YELLOW BRICK ROAD COUNSELING

There’s no place like Downtown Brookings, from restaurants and retail locations to hidden treasure service businesses. Specializing in teen and young adult counseling, Tracy Chapman Stuart added to the treasure trove by opening the Brookings branch of Yellow Brick Road Counseling and Therapy this past February.  

Tracy credits both her valuable support system from her youth as well as her one-year-old daughter as personal motivators in opening the counseling branch. Wanting to pay forward the help she received, Tracy earned her degree in counseling. Her personal history and experiences as a girl mom help fuel her passion for helping young women feel safe, empowered, and accepted. The birth of her daughter also prompted her to open a branch office of the Sioux Falls-based practice as she felt would it give her more flexible hours for family life.

Her downtown office is consciously comfortable for her clients, from the natural colors and decorations to the furniture and rug to the pleasant scent to the empathetic consultant. Tracy Chapman Stuart describes herself as an empathetic learner who is dedicated to helping her clients through depression, anxiety, and other stressful life events. 

Building relationships with all types of people inside and outside of her client base is Tracy’s favorite part of her job. She hopes that Brookings community members will immediately think of Yellow Brick Road as a safe and trustworthy place to go when they need help.

Follow the yellow brick road to great counseling services in Downtown Brookings

ANTIQUE MERCANTILE

A 40-year dream turned into reality for Lynette Kerlin as she and her family unwrapped Christmas paper from the doors of Antique Mercantile five minutes before the store officially opened on December 16, 2017. Forty years earlier, Lynette and her husband sold their first antiques while looking for extra income. They heard wagon wheels were selling for high $100 each in California, so they borrowed $500 from First National Bank, bought and disassembled two wagons, traveled to a California antique show, and made a profit of $400 after paying off the loan. The next year, they borrowed $1,000 for another successful trip around the Midwest. 

While teaching first grade for almost 30 years, Lynette bought and sold antiques during the summer to supplement her income. During this time, she never gave up on her dream of opening her own antique general store, praying and searching for the right property after retirement. She then received a perfectly timed call from a Downtown Brookings landlord, who had saved her number for two years. Lynette took this as a divine sign to open the Antique Mercantile, dusting off the shelves for her dream store she had kept in storage for 23 years.

Antique Mercantile is inspired by the old Parkston merchantile store J & A Kayser, where Lynette vividly remembers her mother purchasing fabric and groceries. Lynette believes it’s important to know our roots and honor the hard work of our ancestors by preserving history. Her front window displays pay tribute to her seamstress, gardening mother as well as her dairy-farming father. As you walk through her store, Lynette can share a thousand stories associated with historical items. Parts of the store reflect stories from her life, prompt stories from customers, or spark curiosity for historical research. Sharing her knowledge through both presentations and individual interactions combines Lynette’s passions for education and historical preservation.

Lynette’s collection highlights sections on education, fashion, kitchenware, decorations, and many other treasures. Her customers appreciate her attempts to collect rare items dating as far back as the late 1800s, and they often revisit the store whenever in Brookings. A big reason customers come back is because of the experience of shopping at Antique Mercantile. Lynette’s focus is on making a positive impact on whoever stops by her store, and she loves helping customers hunt for personal treasures, model vintage fashion, or share precious memories sparked by unique items. Waste not, want not, and walk down memory lane by shopping at Antique Mercantile in Downtown Brookings.

Mosaic Wine Bar & Small Plates

A mosaic is formed by assembling individual tiles into one masterpiece. Mosaic Wine Bar and Small Plates artfully creates a welcoming space for individuals to come together as one Brookings community. 

Throughout history, humans have bonded while sharing food and beverages together, the beverage usually being wine. Owners Nathaniel and Katelyn Condelli’s story follows a similar arc. While traveling, they often enjoyed exploring local businesses and gravitated toward wine bars. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple enjoyed time connecting with each other and students of similar interests while taking various online wine classes. In 2021, the perfect opportunity arose for the Condelli’s to share their passion with Brookings as space opened next to Kool Beans Coffee.

The Condellis, along with help from their families, renovated the space into a place centered around building community. The only work hired out was electrical and plumbing assistance. Katelyn described the atmosphere as safe and welcoming. She says she rarely sees someone sitting alone working, but most often, customers gather at Mosaic to enjoy each other’s company over food and wine. 

Katelyn’s favorite part of running Mosaic is researching for wines to include on the menu, and then working the bar, where she can connect with customers, recommend drinks to their taste, and enlighten them on her passion. Mosaic hosts popular wine-tasting nights, as well as partnership events with local businesses and organizations. As a Brookings native, Katelyn praises the collaborative and supportive culture of her hometown. 

It all comes back to the Condelli couple’s core value of building community. Located in the oldest building in the Downtown Brookings area, Mosaic is more than just a wine bar. It is a natural gathering spot where its owners invite you to have a seat, get comfy, explore the menu, and deepen relationships over wine and delicious small-plate appetizers.

WOODEN LEGS BREWING COMPANY

Named after Judge Wood Wilmot Brookings, Wooden Legs Brewing Company embraces and enhances the unique community of Brookings. The local craft beer company pays tribute to the town’s namesake, who walked around on creeky wooden legs after both legs were amputated due to frostbite. The history also inspired the fan-favorite beer Split Rock Creek, the creek where Brookings’ horse slipped, causing the judge’s wet legs to freeze during a blizzard.

The history of Wooden Legs Brewing Company began when co-owner Seth was gifted craft beer brewing equipment. Soon friends Seth, Steven, and Brant started a business together in 2010. What began as a hobby in the garage, became a destination favorite for visitors and locals when Wooden Legs opened its downtown pub in 2013. 

Immediately, the owners faced the challenge of winning customers over from mass-produced beers to craft beer. Wooden Legs successfully earned a committed customer base by creating a menu full of approachable beers as well as new releases almost weekly. The staff enjoy taking the time to pair the right craft beers with customer preferences. When asked if he had a favorite, co-owner Brant compared it to picking a favorite child before recommending Dead Wood Creek. Taproom Operations Manager Matt Rustman’s favorite beer is the Sheep Slayer, a salted caramel flavor. Regarding food on the menu, Seth’s favorite sandwich is appropriately named the Brewer’s Favorite, featuring jalapeño cheddar bread, chipotle BBQ sauce, turkey, and provolone cheese. 

Besides serving excellent beer, Wooden Legs gives back to the Brookings community by partnering with community organizations for fundraisers, hosting fun activities for customers, and investing in the growth of staff members. Brant enjoys interacting with teams who turn out for Tuesday trivia nights, and Matt loves bringing Wooden Legs outdoors for the special event Comedy in the Park. Enhancing the Brookings community is a passion written in the actions and business plan of Wooden Legs owners. Seth and Brant are happy to be located in Downtown Brookings, the heart and soul of the town, at 309 5th St.

Rejuvenation Med Spa

Dr. Zoilo Lansang, MD opened Rejuvenation Med Spa at its current location in October of 2023. He describes it as a one-stop shop. Lansang offers services such as botox, filler, chemical peels, laser treatments, laser tattoo removal, and laser body contouring. There is also an in-house esthetician who does lash extensions, lash tints, brow lamination and tints, facials, and much more.

Dr. Lansang practiced as a Family Physician in Brookings for many years. In 2019 he continued his training to get Board Certified in Medical Esthetics. “This has been a passion of mine ever since I finished my residency. I was hoping to incorporate it into my practice, but during that time I got so busy, so swamped, that I was not able to,” Lansang chuckled, ”Now I’m at the stage where I’ve done primary care, now it's a different type of medicine.”

Before opening, Dr. Lansang took on the colossal project of transforming the former Antique Mall into the pristine medical clinic that it is now. Much of the renovation was done by Dr. Lansang and his wife, Agnes. “One thing I’m really proud of is the hard work we put in here… every weekend, after work, we were here, cleaning and painting.” He continued, “We sub (contracted), a framer, electrician, plumber, but the rest was us.” In December of 2023, they were awarded The Mayor’s Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Restoration. When asked why he chose to set up shop downtown he said “Everybody comes here, there’s a lot of good activities!”

Dr. Lansang’s history as a trusted physician in the community sets his Med Spa apart. His approach to his practice emphasizes his responsibility as a provider. “This is not just about making you change your physical attributes; this is about enhancing what you have. There are a lot of Med Spas out there that are going to make you look different. I don’t want that…If a client wants me to make them look like Angelina Jolie, I’m going to have to tell them 'You might want to go somewhere else,'” he joked, “Everyone is beautiful, why don’t you enhance the beauty within!”

Hand Tied

Hand Tied, specializing in custom floral creations, has been open for five years but moved into a stand-alone shop this spring. Owner Sheri Vaughn started making arrangements for friends’ weddings, leading to a farmers market booth, with quick growth into a shop-within-a-shop at the now closed Honeycomb Gifts. The business has now blossomed into a freestanding store in the basement of the same building (314 Main). Sheri laughed, “I’m a speakeasy. Everyone that comes down here says ‘OH MY GOD! I had no idea this was down here!’”

“We do a little bit of everything geared towards pick up and go gifts.” The bright shop features organically arranged flowers with out-of-the-ordinary gifts, perfect for those trendy friends with a good sense of humor. Sheri’s favorites include DIY craft kits, irresistible chocolate truffles, quirky keychains, humorous air fresheners, and rollerball perfumes. Sheri has learned that stocking the store is an art. She goes to Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Dallas to find the most up-and-coming trends. She shared, “I’m still trying to train my brain to buy for my customer, not just myself. It’s a lot of work. You have to be passionate about it.” The biggest perk to business ownership has been flexibility, but her favorite part is arranging for weddings. “The relationships with my customers are the most meaningful things ever. Seeing new faces and getting compliments makes me so happy.”

There are downsides to a downstairs location; getting the word out has been a challenge without a window-lined storefront. The decorated stairwell encourages visitors to venture into the unknown. The 314 Main building features other specialty shops as well. “I don’t compete with my upstairs gals. We do this together. We’ll check in with each other.”

Business community cooperation isn’t the only support our neighborhood shops need. Sheri explained, “I just think that Downtown as a whole needs community support. It’s important that we support our local small business. They are definitely the heart and soul of the community.”

WINK’S FAMILY JEWELRY

A second-generation family run jewelry store is the oldest independent jeweler in Brookings. Their building right off main across from Flavor International Cuisine is the same building that V.H. Winkelman opened in 1963. The small staff of five that is run by Sam Tupper who is granddaughter of Jerry Miller and new owner of Wink’s is described as upbeat and young. All the locals know where to find Wink’s and for those that do not want everyone to know the building offers a privacy element for everyone. Sam even has the showroom set up very specifically to offer privacy as well. Samantha’s favorite part about owning Wink’s is the happy work they get to do. The small hometown feel is something you know is present through and through at the store. Independent jewelry stores are a thing of the past, when you support Wink’s, you support the community and even better a family.

Flowers on Main

Thirty-five years ago, on November 1st, 1988, Ilene Gilberston opened Flowers on Main in the building that now houses Spoke-n-Sport. After working in the aerospace industry in California, Ilene moved to the Midwest, her husband’s home. Without much opportunity to continue in the aerospace field in rural South Dakota, Ilene turned to flowers. “They smell great. People love them. What can go wrong with that?” She shared about her journey, “I winged it. I found a place, that was small at first and just did it from the heart and gut. We learned from our mistakes and continued to grow. It’s always a learning process. You never get too old to learn.”

Now, Ilene is passing her knowledge on to a new owner, Brianna Munoz, who is also a transplant to South Dakota. Brianna has been at Flowers on Main for over a year and a half but before that, she was in the Marine Corps Band and started her flower journey in Virginia. “I worked for a floral event business, weddings, and things like that throughout the DC area. When my husband finished his time in the military, Brookings was his hometown, so we ended up here.”

Ilene has strong confidence in Brianna. “She has so much energy, great ideas, and is enthusiastic about the flower world.” Brianna is feeling the pressure though. “I have big shoes to fill. Flowers on Main does so much through town, whether through the hospital, seasonal roping, funeral arrangements, cemetery memorials, and the college.” Speaking of holiday roping, the shop goes through over 6000 feet of roping a year, over a mile! Ilene will stay on with the business to help with seasonal transitions. “That’s one of the things I will help Brianna transition into. All those holiday traditions I’ve done for customers for so many years; they don’t even think about calling for them. I just show up and do it year after year!”

Behind teary eyes, Ilene tried to pinpoint a favorite memory. “I don’t have just one favorite. The best times are when someone makes a special trip to come in and say the flowers they sent or received were perfect and they appreciate you being here. It makes all the bad times worthwhile.” Brianna agreed, “Sometimes it can get so busy and hectic. You can be at your max level of stress for the day and someone comes in with a kind word and all that stress melts away. You think, ‘Alright, I can do this!’”

Ugly Duckling

“It originally started when we made a door with layers of chipped paint into a coffee table. I was ready for other employment and everyone kept saying ‘You should make this into a business!’” A love of reuse and big dreams was sparked in Karen and Fred Burns, who opened the Ugly Duckling in 2016. “We were so cute when we opened. We thought we had a ton but we really had nothing. We’ve come a long way.” They have since grown into using the main level of 312 Main Ave for retail and the basement for custom framing and classes. The shop carries products from around 40 different vendors, with some curated or made by the owners, which now also includes Rachel Dunham.

When asked to describe the store, Karen shared “Ugly Duckling is a box of chocolates – you never know what you’ll find. We have one-of-a-kind items that have been repurposed, upcycled, or hand-crafted with a splash of vintage and antique.” A favorite product that has passed through Ugly Duckling’s doors were windows that came out of a church building that predated SD as a state. “It brings us joy when someone finds their dream piece.”

Beyond retail, the shop also offers custom framing, which is Fred’s specialty. “We’re pretty proud of the frame shop. It’s an important part of the business. People who come in for framing don’t know the rest is here, then they’ll shop and vice versa. It’s a good business mix.” In particular, Karen loves when customers see a finished project. “You get a gasp! There’s nothing like that wow moment!”

Looking ahead, Ugly Duckling has plans for store refresh this winter. The newest owner, Rachel, will be moving to Brookings from Lincoln and adding cabinet painting services. Karen shared her excitement for Rachel to join the team. “It’s important to us that the face of the business is here to share the stories of the products. It’s a lot to do this on your own.”

In parting, Karen requested the community back their small businesses. “Remember your Downtown. Take the time to stroll and find out what hidden treasurers are here that you’ve never noticed before. Don’t complain that ‘there’s nothing here’ when you haven’t even spent time looking locally. We need your support.”

B.WELL BROOKINGS

b.well Brookings is your one-stop shop for all things fitness and healthy living. b.well is a full wellness center offering a variety of motivating and exciting fitness classes for women of all ages and levels of fitness. They have also opened eat.well which gives access to a full meal service and offers classes for women to learn how to live a healthy life style in order to encourage them. Located next to the Brookings Cinema 8, b.well and eat.well are close to downtown Brookings just off of 6th street. With one membership, you will have access to all fitness equipment and fitness classes. One of the characteristics owner Bri Austin is very proud of is the unique atmosphere, which is very different from the stereotypical gym setting. It is a heartwarming, welcoming, encouraging, and safe environment for all ages and fitness levels. The team goes above and beyond to find the best music, settings, and an unmatched environment that all comes down to experience. They work hard to provide an amazing workout you will look forward to!

UPFRAME CREATIVE

UpFrame Creative is a web and design agency dedicated to providing exceptional service and design to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Carrie Kuhl, the founder of the business, believes in being present in the Brookings community and values “if other businesses succeed, so do we.” Kuhl believes in constant education for her staff and clients, and values working with other entrepreneurs, from hearing about their initial ideas to being able to support them throughout the entire entrepreneurial process. When it comes to the downtown Brookings location, Kuhl appreciates that UpFrame Creative has the opportunity to interact and create a community with the other business owners located within the building. UpFrame Creative offers discounts to local nonprofits and donates their talents through a program she started called “Giving Pixels”, to one deserving business or nonprofit during the holiday season. UpFrame Creative is interested in fulfilling all of your web, branding, and graphic design needs, while helping existing, current, and future entrepreneurs succeed in all that they do!

Root and Grow Dance Studio

Root and Grow Dance Studio is a small studio that provides creative movement exploration to foster self-awareness and ignite curiosity for lifelong learning, enriching the mind, body, and spirit in a welcoming and non-competitive environment. The studio was established in 2022 at 410 4th St, taking over for Expanding Harmony where owner, Dana Geiman, started as a student in 2007. She dearly loves bringing people to the dance experience and couldn’t pass up the business opportunity. “I wanted to take where my dance roots came from and embellish that, to root and grow.”

The studio serves a wide range of clients from ages 4 to 65+. Dana shared, “We are here for any human that finds joy in sharing movement and asking ‘what if’.” Root & Grow is a modern-based studio offering ballet, tap, and jazz. All classes are through a somatic lens, which allows people to physically express their emotions. Uniquely, they offer adult beginner and belly dance classes, as well as a semi-professional dance company where students lead by sharing thoughts, ideas, and art. The studio has lots of natural light and historic wood floors.

Modern and belly dance are Dana’s favorite. “One, I like to roll on the floor. Two, it’s fun to improv with belly dance style.” Dana continued, “I’m not a jumper or a mover, that’s not my style. You don’t need backflips and neon colors to be a dancer. Making interesting and thought-provoking movement has value. We provide an opportunity to create art outside of entertainment.”

It's not all rolling on the floor though. “Personally, I am really bad at marketing myself. I don’t seek out my students, I just hope they find me by word of mouth. I’m a little too humble when it comes to owning a business,” she shared with a laugh. Dana also works full-time outside of the studio which can be challenging.

Dana’s passion for people is clear. “My students bring joy and life. Little ones to adults, I am so proud of what they can do.” Dana especially loves working with people trying something new for the first time. “Those are my kind of people!”

ID8 Architecture and the Old Armory

One of the top questions we get as the Downtown Brookings organization is "What's going on with the old Armory?" We sat down with Angela Boersma, owner of ID8 Architecture (located at 418 Main), to give you the inside scoop! The development project is spearheaded by Linchpin Corporation and the design is led by the ID8 Architecture team led by Angela.

First a little history, the armory was built in 1937 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. “When we were taking down the ceiling, there was a letter from an army colonel for a recruitment class for new enlistees,” shared Angela. Some of the items found in the walls and ceilings will be framed and incorporated into the design. “Letting people experience the history and know the story of this building is part of what’s exciting about reusing it.” Because of its historic nature and the use of historic tax credits, work on the building has had to be approved by the National Parks Service, including the interior and exterior, which brings pretty stringent rules.

The building also had extensive water damage and environmental remediation needs. The basement has had all asbestos remediated and a variety of techniques will be used to address lead paint and shooting range residue. All of the windows will be restored to the original size. Dehumidifiers and air filtration have been running constantly until permanent HVAC is installed.

So what will the remodeled building look like and how will it be used?

The gym/auditorium will be an event space for weddings, corporate events, and conferences with dinner-style seating up to approximately 400 people. The ceiling bow-string truss structure has been exposed (as seen in the background of this photo). The gym floor has significant water damage but options are being explored for restoration vs removal.

The basement of the Armory will be converted into The Foxtrot Restaurant, Bar, and Lounge with a moody speakeasy feel and a full menu of elevated Midwest comfort food, including intentional offerings for dietary restrictions. The restaurant will seat around 120 people.

A hotel will be built off the back of the gym/auditorium with 73 rooms, a fitness center, and a business center. The hotel is partnered with IHG, a hotel corporation. It is intended to be IHG’s Hotel Indigo brand. “Part of the ethos of this property and the IHG Hotel Indigo brand is that it specifically features local products and businesses, like coffee, wine, spirits, and produce. The ability to prominently feature local small businesses is something we’re really excited about.”

The fourth floor of the new addition will feature smaller event spaces, named Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie, and a cocktail lounge named The Delta. It’ll seat 80 with 20 seats on a rooftop patio.

When will the project be complete?

Angie shared, “The lack of available sub-contractors in a few specific areas means that we have to wait till spring to break ground on the hotel. The current projected opening date is aiming for fall of 2025.” While the building held a number of difficult construction-related surprises, the roof trusses and basement concrete are in much better shape than originally thought. “It reaffirms the decision to reuse this building.”

We saved the biggest question for last. What about parking?

To address the hot-button topic, Angie enthusiastically declared “Parking is being handled, don’t worry!”

Final renderings are being done now and will be available to view soon! Watch the ID8Architecture Facebook page for updates.

CHAMPION HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC

“We want people to be Champions in their health and do it to the best of their ability.” Dr. Isaiah Crevier owns Champion Health Chiropractic at 430 5th St in Downtown Brookings. When asked what sets their practice apart, Crevier explained, “Good customer service, patient care, and bedside manner – communication is key. We make a healthy environment so patients feel welcome and have a safe place even during a stressful situations. We listen carefully.” The office offers neurology-based chiropractic care, but also detoxing, massage therapy, and nutrition counseling.

Dr. Isaiah Crevier grew up in Elkton but noted, “Brookings was our place to be.” He graduated from SDSU in 2013 with a degree in biology. “Cottonwood was my mojo. I was there sun-up to sun-down.” After SDSU, Crevier went to chiropractic school in Minnesota, followed by a residency in Waterloo, IA, before settling back in Brookings in 2016 with his growing family. “I enjoyed my time at SDSU, it’s what brought me back. The culture of Brookings is what I enjoyed. Small enough to see people you know but large enough to have things to do.”

After looking at clinic options around town, an opportunity in Downtown Brookings fell into Crevier’s lap. His office location opened in 2017, but has expanded to add massage rooms, saunas, a therapy area, storage, and a front desk area. They also have a private parking lot right outside their door, making visits easy for patients in pain or with limited mobility. “We could go anywhere but we choose Downtown. It’s fun and we enjoy the area. We like the walkability and energy.”

Crevier’s favorite part of small business is working with people. “I like taking care of them and seeing them grow over time. You get to see a huge change in people’s health and that’s fantastic.” He also enjoys the managerial and operating side of business, except the paperwork side of medical records. Fortunately, the clinic has seven employees to assist. Crevier would like to get better at working ON his business, not just IN his business, which is a struggle most owners can relate to. “There’s nothing I don’t like about it. I love working with the people.”

EMERALD GRACE CLOTHING COMPANY

Emerald Grace Clothing Company started as an online store in October of 2020 but quickly moved into a small physical location on 5th a few months later. Since then, the shop has moved three more times, recently landing at 314 Main Ave. "It’s the perfect space for a boutique. Being here feels like a dream come true. It feels fun and a good fit. We'll see what this place has in store for me." said store owner, Erica Bousema, with a laugh.

Emerald Grace is a size-friendly women’s clothing boutique that carries inventory in small-3x. "We base our color-schemed inventory on the season. We have fall colors coming in now. I like a good color scheme and organization and will clearance an item when the color doesn’t fit the scheme. I always like to have a good amount of neutral colors on hand for any season." Particularly popular right now are jumpsuits, 100% cotton tops, and raw seam or oversized items. Erica shared, "The nice thing about fashion right now is trends come and go kinda fast, but people are easygoing with their clothing. We can create our own style. Nothing is out of fashion!"

When asked about the hardest part of business ownership, Erica quickly answered, "I'm a rule follower. With owning your own business, there’s no guidebook. There’s no structure, no syllabus to follow, no weekly assignment. I set high expectations for myself, so making goals is hard because I don't want to set them too high and then fail." She was just as quick to answer the best part, "The people you meet and connect with one-on-one are great. I live out of town, but what keeps my business in Brookings is how awesome the environment is."

When asked about the name Emerald Grace Clothing Company, Erica shared a special connection with her mom. "Emerald is my birthstone. Grace is my middle name. I was born on my mom’s birthday, and my mom means a lot to me. It’s a special thing to include her in it."

Thanks for the interview Erica! Visit Emerald Grace Clothing Company at 314 Main Ave on Tuesdays-Saturdays.

PLAY - PERSONALIZED LEARNING ADVENTURES FOR YOUTH

“I moved to Brookings in 2010 to attend SDSU. Working with kids and teaching with a non-profit was not my original intent. After some trips abroad, I wonderfully stumbled into it.” Cassie Juba started tutoring in 2012 and has now grown to serving 86 students out of a kid-friendly space at 409 4th St, called PLAY - Personalized Learning Adventures for Youth. Cassie makes learning approachable for students by incorporating play and adventure, leading to fun and enjoyment, rather than viewing learning as a large cumbersome task.

Downtown Brookings has been incorporated into the curriculum through historical projects and neighborhood exploration. The kids frequently walk around the area, play at nearby parks, and visit the library in the process of learning. Cassie likes their location on 4th as it allows the group access to area amenities without too many distractions.

PLAY received 501c3 non-profit status in 2018 and has a board of three individuals. As a non-profit, PLAY can more easily partner with other organizations and keep the base membership costs low. Cassie shared, “I want students to be able to do many activities in town and don’t want finances getting in the way of enrolling.”

“The best part of my job sounds cliché, but it’s seeing my students smile every day and when they have lightbulb moments.” Cassie is celebrated a milestone this past spring when her very first student graduated high school. “From now on, I have a student graduating every year.” While she loves the kids, not every part of business is easy. Cassie explained “Knowing when to quit at the end of the day is hard. What you do is such a big part of who you are. Being able to walk away and stop working, shut the door at the end of the day, has been the hardest.”

Think PLAY Tutoring Center sounds like a good fit for your child? Spots are open for the upcoming trimester. Contact Cassie for more information and feel the passion she has for the youth in our community. Thanks for all you do Cassie!

POWERSHOP Gym

In 1995, Pam and Gregg Stern took the leap to open Powershop Gym in Downtown Brookings and they have been going strong ever since. Pam and Gregg used to compete in bodybuilding; Pam pointed out an impressive photo hanging in her office. Getting into the gym industry was a natural transition when the opportunity arose. Over the last 28 years, they have moved once, bought that building, added a second story, and helped thousands reach their health and fitness goals.

Pam reminisced, “Accomplishing the 2nd level project was amazing. It was a crazy process that it actually got done. Teen Challenge came in to help. It looked like the inside of a vacuum! Scaffolding everywhere, a complete mess, raining inside when the roof came off.” Around the time the project was completed in 2000, Powershop Gym was the first “internet café” type business in the area where customers could get internet access. “We’ve been here for so long and have seen so much. We lived in the upstairs apartment of the building for 18 years. We loved it!”

Pam’s favorite part of owning a small business is the people she meets and serves. She also loves working with her sister. The hardest part lately has been finding employees while keeping customers happy is an ongoing small business challenge as the world evolves and changes.

One of Pam’s favorite Downtown memories was of Crazy Days past when a strong-man competition was held on Main as a fundraiser for an employee. “People were pulling cars, girls pulling a fire truck. It was a lot of work but very fun.”

Powershop Gym offers 24/7 access to work on your health and fitness. They have group classes, one-on-one training, and app-based workouts. “We have every possible machine and weights to work out in any possible way. We have it all!”

In closing, Pam shared, “I hope to be here for another twenty years.”

Rabbit’s Den Gaming

Alan Lenser (pictured here) and Devon Austin opened Rabbit’s Den Gaming in October 2022. Rabbit’s Den Gaming is a sit-down-and-play hobby store focusing on trading card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon, and Magic the Gathering, tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer, and board games. They sell new games, game accessories, and snacks for gameplaying sustenance, in addition to having a board game library of 100+ games for people to enjoy. There is no fee to stop in and play.

Alan stated, “Having a space for people to gather for hobbies, especially after covid, has been very fulfilling. It makes it a little easier than clearing off a table at your house… it’s a comfortable environment.” Alan has been enjoying owning a small business, even though he never imagined himself stepping into this role. Due to disabilities affecting his vision and ability to walk, Alan could not keep a regular job. The small business has proven easier to manage with his limitations. His biggest challenge has been distribution. “A lot of odds and ends are product that come and go on a rotation. Keeping things in stock can be difficult”

Rabbit’s Den Gaming wants to be a welcoming and inviting space for visitors to learn new games and socialize. They’ve seen customers from 3 to 82 years old enjoy the space, from casual to competitive players. Anyone who likes to play, gather, and have fun can join in. Alan shared, “Magic the Gathering is the most popular. It’s the hardest card game in the world to learn, but it’s the most sociable.”

Interested in learning to play or want to make a new friend? Check out Rabbit Den Gaming’s Facebook page for a weekly in-person gameplay schedule and a Discord server link for virtual gameplay options. “It won’t be hard for you to find people to gather and play.”

In parting, Alan said, “We welcome everyone, all ages! Come in and have a good time!”

B.BEAUTIFUL HAIR LOUNGE

B.beautiful hair lounge has been in Downtown Brookings for 12 years, starting in the old bank location, now called 5th and 5th. Owner Megan Klinkefus described the salon, which offers haircuts, styling, coloring, and brow waxes, as a creative, inspiring, encouraging, and safe space. “At least I hope that's what people feel when they are here,” Megan said with a laugh.

“I always knew I wanted to open something or have my own thing. Personally, I like being in charge of everything- I get to make all the decisions, the hard and the easy. I like the flexibility, but it’s hard to say no… the downside of flexibility.”

Beyond the hair lounge, Megan also runs RO + MO, a hot tool hair styling company named after her two sons. Megan worked closely with a product company to develop esthetically pleasing and hair-friendly blow dryers and a hair waver. RO + MO has sold over 450 hot tools in the last year, locally and nationwide.

When asked why she is located in Downtown Brookings, Megan noted, “I like the energy and the atmosphere of Downtown. There’s something special about it. I like looking outside and seeing life and activity. It’s a hidden gem for some people.”

HITCH STUDIO

Hitch Studio has been in Downtown Brookings for nearly ten years! Wow! They have been in three locations throughout the ten years, recently moving into their new home in a beautiful office behind Jackrabbit Central. Hitch is owned by Renee Bauman, an SDSU grad, wife, and mother of two.

“Hitch Studio specializes in four divisions. First is what we’re most known for, wedding and event planning. We’re also event venue managers, wedding and event stationery creators, and I authored a wedding planning book with a checklist guide. It might surprise you that Hitch has so much going on.”

Renee described Downtown as the heartbeat of the city, describing how the more business and life you have Downtown, the better we feed each other's businesses. You can eat, be entertained, and shop all in one area. "It’s a really fun place to have a business. I leave the storefront to the retailers since we don’t need one, but still love being here because it's such a fun place to work. It’s a thriving area that my clients love exploring after our meetings."

When asked about what she loves most about owning a small business, Renee was quick to answer. She said, “I love that I get to mentor my team of 40+ employees. Many are SDSU students. I love to watch them spread their wings and grow. Being a part of their journey, impacting so many people, I love that. I take a lot of pride in the work that we do. I can seriously say I love coming to work every day.”

Renee has learned a lot over the last nine and a half years of business. "Knowing when and how to grow can be a challenge. When should I hire? Where should I focus attention? What should I budget and when? It’s a challenge since time and resources are limited."

“I’m proud to be a small business owner! Thank you to Downtown Brookings for highlighting the hardworking business owners and advocates who make Brookings a great place to live!”

Thank you to Renee and the Hitch Studio crew for their vision and commitment!