH, Minn. — Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Canal Park is getting in the Halloween spirit with black cat and monster caramel apples, among other creepy characters. They have about 6 different designs for these staple holiday sweets, but also offer a wide variety of other fall treats like pumpkin fudge, pumpkin spice caramels and toffees, and different fall themed…

Gov. Walz Highlights Duluth’s Seawall Reconstruction, Begins State Funding Tour

DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a stop in Duluth Thursday to highlight some of the state’s bonding projects passed in 2020, including a soon-to-be new seawall behind the DECC. It was part of the Walz’s kick-off for his ‘local jobs and projects tour’ to celebrate bonding projects throughout the state currently in the works to improve infrastructure…

New Self Pour Bar to Open in Superior

Staff say they are excited to bring this experience to the city of Superior.

SUPERIOR, Wisc. – A new self-pour bar will soon be open in Superior. Owners of the Duluth Tap Exchange have a new location on tower avenue called ‘Tap on Tower.’ The establishment will have 40 beers on tap, a full bar, and food. Staff say they are excited to bring this experience to the city of Superior. “I think it’s…

Senator Klobuchar Positive About Border Opening For Trade With Canada

MINNESOTA — Senator Amy Klobuchar tells us she’s thrilled to see the Canadian border opening back up and says the financial impact goes far beyond tourism. Klobuchar says Canada is the best trading partner in Minnesota, so it’s important to keep communication and relationships open with them to do business. Nationally, about $1.4 billion worth of goods goes back and…

Vino with a View: Inside Lutsen’s North Shore Winery

North Shore Winery and Sawtooth Mountain Cider House Opened Back in 2016

LUTSEN, Minn. – When it comes to the birthplace of a good chardonnay or merlot, chances are Minnesota doesn’t come to mind. One business located in Lutsen, however, is looking to change that perception. “Just trying new things is very important. You don’t know what you like until you try it,” said Jayden Corliss, general manager at North Shore Winery….

Cruise Industry Could Cause Boost in Duluth Economy

In January of 2022, the Viking ship will sail to Antarctica and the Great Lakes.

DULUTH, Minn. — In 2022 the Viking cruise ship will be in the Great Lakes and Duluth is poised to reap the benefits. A report published by UMD’s Bureau of Business and Economics revealing initial visits would have a small economic impact, but over time it could add 60 jobs annually and more than five million dollars in added spending…

City Seeking Public Input with Broadband Survey

The goal is to get every community member connected in their homes allowing for a master broadband plan.

DULUTH, Minn. — “One of the things we have learned in the past 18 months, the past two years is the urgent need we have in this community for every resident in this community to have access to reliable high-speed internet or broadband,” Duluth Mayor, Emily Larson says. On Friday the city of Duluth announced they are looking for the…

All City of Duluth Employee Unions Reject Mayor’s 2022 Healthcare Proposal

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 learned Monday that all six employee unions with the city of Duluth have rejected the administration’s new healthcare proposal for 2022. This comes after a rally outside City Hall late last week where union members said they have a strong health fund and want to keep it that way. The proposed changes to employee health…

Apple Fest Still Success for Orchards Despite Crop Shortage

The drought reduced crop yields at apple orchards in Bayfield some as much as 40%.

BAYFIELD, Wis.- The drought reduced crop yields at apple orchards in Bayfield some as much as 40%, so many orchard stands offered fewer apple products at Apple Fest than in years past. “Usually every year we make around 8,000 caramel apples but this year we were only able to do 5,000,” said Madison Gingras, working at the Apple Hill Orchard…

Bayfield Businesses Thankful for Apple Fest’s Return before Quiet Winter

The Festival provides a boost for the many seasonal businesses in the area.

BAYFIELD, Wis.- Having Apple Fest back is a big economic boost to Bayfield and its surrounding towns and communities. And this comes after businesses like ‘Bayfield Inn’ saw a busier summer than last year. The Assistant General Manager telling us, it was at times difficult to keep up with, with the cost of goods going up. The inn is one…

Bayfield Businesses Looking Forward to Apple Fest

It's an occasion that is the biggest weekend of the year for the town.

BAYFIELD, Wisc. — “I think people are excited to be outside again and to gather,” Apostle Island Booksellers Store Manager, Kristen Sandstrom says. After having a different variation of the event last year, Apple Fest is coming back to downtown Bayfield this weekend. “We expect to have at least 20,000 people in and around the area this weekend,” Bayfield Chamber…

Local Businesses Thankful for Extra Boost in Traffic as Fall Foliage Pops

Visit Cook County says Local Businesses Rely on a Boost in Tourism During Autumn Adventures

GRAND MARAIS, Minn. – As summer winds down and fall settles in across the region, local businesses along the North Shore are thankful for a final push before snow begins the fly. “Nice cool weather and beautiful scenery,” said Eric Humphrey, co-owner of Lake Superior Trading Post. If you ask any local along the North Shore, every day is a…

New Iron Range Coffee Shop Helping to Support Mental Health Wellness

Loonies Coffee Shop is Donating 10 Percent of Profits to Mental Health Wellness

VIRGINIA, Minn. – As we head into the colder months, a cup of coffee is wonderful at any time of the day. When you pair it with compassion and empathy, the customers just keep coming back. “The coffee’s good, but the pizza is even better,” said Aaron Bialke, a customer from Grand Rapids. It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite part…

Federal Reserve Bank Of Minneapolis Meets With Diverse Group Of Business Owners In Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. –For the first time in Duluth, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis held a roundtable on Monday to learn about how businesses owners who are women and/or people of color are doing during the pandemic. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is a part of America’s central banking system, which oversees financial institutions and creates economic policies. The…

New Affordable Housing Opens on Decker Road

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s newest affordable housing development is officially open for tenants. Tuesday, One Roof Community Housing cut the ribbon for Decker Dwellings, on Decker Drive. It’s a three-story building with 42 units including one, two, and three bedroom apartments. Construction started last September, all with a goal of helping addressing the affordable housing crisis in the city of…

Former Longtime Duluth City Attorney Headed to City of Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn. – Former longtime Duluth city attorney Gunnar Johnson is now going to work in that same role with the city of Hermantown. The city council voted unanimously Monday night to hire Johnson, who will start in January. He is replacing Steve Overom who held the city attorney position for 42 years.  Overom is scaling back duties with the…