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As JoeBlow pointed out a few weeks ago, there is some work underway at the former Conoco station at Rochester's 2620 North Broadway.
And now I know that is to prepare the building for its new tenant, Space Concepts.
The storage and garage flooring specialist is gearing up to be in the building by late January or early February.
I'll have more on this in my column Monday.
Fastenal, the retail fastener giant based in Winona, is making an addition to its stable of related companies.
A press release rolled out today that say it is buying "certain assets of Holo-Krome..."Holo-Krome, which was founded in 1929, is based in West Hartford, Conn. The deal is expected to close on Dec. 18, according to the release.
Here's a little info directly from the press release:
The sales of this business for the year ended December 31, 2008 are less than 1% of the consolidated sales of the Fastenal organization for the same period.Holo-Krome was organized around what was a revolutionary idea at the time -- the manufacture ofsocket screws by metal forming, or heading, rather than machining. More recently, the company invented the Thermo-Forged(R) process, which results in fasteners which are more precise, offer greater strength, and afford higher fatigue resistance.
As of November 30, 2009, Fastenal operated 2,357 stores in the United States (all 50 states), Canada (all provinces), Puerto Rico (multiple), Mexico (14 states), Singapore (one location), Netherlands (one location), Hungary (one location), Malaysia (one location) and China (one location) selling to the general public. The Company operates 14 distribution centers located in Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Washington, California, Utah, North Carolina, Kansas, Ontario, Canada; Alberta, Canada; and Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
After weeks of speculation, the Rochester Downtown Alliance has chosen local businessman Jon Eckhoff as its new executive director to replace the retiring Sandy Keith.
“Jon brings many strengths to the position,” says Chris Tatting, president of the Rochester Downtown Alliance. “Primary among them is his passion for downtown Rochester.”
Eckhoff says he met with the RDA board this morning and was notified that he chosen for the job a few hours later. He was one of 40 people who applied for the position.
He recently sold Venture Computer Systems, a Rochester technology company that he founded and ran for 17 years.How does he plan to approach this new position with this organization that has quickly become a strong force for Rochester development?
“My goal in the first three months is going to be to listen to the stakeholders and business owners,” Eckhoff said this morning. “There is already such positive momentum and we want to be careful not to slow that down.”
Eckhoff, a 21-year resident of Rochester, has served as chair of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce; chair of the United Way of Olmsted County 2009 campaign; co-chair of the First Steps Business Alliance and chair of several committee/reviews of the Rochester School District.
“He exhibits a positive, can-do attitude in all that he does. The Alliance and downtown Rochester will benefit greatly from his energy and vision for the future.” says Randy Staver, chair of the search committee that recommended Eckhoff.Keith, the executive director of the Rochester Downtown Alliance throughout its first five years, will remain on the job until Dec. 31.
A press release just rolled out saying that Randy Johnson, the executive director of the Workforce Development Center in Rochester, is heading to the Jobs Summit at the White House Thursday.
It appears Congressman Tim Walz was involved in Johnson being invited.
“I look forward to working with the Administration and Congressman Walz in seeking comprehensive strategies that spur job creation and economic recovery in Minnesota and across the country.” stated Johnson in a press release from Walz's office.
It is unclear exactly what Johnson's role willbe at the conference. We'll will most likely have a follow-up on this with more details.
The snort in the feedlot is that a Potbelly Sandwich Works is snuffling around Rochester looking for a location, possibly more than one spot.
I'd say a spot next to Beer Bellyz might be good synergy…or maybe not. Heh.
MDC Sports, a Rochester scuba diving and outdoors sports shop that closed in July 2008, is has re-filled its tank and is now re-surfacing.
Thanks for the tip, Barry. I always appreciate notes from sharp-eyed and sharp-eared (?) readers.
I chatted with co-owner Claudia Campos and I will have all the details in print Thursday.
Looks like one Sally in Rochester is not enough.
The buzz is that a second Sally Beauty Supply store is coming to northwest Rochester.
Right now there is a Sally in the T.J. Maxx Plaza on Salem Road. Evidently, it is doing well enough to warrant another location in the Med City.
Sally Beauty caters to professional salons and stylists. And it carries a product line with Paris Hilton's name on it.
Rochester evidently can't get enough beauty.
"The things we do for our kids."
That sentiment from Mary Rydman, who was about 10 or 15 people back in the line in front of Toys 'R' Us at midnight, was echoed by most of the estimated 300 people shivering in the cold early morning air behind her.
When Chris Jessen, the manager of Toys 'R' Us, opened the doors the line of bargin hunters streamed from the store all the way to the stop sign by Arby's and around the corner toward McDonald's.
Black Friday shopping was officially underway in Rochester.
Josh Clappier of Rochester was the first shopper through the doors. He'd arrived in the toy store parking lot about 8 p.m.
And what brought him to a dark lot parking at a time when many people were still washing Thanksgiving dishes?
The North Pole Radio Control Train set. From midnight to 1 a.m., it was selling for $29.99 compared to the usual $49.99.
Many others in the front of the line, like Rydman, were there for this year's Christmas toy craze, Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters. The first 100 people in line who wanted the little robotic critter were given vouchers to make sure they got one.
After waiting in the cold for two or three hours, many of the early Black Friday zealots had changed their minds about what they wanted most. They still wanted gifts like thre Three Musketeer Barbie or iPods, but something else has become more urgent.
A bathroom.
For Toys 'R' Us manager Jessen who was playing ring master and line monitor, the whole experience was educational.
The line of shoppers erupted in laughter when he jokingly announced, "I've decided that when I retire, I will never go out shopping this early."
Word is that a store in Rochester's Miracle Mile Shopping Center is going or has gone out of business.
I'm checking on this one.
As usual, I'm looking for help.
I'd love to hear your Black Friday shopping tips.
"I don't shop on Black Friday. I stay home and sleep" does not count as a "tip." I know you people. Heh.
I'm looking for advice from the strategic, serious shoppers out there.
How do you deal with the crowds, lines and general chaos to get great deals and maybe even the free stuff being handed out for the first people in line.
I am planning on compiling this for print. If you want to give your name, I'll say where the sage shopping advice came from.Thanks for any help you might be able to give me.
You can post the tips as a comment here or e-mail me at jkiger@postbulletin.com. If Twitter is your thing, my Twitter account is @whereskiger.
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