Monthly Archives: December 2009

A Chipotle restaurant in Duluth?

  Texas Roadhouse, Culver’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, all will be opening restaurants in Duluth in 2010. But how about a Chipotle Mexican Grill? After all, rumor has it… Actually, there’s good new and bad news for Chipotle fans who … Continue reading

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Lakeview Castle closing

Lakeview Castle will not ring in the new year. A manager there confirmed that the restaurant/liquor store/caterer/banquet hall will close Friday. She did not provide further details, and refered me to owner Dennis Thielke. I’m awaiting his callback. The stone … Continue reading

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Ainsworth Lumber mill deal closes

The deal has closed in the purchase for the former Ainsworth Lumber mill in Grand Rapids. The Itasca Economic Development Corp. completed the purchase Dec. 15 for about 400,000 of square feet of industrial space on 223 acres. The price … Continue reading

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Duluth hospitals make the list

One can always count on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal to compile interesting Top 25 lists, from architectural firms to mortgage companies. Their most recent one ranks hospitals and health care providers in the state, based on revenue. And Duluth’s two major hospitals are well … Continue reading

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She got a job

The assignment was to interview recent college graduates, see if they have jobs and write about their situation, good or bad. But that May story in the News Tribune had bleak results: One of the seven graduates that made the … Continue reading

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Whole Foods Co-op shares the profits

The checks came this month like Christmas bonuses. Thanks to a good year at the Whole Foods  Co-op in Duluth, most of its 5,300 members got rebate checks recently. The checks, ranging from 10 cents to $150, were based on how much members spent at the … Continue reading

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Retailers more friendly in poor economy

My holiday shopping trip to the Miller Hill Mall area was somewhat echoed by today’s New York Times story. I wasn’t treated like a king at luxury stores, like the Times says, but it seems like retailers are more courteous … Continue reading

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Are direct flights to Phoenix, Denver next?

 Today Chicago, tomorrow Phoenix and Denver? Those are real possibilities for future nonstop flights out of Duluth, Brian Ryks, director of the Duluth International Airport, hinted this week. But there’s a lot of “ifs” involved. Current flights out of Duluth … Continue reading

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Online shopping rush

If you shop online Thursday you’re not alone. Forget about Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving that’s touted as the big online holiday shopping day. Industry observers say Dec. 18 is the really big day for online holiday shopping because it’s the last … Continue reading

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Study: Twin Cities can’t support four pro teams

As the Minnesota Vikings prepare for a playoff run, Los Angeles prepares for a NFL team. According to a study from portfolio.com/bizjournals, Minneapolis-St. Paul is one of 19 markets nationwide that is overextended in its number of professional sports teams. … Continue reading

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