BROOKINGS — It shouldn’t be too much longer before people in and around Brookings start seeing dirt being moved at the Brookings Marketplace in preparation for the new Target and Aldi stores at the development.

That’s according to Patrick Daly of Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies, the developer behind the project that’s just east of Sixth Street’s interchange with Interstate 29, on the north side of the street.

“Our hope is to try and break ground here in the next 30 to 45 days if Mother Nature (cooperates),” he said at Tuesday night’s Brookings City Council meeting.

Beyond that, Daly noted that Ryan Companies is expecting even more activity relatively soon.

“You’ll probably start seeing vertical construction begin sometime in the second half of the summer,” he said. “That’ll be the vertical construction of the Target box first, which will be about a 12-month build period. At this point, Target is anticipating an opening that’s sometime summer 2026.”

Daly said he’ll update the council once a specific opening date is set for Target and that, before then, there might also be a general groundbreaking ceremony sometime in May involving city representatives and Ryan Companies.

Progress is also being made with Aldi, he said, noting that the national grocer is “anxiously awaiting” for Ryan Companies to begin site work so it can come in behind that and begin construction of their store.

Daly also mentioned two other parcels at the Brookings Marketplace, indicating that the parcel east of where Aldi will build is under contract and another — which is east of where Target will be and is still under city ownership, but that Ryan has an option to purchase — has some prospects interested in it as well.

In closing, Daly said Ryan Companies is making use of local contractors, with a series of subcontract agreements already signed and more in the pipeline as work progresses on various phases of the project.

Downtown fire update

The ripple effects from the Brost’s Fashions fire on Dec. 30 in downtown Brookings continue to wash over the community, but recovery and fundraising efforts are well underway. In a presentation to the council, Deputy City Manager Jacob Meshke provided some updates, including insights into a fire response task force.

The task force, he said, has staff from the city manager’s office, fire department, police department, public works, community development and Brookings Municipal Utilities. It has met three times and will continue to meet regularly, with a focus on issues such as ongoing communications and the next steps for fire-affected businesses.

Meshke noted that a meeting in late February with business owners and building owners dealt with several issues, including understanding how they’re doing, actions taken to date, planned next steps and the sharing of city and downtown Brookings resources as well as inquiring about any other opportunities to be of assistance.

“All four building owners did express their desire to get back in business at these impacted locations,” Meshke said.

Those locations are:

• 314 Main Ave. (Grunewaldt Building): A structural analysis has been completed, finding that the building is structurally sound. The owner is currently carrying out restoration efforts, with a target of the building being open and operational this summer, Meshke said.
• 318 Main. Ave. (Brost’s Fashions): The building owner has expressed an interest in rebuilding on the site, and the property owner is soliciting quotes to remove debris. Beyond that, the next steps involve an analysis of the foundation and the creation of a rebuilding plan.
• 320 Main Ave. (Seven Songbirds): Meshke said insurance has declared the building to be a total loss. The building owner would like to rebuild at this location, and the property owner is soliciting quotes for removal of the structure. The rebuilding plan, Meshke pointed out, is contingent on the shared wall with the building to the north, which houses The Exchange.
• 322 Main Ave. (The Exchange): A structural analysis has just been received and is being reviewed by the owner, their representatives, and city building services staff to determine the appropriate next steps, according to Meshke. The building owner wishes to work collaboratively with Seven Songbirds on construction needs and timing, understanding the impact of the shared wall to the south.

Meshke further noted that the majority of the building owners are interested in meeting monthly with the city and the Downtown Brookings organization to share progress updates and identify opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.

“The timeline for debris removal as well as next steps in terms of rebuilding and such is fluid and dependent on structural analysis as well as insurance claims and processing,” Meshke said. “Historic preservation review, demolition and building permits will all be processes that we’re working through as we progress our way toward spring and summer.”

Meshke said monthly updates will be provided to the public and councilors at City Council meetings.

Back in business

On store reopening side, things are looking positive as well.

“I’ve been telling people is anything that can happen quickly has happened,” Kirsten Gjesdal, the executive director of Downtown Brookings, told councilors on Tuesday night. “Anyone who can easily relocate or reopen either are open or will be opening within the next few weeks.”

She ticked off a list of businesses — Emerald Grace Clothing Co., Seven Songbirds Boutique and Hand Tied Floral Boutique — that have all opened in new locations downtown, or will be opening shortly. Meanwhile, The Nook has temporarily set up a “pop up” shop inside Pasque.

“There are a number of businesses that are temporarily operating out of other spots,” she noted. “Almost everyone has chosen to relocate, and almost everyone has chosen to relocate downtown — which I think just goes to show the importance of a downtown to small businesses.”

Fire fundraising

Gjesdal said that the Brookings Economic Development Corp. and the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce each gave $25,000 toward fundraising. The total from other fundraising — including the jars around downtown and efforts by, among others, the SoDak Spurs Soccer Club — comes to around $25,000 as well, for an overall total of $75,000 for the Downtown Brookings Fire Relief Fund.

“Today I had the pleasure of walking around and handing out some checks to businesses downtown, and they were very grateful for it,” Gjesdal said.

The fund has also helped apartment residents who were displaced by the fire, with Gjesdal saying $10,000 had been distributed to them.

Fundraising is being led by the BEDC. Gjesdal said 21 businesses in downtown Brookings were affected by the Brost’s Fashions fire. Those businesses can fill out an application and send it to the BEDC, which has a committee to review the applications, she said.

The application page can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2zjwca9c.

She said the reimbursement for fire-related costs is up to $3,000. If there are any funds left over, a second round of reviews will be conducted, so a second payment is possible for businesses most impacted by the downtown blaze and its aftermath.

Also, donations are still being taken for the aforementioned Downtown Brookings Fire Relief Fund, albeit only for a short time longer; the online donation portal — found at https://tinyurl.com/z9kjmrfm — will likely close by early next week.

All that said, other fundraising efforts are still going on, including The Socialight Boutique selling, as Gjesdal says, “some very cute Brookings T-shirts and sweatshirts, so if you want some cute apparel, head there.”

— Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.