1980-1989: Declining Growth

After back-to-back decades of consistent record growth, the boom tapered off in the 1980s. High interest rates and a national recession at the start of the decade followed by an oil crash and struggling commodity prices in the latter half attributed to slower growth. Drought didn’t help the ag industry. The situation was never completely dire, but was a stark contrast to decades of booming expansion. Business closures were as prominent as openings, but in most cases closures were met quickly with replacements. Bankruptcies reached new highs in both 1985 and 1986.

The first three years of the decade each witnessed building activity that was about half the 1979 construction record. 1983 saw a brief reprieve by exceeding the record at $71 million, but it was short-lived with 1984 plummeting back down matching the first three years. 1988 was the slowest year for new building permits of the decade, at just $29.4 million. Sources do differ slightly on the exact figures for each year, but all tell the same story.

Additions and renovations grew popular. Residential renovations topped $1 million for the first time in 1981 and remained there each consecutive year through at least the first half of the decade. Apartment complexes slowed after a big boom in the 1970s, but condos, twinhomes, and townhomes increased.

Building activity was generally contained in the same boundaries of the 1970s, simply expanding upon that groundwork. School construction slows greatly with only two new schools to open that decade – Solheim and Centennial. Centennial will be the last new schoolhouse until Horizon in 2001 and the last new elementary school until Sunrise in 2010 with focus in the 1990s being on expanding existing facilities. Wachter and Bismarck High do receive expansions.

Aside from Kirkwood Plaza’s massive expansion, one of the biggest retail changes that decade was in the grocery sector. Dan’s Supervalu opens its Gateway store while two new grocers increase competition – Holiday Plus Warehouse (now Cash Wise) and Econofoods (now a location for Dan’s Supermarket). Red Owl – once the dominant local grocery – closes up shop after 62 years of local operation despite repeated efforts to save it. Another long-time grocer called Farm City was destroyed by fire – its owner charged with arson.

Downtown is further impacted by traffic and consumer changes when its last national retailers vacate and traffic drops from the opening of the Expressway Bridge. Downtown’s role shifted from the region’s consumer center to a center for banking, healthcare, and white-collar professional offices.

Bismarck-Mandan population growth slowed to the lowest percentage since the 1940s, adding less than 4,000 new citizens for the entire metropolitan. Despite slow growth, the metropolitan was tapping on 90,000 citizens by the end of the decade.

1980

Bismarck building permits plummeted by more than 50% compared to 1979’s record to $34.4 million (one source says $36.1 million). Mandan’s decrease was only 4.3%, but it benefited from a major railroad repair building construction. Other North Dakota cities witnessed strong declines as well, with Grand Forks leading the primary cities at a 52% drop. Home remodeling was the only metric to increase.

Kirkwood expansion

The decade kicked off very similar to the decade before with Kirkwood Mall completing a $15 million expansion that roughly doubled its footprint, adding more than 40 new stores with two additional anchors: J.C. Penney and market new-comer Target. Its movie theater also relocated and expanded to three screens from two. Similar to its previous two-screen historic significance, Plaza III was North Dakota’s first three-screen theater. The expansion vacated a portion of Arbor Avenue.

The 106,000-square-foot J.C. Penney store was roughly double that of its former downtown location when it opened in January 1980. At 80,000 square feet, the Target was slightly smaller than stores it already operated in Fargo and Grand Forks. Despite this, Dayton-Hudson anticipated its Bismarck store to surpass sales of its other North Dakota stores. One reason for the smaller footprint was that the space was originally intended to house a Dayton’s department store, but its parent company re-evaluated its decision in February 1979 and slated Target’s opening. Local reception of the change was initially mixed, at best, with the common perception that Target was the “poor relative” of the iconic Dayton’s. It was the 27th Target to open, in November 1979. Direct access into the mall itself wasn’t completed until at least 1980. A Dayton’s did ultimately open at Kirkwood in 1985. Dayton-Hudson also operated a B. Dalton bookstore for years at Kirkwood.

Kirkwood’s existing three anchor spaces were also expanded during the project, including 27,000 square feet for Woolworth’s and 2,600 for Wards. The expansion necessitated Herberger’s vacating 23,000 square feet of its original footprint. In turn, the entire anchor space was renovated and extended, resulting in a 15,000-square-foot net gain. The store is remodeled again in 1985 and 1988 before adding another 30,000 square feet in 1993.

A week-long Grand Opening and 9th Anniversary celebration was held for Kirkwood II was held in May 19-24, with a ribbon cutting on May 21, 1980. The Wachters first announced plans for the penned “Kirkwood II” in 1977.

Woolco

Unrelated to the expansion, Woolworth’s converted its Kirkwood store into Woolco – the chain’s discount department store division. It was the only Woolco to ever operate in North Dakota. Interestingly, this change meant that two discount department stores were located at Kirkwood at the same time. The Woolworth’s store downtown continues operating until 1981.

Planned Mandan shopping center

Terra Vallee, a real estate developer, announced plans for a 163,000-square-foot shopping center northeast of the Sunset Drive interchange with Interstate 94 in northwest Mandan. A Super Valu and 72,897-square-foot Kmart were planned anchors. The project ceased in 1983 after federal funding was rejected and both anchor tenants backed out. Today, the site is home to Walmart.

This was the second shopping center planned for that area to fall through, the first being Sunset Terrace Plaza announced in 1974.

McDowell Dam

McDowell Dam was dedicated that June. The manmade recreation area is named after local entrepreneur Harley McDowell, who donated the land to Burleigh County in the early 1970s under the condition that it would be developed for recreational use. The dam and surrounding area were constructed at a cost of $700,000 and has since become a popular destination for fishing and swimming, attracting up to 80,000 visitors each year.

Patterson Hotel condemned and renovated

One of Bismarck’s most iconic buildings – once deemed the most luxurious hotel between Minneapolis and Seattle – the former Patterson Hotel building was condemned for a second time in August 1980. After a failed renovation attempt that would have kept it operating as a first-class hotel, a successful $5.6 million renovation pumped new life into the historic building, converting the upper floors into senior apartments.

In 1976, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which likely saved it from imminent demolition. The building was sold to 10 local investors in 1977, who intended to invest $1.5 million in renovations to restore it into a 1920s-themed first-class hotel with a convention center and fine dining establishment. The planned project was to include dual glass elevators on the building’s northwest exterior, a retail mall area, atrium, and valet portico. Unfortunately, those plans never came to fruition.

On May 2, 1978, the Patterson officially ceased operating as a hotel after 67 years. By that time, much of the building was being used as residential apartments and office space, which were allowed to remain for the time being. By October, building residents – roughly 60 of them – were encouraged to obtain new housing. Condemnation papers were first filed in August and utility operator MDU was threatening to discontinue services due to outstanding bills. Once again, the building’s future remained in doubt.

In 1980, a group of investors seeking to renovate the building obtained approval for Municipal Industrial Development Act bonds, which was the first positive step towards saving the building. Financing remained a hurdle, however. Renovation was expected to cost up to $6 million and purchase of the building included liabilities totaling an estimated $300,000. The City of Bismarck agreed to provide TIF funding for the building’s renovation but that funding was later jeopardized when concerns surfaced that the funds were inappropriately approved. At the time, TIF could not be used on privately-owned buildings.

As renovation hopes faded, an official order for condemnation was filed that August after an inspection highlighted concerns with electrical, plumbing, and its heating systems. Structural issues were also discovered. The building was ordered evacuated the following month.

In February 1981, the City Commission delayed the condemnation hearing after new investors led by Jim Christianson surfaced. The following month, the Commission approved a 120-day delay for the condemnation order while the building’s investors secured final mortgage insurance and approval. At least one Commissioner suggested that no other delays would be granted.

Renovation efforts took another step forward in April after HUD committed to rent subsidies, in exchange for the property to be used as affordable senior housing. This commitment by HUD was considered the last hurdle to mortgage insurance approval. In a stroke of good luck, Ginnie Mae approved a $5.5 million federal loan for the project, at 7.5% interest over 40 years. The Patterson project was chosen in a computerized lottery. The additional funding required, for restoration of the non-residential portions of the building, were funded privately and through TIF.

The first tenants occupied the senior apartments in April 1983 with a formal dedication that October. Peacock Alley re-opened in the hotel’s former lobby in 1984.

Capitol Lanes

The Sagsveen family built Capitol Lanes Plaza and opened the namesake bowling alley on December 30, 1980 with twenty-four lanes. The alley expanded one year later to forty lanes, and then again in 1983 to fifty lanes. Thunder Alley bowling was added in 1997. Capitol Lanes closed in May 2004.

Capital Lanes Plaza also housed a café, bar, and arcade on the upper floor with the bowling alley. For some time, its café housed a Piccadilly Circus Pizza franchise. Below the alley housed retail tenants, which over the time included D&D Food, a gas station, golf store, liquor store, package store, nursery, school supply store, Greyhound Bus Depot, and Hair Hospital.

Today, the facility houses West Central Human Services.

Arrowhead Plaza renovation

Arrowhead Plaza completed a $300,000 exterior renovation, extending the public sidewalk and adding a green-tinted overhang. The decorative “corner towers” were also implemented at this time. The 2011 renovation greatly modernized the 1980 appearance but retained the corner towners.

Other 1980 highlights:

• Historic Carnegie Library is demolished.
• Eastdale Shopping Center is dedicated at the corner of 26th Street and Rosser Avenue with Mini Mart as its anchor.
• Basin Electric adds two floors to its headquarters, which only opened about 6 years prior. The $2.3-million expansion adds 44,000 square feet to the building.
• State Street improvement project that commenced in 1979 is concluded. The project upgraded the road to 6 lanes between Divide and Century Avenues, as well as intersection improvements.
• Dakota Office Supply relocated to 1131 E Main Avenue. The building now houses Turitto’s, but its former “office supplies” sign still stands high above.
• La Casa de Hamburguesa opens at 401 E Bismarck Expressway. It closes in 1984. It later houses Nick’s Ristorante and Sergio’s. Today, it’s home to Famous Dave’s.
• New traffic signals are installed on Mandan’s Main Street at Twin City Drive and 8th Avenue West, along with other street upgrades. The project was approved in 1978.

1981

Building activity continued to slump. While metro-area permits were up through May, figures softened as the summer progressed. That August, Mandan sank to an 11-year low for the month. Bismarck was closer to break-even with the previous year, but that was against a slump year. After years of back-to-back record construction, this seemed unremarkable. In the end, 1981 slightly increased vs the previous year to $34.6 million (one source says $44.4 million). Commercial permits totaled $14.7 million.

The 1980-1981 winter season ended as the driest on record, receiving only 11.7 inches of snow. The previous record, set during 1902-1903, was 13.2 inches. By comparison, the most snowfall received was 101.6 inches during the 1996-1997 season.

Heritage Center

The $8.4-million State Heritage Center was dedicated in May, replacing the former historical museum housed at the Liberty Memorial Building. Four current and past state governors attended the ceremony. Ground was broken in 1978. A $52 million expansion of the Center was completed in 2014.

Gateway Dan’s Supervalu

Dan’s Supervalu completed construction of its 30,000-square-foot freestanding store east of Gateway Mall, relocating from Kmart (where it was called Century Supervalu). Gateway Supervalu was expanded to 49,000 square feet in 1989. Its current State Street store south of Menards replaced this location in 2003 and Hobby Lobby now resides in the building.

Other 1981 highlights:

• The Navy requests the removal of the F9F Panther aircraft on display at Rosa Young Park, citing safety reasons due to its deteriorating condition. The aircraft had been on display since October 1962.
• The Donut Hole opens Bismarck location. It previously opened a location in Mandan, in 1978. The venture is a partnership that includes the owners of Dickinson’s Baker Boy. Today, it is known as Bearscat Bakehouse.
• North Dakota’s first Arby’s opens at Kirkwood Mall in May. The restaurant was originally located in the center of the mall near Herberger’s (Bath & Body Works as of 2018). Sometime in the mid-1990s, a 24-seat section was cornered off and enclosed to comply with local smoking regulations. The Kirkwood Arby’s relocates in 2005 adjacent to J.C. Penney before closing in 2015.
• Woolworth’s closes its downtown store on Main Avenue, where it had been located for 55 years. Woolco continues at Kirkwood until 1983.
• Judicial wing completed on the Capitol.
• Godfather’s Pizza opens Bismarck location at 1051 E Interstate Avenue on October 10th. It later became Primo Pizzaria & Suds before closing in 1988.
• Mandan’s Furniture First is established. The retailed ultimately becomes Furniture Plaza in 2001, at which time it encompasses four buildings housing four distinct sub-stores: Classic Oak, Sleep Center, Leather Collection, and Rooms For You. It closes in 2003.

1982

Construction started to pick up again with $53.4 million in new building permits. Residential accounted for almost twice commercial, $42 million vs $22 million.

Bismarck Avenue becomes Expressway, upgrades include third vehicular bridge

In April, the Bismarck City Commission approved renaming Bismarck Avenue to Bismarck Expressway in response to the road’s upgrade from a collector to an arterial pending completion of its four-lane upgrade. The City Commission also designated the frontage road west of Washington leading to Fox Island as Riverwood Drive.

The new four-lane Bismarck Expressway debuts by the end of the year, with the bridge connecting Mandan completed in 1985. A portion of Centennial Road is also renamed Bismarck Expressway in anticipation for it someday meeting up with the route.

Bismarck train depot closes

Burlington Northern ceased operations in Bismarck, consolidating into its Mandan depot. The move came three years after Amtrak discontinued passenger service from Bismarck and effectively ended direct rail service to the capital. Local developer Jim Christianson purchased the former Bismarck depot. After some remodeling, Fiesta Villa relocates from Mandan into the former depot where it remains until its 2016 closure.

Holiday Plus Warehouse (Cash Wise)

Holiday Plus Warehouse opened in June. Holiday Plus held a soft opening on July 7, 1982 and grand opening July 21.  It was the company’s largest warehouse-style grocery store and served as a prototype for future stores. Even at that, the store added 17,000 square feet to its original 40,000 just the following year.

In or around 1990, Coborn’s purchased the local store and re-branded it “Cash Wise.” From 1994-1996, the store temporarily reverted back to Holiday Companies, as SuperFair Foods.

Sheraton Galleria, parking ramp

Galleria Associates proposed a two-phase development project at the long-vacant Sixth Street Urban Renewal site. The $30.8 million plan calls for a 10-story hotel on the northwest corner, a 13-story office and condominium tower on the southeast corner, a 233-vehicle parking ramp on the northeast corner, and a two-story mixed-use building at the center.

The Sheraton Galleria (today’s Radisson Hotel) began construction that year. Concurrently, the City Commission approved construction of the adjoining Galleria parking ramp and a skyway linking the hotel to the Parkade.

Q&R Clinic/Bismarck Hospital Expansion

Q&R Clinic and the affiliated Bismarck Hospital began an $11.9-million expansion that included a 6-story tower and closed a block of Thayer Avenue. It is officially occupied on December 20, 1983. Its former building at 221 N 5th Street becomes the newly combined City/County Building.

Downtown Big Boy relocates/rebrands

Big Boy’s downtown location (opened in 1970 on the southeast corner of 6th Street and Thayer Avenue) closed, in a sense, when it was forced to relocate as part of Q&R Clinic’s expansion. The restaurant relocated across the street to 210 N 6th Street, when it was appropriately renamed “Across The Street Restaurant.” The building was originally home to Ressler Cafe. By summer 1988, the restaurant evolved into Burgie’s restaurant. Despite the name change, Burgie’s still offered some Big Boy items, including the Alpine Burger, with an expanded menu that also included breakfast, soup, and beer. Burgie’s closed in December 1990, again after Q&R asserted control of the building.

KFC’s second standalone restaurant also began construction on the southeast corner of Third Street and Bowen Avenue (present site of HuHot).

Other 1982 highlights:

• Renovation is completed on the Liberty Memorial Building.
• Conlin’s Furniture acquires Furniture City and consolidates inside the historic Webb Brothers building on Main Avenue. Furniture City had occupied the building shortly after Sears relocated to Gateway Mall in 1979. Conlin’s remained here until it, too, relocated to Gateway Mall, in 2004. Today, the building houses Zimmerman’s.
• Peavey closes its Mandan store and sells Bismarck’s Thunderbird Home Improvement to Northwestern Supply.
• Save-Way Superette closes after 26 years. The store re-opens under new ownership in 1990 as Stoner’s.
• Rod Morast acquires Bismarck’s Red Owls and re-brands them as Rod’s Family Foods. Red Owl regains ownership in 1986.

1983

After three years of less-than-impressive construction activity, 1983 set a new building record with $73.9 million (one source says $71 million) in new permits issued. Mandan was strong too but fell short of its record.

Woolco shutters

F.W. Woolworth closes its Woolco store at Kirkwood Mall as the company’s discount division is dissolved nationwide. The store (originally as a Woolworth) was the first to open at Kirkwood Plaza. It became a Woolco in 1980. Woolworth’s opened its first Bismarck store in 1922 at 406 E Main. It was the first national retailer to open in Bismarck (although J.C. Penney did open a Mandan store two years prior).

Papa’s Pumpkin Patch

Papa’s Pumpkin Patch began in 1983, however it does not open to the public until 1989. In 2007, Papa’s Polar Patch opened for the first time. The Polar Patch primarily focuses on winter related activities, including horse-driven sleigh rides, ice skating, and ice forts.

Other 1983 highlights:

• Fiesta Villa relocates from Mandan into former train depot in Bismarck.
• Bismarck Bowling Center closes after 37 years.
• The former Cinema Theater on Main Avenue, shuttered with Patterson Hotel’s condemnation, re-opens as the newly renovated Capitol Theater.
• Taco Johns replaces The Copper Penny restaurant at 320 S 3rd. The building originally housed Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips from 1977-1981.
• Final stretch of U.S. Highway 83 from Bismarck to Minot opens as four lanes in June.
• Kirkwood McDonald’s is established next to Target on October 1. It was the city’s second, after 2207 E Main (1971). The dining area was separated into three sections, including a patio area in the mall itself and a children’s area to the rear. It closed in 2003.
• McDonald’s opens next to Target at Kirkwood. The restaurant closes in 2003.
• Holiday Warehouse (now Cash Wise Foods) expands by 17,000 square feet.
• Mandan Dairy Queen is replaced by a larger restaurant for $350,000, moving from 1006 E Main to 1106 E Main. The larger restaurant also extends its menu offerings.
• Trails West, the successor to Jumbo’s Drive-in, closes. It replaced Jumbo’s in 1979.
• Golden Dragon restaurant renovates and expands into the adjacent building. It opened in 1977 and closes in 2005. Its original building formerly housed the long-time clothier Dahl, along with Weeda’s. Blarney Stone occupied it in 2009.
• Hansen’s Furniture establishes a second location at 201 E Main Avenue. The building was formerly occupied by Conlin’s Furniture and Carpet World. Today it is Zimmerman’s Clearance Center.
• Stonewood Inn (later The Ridge Motel) opens at 2630 Old Red Trail. It is positioned as an economy-class hotel to compliment the Seven Seas Motor Inn, located directly across the street.
• Mathison’s establishes Bismarck branch at 304 N 4th in December. It relocates to 112 N 4th in 1987 and closes in 2018.

1984

After 1983’s upward rebound, 1984 building activity dropped by almost half to $38.6 million (one source says $35.4 million). Mandan issued $6.1 million in new permits.

Mandan diesel spill

That August, an estimated 600,000-to-1.16 million gallon diesel spill was discovered contaminating Mandan, concentrated near Main Street between Collins Avenue and Second Streets and extending out several blocks. It was traced to a diesel fueling depot that operated in the Mandan railyard between 1950 and 1979. Recovery was expected to take three-to-five years, but ultimately took decades and resulted in demolishing several historic buildings dating back to at least the 1890s. Cleanup isn’t declared complete until January 2020.

Pizza Factory replaces Happy Joe’s

Pizza Factory was founded in 1984 when its owners chose to drop the Happy Joe’s franchise, replacing all three Happy Joe’s in Bismarck-Mandan while also adding a new carry-out only location at Northbrook Mall. As cited by its owners at the time, the change stemmed from lack of corporate direction of Happy Joe’s.

At the time of the name change, Bismarck’s locations were at 1420 Interstate Loop and at the corner of Bismarck Expressway and South 12th Street. Mandan’s was located at 606 NE 1st Street. The former Happy Joe’s locations were converted from carry-out to full service while also adding beer. Soon after, all locations except that at Interstate Loop closed, beginning with the location in south Bismarck.

The last-standing Pizza Factory location closed in 1990, only to re-open under new ownership a few months later (as M&M Pizza Factory). It closed a final time in 1992. The building was later taken over by Rent-All. Today, the building houses Hebron Brick Supply.

Logan Building fire

The historic Logan Building at 3rd Street and Broadway Avenue was gutted by fire. The building was constructed in 1917 and, among other tenants, housed Logan’s Grocery until 1941. A $1.75 million renovation was completed in July 1986.

Restaurant openings/closings

Royal Fork replaced Caesar’s Centurion Family Restaurant, which opened in 1978 at 1065 E Interstate Ave. Royal Fork was a long-time national buffet restaurant based out of Boise, Idaho that operated until 2004. Today, the building is home to China Star Buffet.

Ron’s Family Restaurant closed at 1201 E Main Avenue. The building originally housed Country Kitchen, which closed in 1979. It later houses a succession of restaurants, including Weisbeck’s Family Restaurant until 1989, Main Street Diner until 1990, and finally Dakota Farms. Today, it houses Land O’ Lakes.

La Casa de Hamburguesa closed at 401 E Bismarck Expressway. It opened in 1980. It later houses Nick’s Ristorante and Sergio’s. Today, it’s home to Famous Dave’s.

Other 1984 highlights:

• The state assumes control of Bismarck Junior College, which was previously part of Bismarck Public Schools.
• Conlin’s Furniture sells Carpet World.
• Voters overwhelmingly reject a $16.4 million school bond measure that included a new elementary school (Solheim) and improvements to Wachter Junior High and Bismarck High School on June 4, 1984. A smaller $9.8 million bond is narrowly approved the following year.
• City and County offices are combined and relocate into the former Q&R Clinic at 221 N 5th.

1985

Despite a drop in residential building, overall Mandan permit activity jumped by $3 million to $9.1 million. Bismarck was less positive, witnessing the slowest building year since 1974 at $31.8 million.

Public school upgrades: Solheim approved, additions to Wachter and Bismarck High

After three failed attempts, voters narrowly authorized a $9.8 million bond measure for public school upgrades. $3 million is earmarked towards constructing a new elementary school (Solheim) in southwest Bismarck, $2.5 million to expand Wachter Junior High, and $4.3 million for expanding and renovating Bismarck High. An additional $1.6 million was funded from the district’s building fund for a total of $11.4 million. It was a scaled-down measure from the $16.4 million rejected by voters the previous year. Construction begins in 1986.

When completed in 1987, Bismarck High adds two gymnasiums, a fine arts center, music rooms, and social studies rooms. Wachter Junior High expands with a multipurpose room, new classrooms, gymnasium, library, and music area. Victor Solheim Elementary opened that year as well, named for the former Assistant Superintendent.

Kirkwood remodels, Dayton’s occupies former Woolco

Dayton’s opened inside the former Woolco/Woolworth store at Kirkwood Mall, which closed in 1983. Dayton’s was originally planned for the Target anchor, but the company changed its mind prior to opening. Dayton’s becomes Marshall Field’s in 2001, which itself closes in 2005. Soon after, the anchor was knocked down and replaced with today’s Target the following year, in 2006.

Also in 1985, Kirkwood completed a million-dollar remodel. Plans for the upgrades were announced concurrently with Dayton’s pending arrival the previous November. The improvements were largely cosmetic, including the palm tree poles that lined its atrium until its 2018 renovation.

KBMY-TV

The FCC granted a local license to KBMY-TV – Bismarck’s ABC affiliate, which begins broadcasting in March. The B and M of the call letters represent Bismarck -Mandan while the Y was requested to match Forum Communication’s other stations (including WDAY and KSFY). In accordance with the ABC affiliation agreement, KBMY launches a local news operation, which ceases four years year.

Expressway Bridge opens

The $15.8-million Bismarck Expressway bridge officially opens on July 23. It is one of North Dakota’s longest bridges and concludes the Expressway project that upgraded then-Bismarck Avenue into a four-lane arterial rechristened Bismarck Expressway.

Planning of the project commenced after a 1968 traffic study concluded that an additional bridge was needed as the Liberty Memorial Bridge reached capacity. The go-ahead was granted in the mid-1970s and construction commenced on October 6, 1981. The project was 80% federally funded.

The completion of Bismarck Expressway leads to a decline in traffic on Main Avenue, as cited by a Highway Department official in a 1989 article, dropping from 17,400 vehicles per day near Airport Road in 1984 to 12,000.

Grand & Gateway movie theaters

Two new movie theaters opened that year: Grand Theater and one at Gateway Mall. Matching that of Kirkwood’s Plaza III, each theater was built to house three screens.

Constructed for $500,000, including equipment, Grand opened with only two screens in fall 1984. The first movies shown were No Small Affair and Night of the Comet. While the building accommodated three screens, opening of the third was delayed due to financial issues. It boasted a glass front and long lobby, with the main entrance on the northeast side. Several wax models of movie stars served as décor, including Charlton Heston as Moses and Burt Lancaster as a pirate. Grand has been expanded several times since, the first of which added three screens in 1994 to a total of six. Today, it has 22 screens. Since opening, it has been locally owned by Jerry Brekke, who previously owned Mandan’s Showboat and Bismarck’s Capitol Theatre.

The first films screened at Gateway were St. Elmo’s Fire, Sylvester, and Lifeforce. The owner of Gateway’s theater, Midcontinent Theaters, also owned downtown’s Dakota Twin. In 1994, Midcontinent expands the Gateway theater to 8 screens for an estimated $500,000 and brands as Midco 8. It was Bismarck’s largest and most modern theater at the time. Midcontinent closed Dakota Twin at that time. Carmike and later AMC acquired the Gateway theater, which closed in 2020 amidst the coronavirus pandemic and never re-opened.

Other 1985 highlights:

• Former Q&R Clinic is converted to house joined City & Burleigh County offices.
• Jade Garden replaces Mr. Steak at 431 S 3rd Street. It closes in 1998, replaced by Los Amigos. Today, it’s CVS/pharmacy.
• Rock’N 50’s Cafe opens at Gateway Mall, replacing State Street Cafe. It is established by the same Fargo-based company who later opens Shades at Kirkwood Mall and Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse.
• Knotty Pine Motel is destroyed by fire on May 12th. The motel had been in operation since the 1950s.
• After nearly 40 years in business, Farm City – a grocer – shutters after its then-owner is charged with arson for setting a massive fire to collect insurance money. The business was located at 1521 E Thayer Avenue.
• Hillside Pool adds a waterslide, opening on July 4 (replaced in 2008).
• A second Wendy’s location is announced for 900 E Bismarck Expressway. The location closes, temporarily, in 1991 after being unable to strike a new lease agreement with the building’s owner. Its first location, at 2112 N 12th, opened in 1979.
• State Street McDonald’s is established next to Kmart. It was the city’s third, after 2207 E Main (1971) and Kirkwood Mall (1983). It later remodels into a sports theme and becomes known as the McDonald’s Sports Dome. The building was replaced in the 2000s.
• A Bismarck Rax Roast Beef Restaurant is established at 434 S 3rd. The building originally housed Village Inn Pizza Parlor. Applebees occupies the building in 1992.
• Playground added to Washington Street diamonds (today’s Sam McQuade Softball Complex).
• Four-way stop approved at Century Avenue and Washington Street. The intersection is upgraded to traffic signals in the mid-1990s and is today one of Bismarck’s busiest intersections.
• New traffic signal approved for Thayer Avenue and 9th Street. The signal is removed in 2018.

1986

North Dakota’s economy struggled in 1986 as commodity prices tanked and the oil boom went bust. Unemployment spiked as high as 21% in McHenry County east of Minot. As a result, state bankruptcies reached an all-time high that year beating the previous year’s high. While business and farm bankruptcies decreased, individual filings spiked.

Building activity for both cities dripped from the previous year. Mandan building activity dropped to $5.9 million while Bismarck dipped by almost exactly $1 million.

The political landscape changed greatly in 1986 with Democrats gaining control of the state Senate for the first time in history. North Dakota Democrats performed well on the national level too with Bismarck native Kent Conrad narrowly winning the U.S. Senate seat. It was the first defeat of an incumbent U.S. Senate for the state since World War II. It was the last Republican-held national seat from North Dakota with Democratic Senator Burdick and Representative Dorgan filling the other two along with Conrad. Democrats hold onto all three seats until 2011.

Voters narrowly approve Civic Center and Public Library expansions

A 1% city sales and use tax takes effect on April 1st, narrowly approved by citizens on January 14th through a limited home rule charter. The final vote count was 3,713-3,576 – a 137-vote difference. The new tax is chiefly targeted at funding an expanded Civic Center and public library, with the condition that a 20-mill property tax reduction be granted. Citizens uphold the new tax in the November general election.

The library concludes its expansion in 1989 and the Civic Center in 1990.

All Seasons Arena and Tom O’Leary upgrades

Borrowing scoreboards from the Civic Center, youth hockey first skated at the All Seasons Arena in February 1986. The arena was first conceptualized in 1980 with the development of a master plan for Tom O’Leary Park.

By July 1984, feasibility studies were complete and a council was formed to raise funds, which would be a mix of private and government financing. Construction cost was estimated at $4 million. Tvenge and Associates commenced architectural designs in November 1984. The Bismarck City Commission authorized $1 million in MIDA bonds in early 1985. Construction commenced that May.

An 85×200-foot second ice sheet was added to the north in 1999 for about $1.8 million.

Along with the sports arena, construction commenced on upgrading Tom O’Leary Golf Course from nine holes to eighteen. A sledding hill and walking trails were also added.

Menards replaces White Mart

White Mart closed in 1986 shortly after its parent company merged with Minnesota-based Thrifty Drug. The former White Mart anchor space at Gateway Mall was soon replaced by home improvement chain Menards. The space was slightly enlarged for Menards, forcing four tenants to relocate. Menards vacated in 2000 after building a freestanding store just north of the mall. In 2001, PrimeCare converted 30,000 square feet – roughly half – of the former Menards anchor space into a “Medical Mall.”

Other 1986 highlights:

• Mary College is granted university status and begins offering Master level degrees
• Burleigh County Courthouse is remodeled and expanded (dedicated on September 26th).
• Red Owl regains ownership of its Bismarck stores, which had been operating independently as Rod’s Family Foods since 1982.
• Hodge Podge opens at 1019 N Interstate Ave. It is a local thrift store operated by The Dacotah Foundation, to raise funds and provide employment experience to individuals with disabilities. It relocates in 2001 and closes in about 2012.
• Kuilman’s Motel is demolished to create additional parking for Kroll’s Kitchen. It originated in 1940.
• Work commences on $11.4 million in school facility upgrades – $9.8 million funded through a voter-approved bond measure the previous year.
• Both Village Inn Pancake House locations, at at 405 S 7th Street and 2240 N 12th, become International (Inn) Restaurant. The south location closes in 1988 and becomes Denny’s. The north restaurant eventually changes formats in about to emphasize stir fry before shuttering on May 28, 2007. Today, the site houses La Quinta Inn & Suites.
• A $1.75 million renovation of the historic Logan Building at 3rd Street and Broadway Avenue is completed. The building was gutted by fire in 1984.
• Sertoma baseball diamonds renamed Clem Kelley Softball Complex and Washington Street diamonds renamed Sam McQuade Softball Complex.
• Wilhelm Buick opens on the former Fleck Motors site (closed in 2007)
• Kirkwood Motor Inn (now Ramkota Inn) is foreclosed on

1987

1987 construction activity jumped to $41.3 million – the highest since 1983’s record, but still far short.

Bismarck Junior College to State

The 50th Legislative Assembly formerly adopted Bismarck State College as its identity. The change came three years after Bismarck Junior College became part of North Dakota’s system of higher education, which permitted partnerships with other state colleges and universities. Prior to this, the college was administered by Bismarck Public Schools.

Prior to adopting Bismarck State College as its moniker, much consideration was given to using the campus as an extension of Grand Forks-based University of North Dakota, where it would have been called University of North Dakota-Bismarck. For a brief time following its entry into the state university system, the school operated as Bismarck State Community College.

Struggling Red Owl renovates and changes to Freshmart, closes soon after

Once the area’s dominant grocer, Red Owl began struggling by the early 1980s. After several failed attempts to continue, all local locations shuttered by the end of the decade.

In 1987, one year after Red Owl’s corporate office asserted control of the failing Bismarck franchises – then operating as Rod’s Family Foods, both stores underwent renovation and re-opened under the company’s new Freshmart Foods pilot store concept. Both of the Bismarck locations added a new bakery and deli and enlarged the produce departments. Its 23,000-square-foot downtown store at 715 E Broadway Avenue also enlarged its frozen foods while its 15,600-square-foot Northbrook store added a “smokehouse” for custom-made sausages.

That same year, 25-year-old Sean Schulke, who happened to be the son of Red Owl President C. Patrick Schulke, purchased both Bismarck locations with hopes to revitalize the stores. His efforts proved unsuccessful, however, and both Bismarck Red Owl locations permanently closed by March 1989. Its assets were auctioned off soon after. The former store at Northbrook was divvied into several spaces, while Medcenter One acquired the former Broadway store.

Mandan’s Red Owl franchise closed in July 1987. Red Owl opted not to continue its operation, but did seek a new owner-operator. It re-opened under the ownership of Shannon Staehr that November, but Red Owl Inc. took over ownership by June 1988. It permanently closed shortly after.

Changing Wachter fortunes

After decades of unrelenting prosperity, the Wachter Trust’s fortunes began to stumble by the mid-1980s in part due to an internal family lawsuit that split Wachter assets as part of a settlement in 1986. With its assets divided, the Wachter Trust could no longer leverage the entirety of its assets and ultimately fell on hard times.

The Wachter Trust was facing litigation for outstanding liabilities of roughly $9.4 million involving two creditors: Equitable Life Assurance and Ford Motor Credit Company, the latter of which filed a $2.5-million lawsuit for defaulting on loans backed by the hotel and issued a notice of acceleration for the entire debt owed. As a result, Kirkwood Motor Inn was foreclosed in 1987. The following year, the 30,000-acre Wachter Ranch was foreclosed.

Other 1987 highlights:

• Dan’s renovates and expands Gateway Supervalu
• Front Page Tavern closes – twice.
• Labelle’s showroom re-brands as BEST, who acquired the chain in 1982. The store closes in 1997 following the company’s bankruptcy reorganization efforts.
• Wheel-A-While closes in July. The popular rolling skating rink opened in 1974.
• David’s Fine Foods relocates into the Logan Building. It closes the following year.
• Victor Solheim Elementary opens, named for the former Assistant Superintendent
• Bismarck High completes $5.9 renovation and expansion, adding a commons area and relocating the library.
• Wachter Junior High completes $3.1 million in renovations and expansions, including a multipurpose room, new classrooms, gymnasium, library, and music area.
• Days Inn adds indoor pool. The project costs about $100,000.
• Giovanni’s Pizza opens at 16th Street and Thayer. The restaurant relocated into Snooper’s Tons-of-Fun in 2002 before closing in 2015.
• Missouri Valley YMCA adds a second pool to its east, a spectator lounge, and 72 additional parking spots.
• “MaNDan” letter billboard atop Crying Hill is relocated from its south to its present-day location on its northeast facing Interstate 94. The original stone was replaced with enforced concrete taken from roof beams of the former Mandan Pioneer building. The sign has been a fixture since 1929.

1988: Hotels struggle

1988 was the weakest year for new construction of the decade, at just $29.4 million. Between the sharp economic downtick and an oversaturated market, several area hotels saw hardship and changed ownership at the end of the 1980s.

Foreclosed on the previous year, in 1987, Kirkwood Motor Inn was acquired by Equitable Life Assurance Society in August 1988 and affiliated with Radisson the following year after completing a $3 million renovation. Today, it is Ramkota Hotel.

The Town House Motor Inn was foreclosed on in March 1988. Kelly Inn Limited of Sioux Falls, who acquired Bismarck’s Sheraton Galleria in 1987, acquired Town House Motor Inn in May. After an estimated $1 million renovation, it re-opened under the Kelly Inn banner in the fall and remained that until closing in 2019.

Custer Park Eagle Statue

Custer Park’s notable Eagle Statue was dedicated on October 1, 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States Constitution.

Other 1988 highlights:

• Eagle Statue dedicated at Custer Park (October 1)
• City Auditorium is renamed the Belle Mehus in honor of the longtime music teacher (May).
• David’s Fine Foods closes. It was established in 1979 at 3rd and Bowen and relocated in 1987.
• Denny’s replaces International Restaurant (originally Village Inn Pancake House 1972-1986) at 405 S 7th Street. Like its Village Inn predecessor, it was the first Denny’s in North Dakota.

1989

Perhaps the biggest news making story of 1989 was Bismarck-Mandan hosting the Women’s International Bowling Congress Tournament,  which drew 44,000 bowlers from around the country. Capitol Lanes, Midway Lanes, and 10 Spot all partnered for the event.

Public Library expansion

Veteran’s Memorial Library completed major expansion and renovation at a cost of roughly $3.9 million. It was largely financed, controversially, through the city’s $17 million sale/lease plan that also included a Civic Center expansion. The project added 50,000 square feet and renovated the original 1963-built 18,000-square-foot building.

Centennial Elementary

Centennial Elementary opened that year, named to commemorate the state’s centennial anniversary. It is the city’s last new school building constructed until Horizon Middle School in 2001 and the last new elementary to open until 2010.

Northbrook Mall loses two biggest tenants

Northbrook Mall was dealt a crippling blow when its two largest tenants departed in March 1989: Freshmart Foods (Red Owl) and Jerry’s Trustworthy Hardware. Despite these important store closures, Northbrook still housed more than thirty tenants, but its days as a competitive shopping center were nearing an end as it began transitioning into a professional center.

Keller’s Trustworthy Hardware temporarily replaced the hardware store but closed within a year. The former Red Owl/Freshmart space was partially occupied by Santa’s Surplus in November-December 1989. Like its Tempo counterpart previously, the Red Owl space was eventually split to house multiple tenants.

Little Caesars

Little Caesars opened its first Bismarck location at Northbrook Mall that December. Two additional locations – in a strip mall west of Wal-Mart and a Mandan location next to Barlow’s – would later open before they were acquired by Papa John’s in 2000. As of 2020, the sole surviving Papa John’s is at Northbrook Mall. Little Caesars would return to Bismarck in 2008.

Econofoods

Nash Finch established an Econofoods location at 1190 W Turnpike Ave in 1989. Despite denials to the contrary, Econofoods proved to be a replacement to the company’s member-based Warehouse Market store, located on East Broadway Avenue since 1964 (now Conlin’s Furniture). Econofoods later becomes Miracle Mart and Central Market before Dan’s Supermarket acquired it in 2013.

The $1.8 million, 52,000-square-foot building was the city’s largest grocery store upon opening. It was originally a warehouse-style grocery store, similar to competitor Cash Wise Foods, with limited service and customer self-bagging. Until at least 1992, it did offer parcel pickup service like competitor Dan’s did at the time. Bank Center First (now American Bank Center) established a 440-square-foot full-service branch inside the store in 1994.

Steve and Linda Barlow purchased Econofoods in 1998. The Barlows had moved to the area the previous year after purchasing Bill’s SuperValu in Mandan. They maintained the Nash Finch affiliation in Bismarck and changed distribution of its Mandan store from Supervalu to match.

The store underwent its first significant remodeling in 1999. The service desk and pharmacy were relocated from next to the checkouts in order to free space for three additional checkouts. The video rental store (since closed) was also remodeled. Other upgrades included white ceilings and brighter fluorescent lighting.

In 2003, both locations were renamed Miracle Mart to match the Barlows’ three Minot locations. Steve passed away later that year. Linda sold the stores to Grand Central in December 2005, who soon after remodeled both stores and re-branded them Central Market the following year to match the company’s location in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The store also branded itself as “The Fresh Place” during this time, with both brands featured in marketing and on store signage. Both stores underwent remodeling shortly after its acquisition. It was about this time that its video rental store closed and was demolished.

In 2013, Dan’s Supermarket purchased and converted the Bismarck Central Market store. The Mandan store shuttered shortly after. Ironically, SpartanNash (formerly Nash Finch), purchased Dan’s Supermarket in 2015.

Restaurant openings/closings

Burger Time opened at 1320 E Main Ave. The Fargo-based restaurant is owned by Tom Sparks, who pitched the concept as a throwback to the original McDonald’s, emphasizing speed through its stripped-down operations. Burger Time offers no indoor seating, with drive-through and walk-up service only. The chain later has locations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, and Missouri.

Dakota Burgers opens at 302 S 9th Street, replacing Sakura. In 1991, Dakota Burgers evolves into Cock N’ Bull when it moves to the corner of 9th Street & Expressway (replacing Wendy’s, which itself returns in 1993). The building now houses American Family Insurance.

Weisbeck’s Family Restaurant closes at 1201 E Main Avenue. The building originally housed Country Kitchen, which closed in 1979, followed by Ron’s Family Restaurant until 1984. It later houses a succession of restaurants, including Main Street Diner until 1990, and finally Dakota Farms. Today, it houses Land O’ Lakes.

Other 1989 highlights:

• KBMY-TV ceases local news production in March after four years. Its broadcast license was jeopardized as a result, due to a stipulation that it produce “a substantial amount of local programming.” Despite this, KBMY-TV continues local broadcasts to this day, albeit without a local newscast.
• The former Kirkwood Motor Inn (now Ramkota) commences a $3 million renovation and, in December, formally begins an affiliation with Radisson.

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1970-1979: Changing Retail Trend & The Decay of Downtown

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