Business

18th Annual Women’s Expo This Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.– The Women’s Expo is returning to the DECC this weekend. And for the 18th year of this event, they’re bringing in some new exciting additions. The DECC will be filling up with over 150 vendors for the women’s expo happening this Saturday. The booths cover everything related to health, beauty, as well as shopping experiences. In addition, there…

Lake Superior Zoo Becomes a “ZANE” Partner

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo is now getting a lot more accessible, since they’re the first facility in the state to partner up with the “Zane” Program. ‘ZANE’, or Zoos and Aquariums for Neurodiverse Ecosystem Program is a nonprofit that equips zoos with resources to better understand those needs. Earlier this week, it was announced the Lake Superior Zoo…

Beloved Birkebeiner Weekend Returns To Downtown Hayward

HAYWARD, Wis. — Hayward is home to one of the biggest ski races in the nation — the American Birkebeiner.  The week-long event welcomes in thousands of participants from at least seven different countries. And with last year’s race missing out on the Main Street grand finale because of weather, organizers are thankful for this year’s quick turnaround. “It’s such…

Duluth Pack Continues Core Values Under New Owners

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth Pack announced on Wednesday that over-century old business has been purchased by Kevin Hall and another business partner effective immediately. The new business pair plan on carrying on Duluth Pack’s core values and traditions. The new owners say they plan to continue to manufacture their products here in Duluth with a lifetime guarantee. The new owners…

Small Business Brewery Perspectives on Potential Aluminum Tariffs

TWO HARBORS Minn.– Castle Danger Brewing is a larger facility in Two Harbors, producing nearly 25,000 cans of beer daily. And with that significance, the idea of a potential 25 percent tariff increase is on their radar. “So right now, immediate impact, we’re not experiencing immediate impact. It really depends on your supplier. Our aluminum supplier uses primarily U.S. steel,…

KYN: New Owner Sews New Life into Fabric Store

DULUTH, Minn.– Hannah Johnson Fabric & Sewing Store nestled on East Superior Street in Lester Park has been catering to their crafty customers for 16 years. And after dedicating more than a decade to the shop, the previous owner decided it was time to retire. The new owner, Asher Estrin-Haire, is excited to alter the shop in his own way….

Fairchild Equipment Honored With 11th Consecutive MVP Award

CLOQUET, Minn. — Fairchild Equipment, a leading dealership in the material handling industry has been honored with its 11th MVP award. Fairchild Equipment was founded in Green Bay in 1985 and has facilities across the Midwest, including Cloquet. Fairchild deals new and used equipment such as forklifts, movers and utility vehicles. The dealership has been greatly recognized over its history…

‘Bay Produce’ Introduces Flowers to Harvest Lineup

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Bay Produce is a familiar name seen in grocery stores across the region like Super One. They’ve built a legacy for the veggies they grow every year. But now, the employees behind the scenes are growing with new opportunities. For this harvest, they are introducing hanger baskets and potted flowers. “When somebody comes to buy a couple…

Spirit Mountain Approved for $26 Million Renovations

The project is expected to replace two ski lifts and eventually rebuild the Skyline Chalet.

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth City Council approved on Monday a $26 million investment into Spirit Mountain. The project has been called the Spirit Mountain Restoration Project. The plan looks to replace of Spirit Mountain’s original lifts, the Summit, and the  the Gandy Chair, by building one new ski lift. Both the Gandy and Summit Chairs can only carry three…

Nearly 15-Year Saga Ends With Demolition Of Former Kozy Building

DULUTH, Minn. —  Demolition began Tuesday on the burnt-out former Kozy building and apartments in downtown Duluth. The tear-down is part of a roughly $2 million settlement agreement between the city of Duluth, the building’s former owner, Dr. Eric Ringsred, and Respect Starts Here, which is a group of preservationists. $1.4 million is partially being used for the demolition across…

C. Reiss Move to Superior Port, Allows for Larger Ships & More Cargo

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A long-standing Duluth company moved over the waters to Superior in hopes to grow their bulk cargo commodities and expend their business. For the last few weeks, C. Reiss has been operating out of their new facility on Winter Street. It took nearly $23 million for the company to make this move. Federal funds covered roughly $10…

KYN: El Jefe’s Sees Successful Start South of Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — You know that feeling when you go home to your parents’ house, and they’ve redecorated? That’s what the owner of El Jefe likely felt returning to his former Bucktails location near Pattison Park. Don’t let the name fool you, El Jefe is so much more than a Mexican restaurant. While the menu does feature some classic Mexican…

Urbane 218 Set to Open this Fall, New Restaurant Planned to Open on First Floor

DULUTH, Minn. — A new restaurant space is looking to move into an developing apartment complex in Duluth’s Lincoln Park. After a few delays, construction has picked up as schedule at Urbane 218. The site looks to house 45-units with space on the first floor for a new restaurant to lease out. Merge Urbane Development, the project’s developer, has experienced…

Superior Council Debates How To Fund Lead Pipe Replacements

SUPERIOR, Wisc. — The Superior City Council had quite the lengthy discussion Tuesday night on whether to support a change to state statute that would allow federal dollars into the city to help replace lead water pipes. The discussion went on so long that a vote will happen at the next council meeting Feb. 18. The change in state statute…

Mama T’s Smokin’ Eats Fights to Overcome Costly Setbacks

VILLAGE OF SUPERIOR, Wis.– It’s hard for a business to survive its first year. But for Mama T’s Smokin’ Eats in the Village of Superior, they were doing everything right. Receiving 21 award nominations and winning “Best Place to Work”. “Oh, the community. I love the community, I love the people, I love meeting people. My first question is, ‘Where…

Duluth Hotel Rates Still Affected from Pandemic

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth is a popular destination for conventions, events, and conferences, but lately, it’s been facing its own set of challenges. Since the pandemic, Duluth’s hotel industry has been working to recover to pre-pandemic levels. The general manager of the Sheraton Hotel says that over the past year, their average daily rates have remained flat, and they’ve seen a…

MN House Democratic, GOP Leaders Reach Power-Sharing Agreement

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Democratic and Republican leaders of the Minnesota House reached a power-sharing agreement Wednesday night to end a three-week stalemate the state’s chief justice said left the chamber “completely dysfunctional.” Democrats had stayed away from the state Capitol since the 2025 legislative session opened Jan. 14. Republicans argued that only 67 — the number of GOP…

Local Woodworker Crafts Hobby into a Career

SOUTH RANGE, Wis.– Josh Dumke of South Range Wisconsin has worn many hats throughout his career. “So, for twelve years I was a research scientist at the national resources research institute. I did fisheries, and aquatic invasive species research. That was about the time that I kind of started my woodworking business. And my interests kind of changed. What I…

Knowing Your Neighbor: Free Air Life Co. Reopens Doors at a New Location

DULUTH, Minn. — Free Air Life Co., an outdoor lifestyle store has reopened its doors to a new and bigger space after a 2-year hiatus. Husband and wife Sarah and Justin Steinbach first started the store in 2019. “We had a space down the block in Lincoln Park, and it was very small. Things were going really well for us….

Cannabis Business License Set to Open for Minnesota

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced it will be accepting applications for cannabis license starting this upcoming February 18, 2025. The application window will close by March 14, 2025. During this license cycle, OCM is accepting applications for both verified social equity applicants and any applicants looking for a general licensing. General licensing includes micro business,…

Trump and Trudeau speak and plan to do so again before tariffs start on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (AP) — AP correspondent Ed Donahue reports President Trump admits Americans will be impacted by tariffs. Financial markets, businesses and consumers are trying to prepare for the possibility of the new tariffs. Stock market indices opened with a modest selloff, suggesting some hope that the import taxes that could push up inflation and disrupt global trade and growth would be…

Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, but import taxes still in place for Canada and China

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that after a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump that the planned tariffs are on hold for a month, a statement confirmed by the White House. “Mexico will reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard immediately, to stop drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, in…

Visit Duluth, Madden Media Talk 2025 Duluth Tourism Outlook

DULUTH, Minn. — Visit Duluth and the city’s new tourism market agency, Madden Media, are one month on the job together with a common goal of showcasing what makes Duluth the gem it is. Madden Media is a national tourism marketing organization tasked with promoting Duluth over the next two years. We spoke with Madden Media’s CEO, Daniel Janes, to…

Bucktales returns as El Jefe

SUPERIOR, Wis. — A beloved local restaurant is back in business, at their original location in Superior. El Jefe, previously known as Bucktales, has returned, in its previous Pattinson Park location. In 2022, they moved into the former Shorty’s Pizza location, but they closed last summer due to staffing issues and the size of the space they were operating in….

Behind the Brew at Duluth Cider

DULUTH, Minn.– Duluth Cider is one of two cideries in the Northland. And their entire cider making process happens all under one building. “It’s really nice, in the middle of Duluth Minnesota, we’re taking on cider, we’re doing it all in our cellar, and bringing it up, out the door, all over, it’s actually pretty cool,” said Kyle McKean. Duluth…

Gabriel’s Bookstore & Others Told to Vacate After Potential Demolition

DULUTH, Minn. — Gabriel’s Bookstore, Sami Cultural Center, and other tenants within the Lakeside Professional Building have until late spring to vacate the site after recent plans to demolish the over 100 year-old structure. The property is owned by St. Michael’s Catholic Church. The building was originally constructed in 1914, but numerous financial meetings with the pastor it was ultimately…

Lake Superior Elementary School Transforming into Apartments

DULUTH, Minn.– After the recent closure of the Lake Superior Elementary School in Superior, an agreement was made to revitalize the property into apartment units. The elementary school closed it’s doors at the end of the school year back in June. The closure happened cause of a decrease in enrollment as well as budget constraints. But that opened up the…

Wood Magic Closing Its Doors After Auction This Weekend

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — After 43 years in business, Wood Magic in Hermantown is closing its doors. The long-standing business was known for custom cabinetry, curtains, and gifts. While they have stopped doing custom cabinetry, there are still 8 rooms full of various gifts and decor, from Sandicast figurines to Fenton art glassware. The owner shared her message for their customers….

Second Harvest Northland Reports Increased Food Distribution in 2024

DULUTH, Minn. — In just the last year, Second Harvest Northland has reported an increase in their food distribution programs, serving up an additional 370,000 meals. Second Harvest Northland services 15 counties in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Through the organization’s food shelves, on-site meal program, and tribal organizations, they have increased food distribution by 4%, which equated to about…

49 Days Later, Essentia Deer River Workers End Strike with Essentia Health

  DULUTH, Minn.  — A 49-day strike ended Sunday between Essentia Health and 70 employees at its Deer River Hospital. On Sunday evening, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents the Deer River workers, said Essentia “significantly” improved its latest offer compared to the original offer before the strike began. SEIU said the agreement includes a 12 percent raise…

MN High Court Sides With DFL In Struggle With Republicans Over Control Of State House

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court sided with Democrats on Friday in a power struggle with Republicans in the state House of Representatives but left it up to lawmakers to figure out a way to work together. The justices unanimously agreed with House Democratic leaders who argued that a quorum in the House was 68 members under the state…

Northerly School for Music Opens in Lakeside Neighborhood

DULUTH, Minn. — A local music school held a grand opening Saturday for its new location in the Lakeside neighborhood. Northerly School for Music has opened in the Lakeside area, after moving from its old location in Downtown Duluth. Northerly has a staff of teachers who provide people of all ages with lessons on various instruments. One-on-one lessons are offered…

‘Heart Berry’ Small Business Store Steals Hearts On and Offline

CLOQUET, Minn.– ‘Heart Berry’ is a woman and native owned store, and they back in 2023. The store was by inspired a strong desire to teach and share art with the Cloquet community. “I started out as a moccasin maker and beadwork artist. And really quickly saw that my community really wanted cultural art. I really wanted to teach cultural…

Kozy Building Demolition Deal Seeks to Revive Area with Historic Look

DULUTH, Minn. – Years of lawsuits, multiple fires and several suggested solutions later, the former Kozy Bar and Apartments in Downtown Duluth is coming down. The Pastoret Terrace, commonly known as the Kozy, has been the subject of legal battles for a decade and a half. The city of Duluth has wanted to clear the dilapidated complex that sits at…

Settlement Agreement: Burnt-Out Kozy Building Will Be Demolished

DULUTH, Minn. – Nearly 15 years after fire gutted the former Kozy Bar and Apartments in downtown Duluth, the burnt-out structure will finally be torn down. That tear-down decision is part of a settlement agreement between the city of Duluth, the building’s former owner Dr. Eric Ringsred, and Respect Starts Here, which is a preservationist group. In a joint statement…

Talking Downtown Duluth Safety

DULUTH, Minn. – Public safety and outreach services look to find middle ground solutions to Downtown Duluth problems. City officials met to discuss the multi-faceted task of managing Duluth’s Downtown. From public safety leaders to representatives from various outreach services, much of the discussions centered around aiding the homeless population by finding a balance between enforcing laws and providing resources….

Lincoln Park Business Advocacy Groups Merge

Duluth Minn. — Lincoln Park Business Group and Ecolibrium3’s Main Street Program are formally merging. The groups already work together on projects for the Lincoln Park area. The merger also helps strengthen their advocacy. While both have been a driving force for development, a singular group simplifies their support. “It gets confusing because it’s like with children, you know, mom…

2025 Outlook for Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

DULUTH, Minn.– Management at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center are ready for a stronger year ahead following operational challenges that lead to a million-dollar loan request from the city in 2024. “We had a lot of capital projects here that failed. So, when the DECC arena system broke, we then had to do an emergency fix for our entire AC…

Minnesota State Fair Ticket, Parking Prices To Rise In 2025

The Minnesota State Fair will hike ticket prices by $2 this year, bringing the cost of a regular ticket for an adult to $20. On Sunday, fair officials said ticket prices would go up as the fair looks to “fund extensive capital improvements and maintenance work and address rising operational costs.” The fair kept ticket prices flat in 2024 after…