Oct 13, 2008 - 09:50:42 CDT
JZ Trend Academy in Bismarck is planning a large, 11,000-square-foot facility on Tacoma Avenue, near the lube and wash station.The academy has experienced tremendous growth since taking over the R&D Hairstyling space on Fourth and Broadway in downtown Bismarck; co-owner Jodi Zahn said they've grown from 16 students when taking over in December of 2007 to 62 students.
Of the last class, all but five were from out of state. The academy pulls from a five-state area, Zahn said.
They plan to be completely moved into the new, southeast location by fall 2009; she added. Her biggest reason for moving: parking.
"It's really hard for the students to find parking," she said. "Plus the guests that come in and get their services done."
Touring downtown
About $9.5 million in investments in Renaissance zone projects in downtown Bismarck returned more than $16 million in market values, according to reports from city planning.
A tour of several downtown projects showed how much difference the investments make: the tour began with the fully renovated Civic Square building, home to a doctor's office, attorney's offices and several other professional spaces. The renovations on its first and fourth floors celebrated the original spirit of downtown, with old-time photos of the area and design accents promoting the building's unique style. The owners are now working on the second and third floors, where the original brick columns of the building still remain.
"I don't think anyone believed in it except you guys here," said Chuck Huber, one of the owners of the building, to members of the Renaissance zone and the Downtowner's Association.
The tour also included the more than $2 million building that houses the North Dakota Bankers Association, Architectural Concepts Inc. and Kirkwood Bank. There's still room in that building, too; part-owner Richard Bohrer said the 11,000-square-foot space on the bottom floor has someone pretty interested, but he's keeping mum about the deal at the moment.
Further on were the improvements to the old Treasures of Sea and Earth building, now housing the Rainmaker Group, Mick Art and newly-refurbished apartments above. Butterfly Therapeutics is still in the lower level.
About $100,000 went in to the first level of the building to open up the ceilings and the space. In the 500-square-foot apartments above, they invested a little more than $50,000 to improve the kitchens and give the spaces a much-needed facelift.
As the tour walked from that building to the Rainmaker Group, we passed the new pastry shop going on Fourth Street, in the old Mr. Delicious space. Keep an eye on Kirkwood, too, where Gelato D'Italia is putting in a new stand.
And commercial developers are hinting about a few more new businesses moving in to town, as well as some businesses expanding. Keep reading the Tribune for more information. If you have any tips, heard a rumor or even have questions about businesses new and old, feel free to contact me.
(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@bismarcktribune.com.)
parking wrote on Oct 18, 2008 12:49 PM:
Seven wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:09 AM:
wishful thinking... wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:39 PM:
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