Business Buzz: Despite ongoing transition to Circle K, new Holiday store planned in south Fargo (2024)

FARGO — City of Fargo building permit information indicates the city is getting a new Holiday Station Store and a new Circle K convenience store.

The Holiday store will go up at 2445 65th Ave. S., while the Circle K is slated for 5213 Veterans Boulevard S., near the intersection of 52nd Avenue and Veterans Boulevard.

The projects arrive at a time when area Holiday stores are undergoing a slow-motion conversion to Circle K stores, a process that is also taking place with Holiday stores across the country.

David Samson/The Forum

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., a Canadian firm that is the parent company of Circle K convenience stores, purchased Minnesota-based Holiday Stationstores Inc. in 2017.

The changeover from a Holiday store to a Circle K store often begins with Holiday employees giving up their Holiday branded apparel in favor of Circle K branded garb. When Holiday branded products run out at a Holiday store, the shelves are restocked with Circle K products.

Those early steps in the morphing process are now occurring at many of the area's Holiday stores, of which there are three stores in Moorhead, six in Fargo and three in West Fargo, according to Holiday's website.

A building permit filed in March with the city of Fargo indicated the exterior appearance of at least one area Holiday store would soon be getting the Circle K treatment as well.

The permit indicated signs at the Holiday store at 3040 25th St. S., in Fargo, would be changing from the Holiday brand to the Circle K brand. However, a recent check indicated that exterior change has yet to take place.

Circle K spokesperson Chris Barnes said the Holiday store that will soon be built is being developed by a franchisee.

Barnes said Circle K's plans for the Fargo-Moorhead market are unchanged, adding that Circle K is taking a deliberate approach to rebranding existing sites and it is still too early to share a timetable for any changes in the local market.

Attempts to reach the franchisee that will be building the new Holiday Station Store in Fargo were not successful at the time this story was published.

FARGO — The Red River Market will return to Broadway Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13, for its 10th season.

Contributed / Folkways

Opening day will feature over 90 local vendors selling produce, meat, eggs, bakery, pantry items, household goods, art, and more. Some vendors you can find on opening day include Treat Theater with gourmet chocolate treats, Steep Me Tea Apothecary with wellness teas and nonalcoholic beverages, Midheaven Garden with fresh vegetables and gourmet mushrooms from their family farm and Namaste Kitchen with hot indian food as Fargo-Moorhead’s first Indian cuisine food truck.

Food access and food education will continue to be a focus at this season’s market. Every market day will feature a cooking demonstration and food tasting at 11:00 a.m. As a part of the Bite Size Kids Club, kids who try a sample at the food tasting will receive a token to use at the market. Visitors will also find a plethora of recipe cards that use local produce at the new Little Free Recipes stand located in Broadway Square. All vendors accept SNAP/EBT on eligible products and Red River Market matches purchases up to $15 per person per visit at the information booth.

Live performances will include:

• 10-11 a.m. — Brass Interference
• 11-11:30 a.m. — Cooking Demonstration by Wendi Wheeler
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — The JT Kennelly Band
• 12:30-1 p.m. — North Dakota Elite
• 1-2 p.m. — The 147’s

For more information, visit www.redriver.market .

MOORHEAD — An FMWF Chamber Eggs & Issues event Tuesday, June 9, at the Courtyard by Marriott, 1080 29th Ave. S., will address the challenges and opportunities facing Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo downtowns.

Panelists will include Rocky Schneider, executive director of the Downtown Community Partnership; Casey Sanders-Berglund, economic development manager for the city of West Fargo; and Derrick LaPoint, president and CEO of Downtown Moorhead Inc. FMWF Chamber Executive Vice President Katherine Grindberg will moderate the event.

Topics and highlights will include:

• Fargo: Highlight new innovative business ventures, and urban revitalization projects while addressing homelessness and a Downtown Safety Plan.
• West Fargo: Learn about the recently approved downtown placemaking master plan and its vision for creating a thriving, welcoming downtown area.
• Moorhead: Get insights into the Downtown Moorhead Development project, the 11th Street Underpass Project and the recent groundbreaking for the new Moorhead Community Center and Library.

Breakfast and networking will take place from 7:30 to 8 a.m., followed by a panel discussion. Tickets in advance are $40 for members and $50 for non-members, and $50 and $60 at the door.

For more information, email pwatson@fmwfchamber.com .

Dave Olson is a reporter, photographer and occasional videographer. He graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a degree in mass communications, and during his time at The Forum he has covered many beats, from cops and courts to business and education. Currently is writing business stories, but jumps on daily news as needed. He’s also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the dwarf planet Pluto. You may reach Dave at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com.