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Council approves IRP loans
Longtime Sports Etc. employee seeks to open
own store at former Bruun's for Men location

Crookston Daily Times
Written By: Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor

June 23, 2004 - The City Council on Tuesday approved three Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loans, one of which might result in a sporting goods and apparel store in the former Bruun's for Men location on South Broadway.

In addition to the $100,000 IRP loan approved to Tyson Siegle, the council approve a $150,000 IRP loan for improvements and expansion at Red Power International, and $55,000 to Jesse Sannes, a home builder who is seeking to construct a location for Dream Quest Homes in the city's Industrial Park.

Siegle, who has worked at Sports Etc. since it opened at the corner of South Main and Robert Street seven years ago, is looking to open his own store at the Eagles building, which for years was home to Bruun's for Men on the ground floor.

If the paperwork and financing can be ironed out, Siegle said he's hoping to open Siegle Sports in early August.

"I want to try and have something of everything from equipment for all kinds of sports, plus brand name sports apparel for men, women and kids," Siegle said.

He said he's excited about the South Broadway location because it's smaller than Sports, Etc. and, thus, easier to fill with inventory, and also because Broadway gets more pedestrian traffic than Main Street.

"I'll also feel good about paying rent to the Eagles, because they turn around and spend so much of it on youth in the community," Siegle said. "Who knows? Maybe some of my rent money will buysome kids' team jackets or something."

As for the future of Sports Etc., instead of fueling any ohter further speculation, owner Heidi Holmer said she prefers to concentrate on the fact that her store has been open for seven years and that it remains open now, with lots of merchandise for sale.

Holmer, who also owns Great Plains EMS and Northwest Specialized Transportation Services, said she's waiting to see what becomes of Siegle's pursuit of his own store before decididng anything.

"I know he's looking at his options, but I don't think anything is official yet," Holmer said, adding that her relationship with Siegle remains "very amicable" and that she has no hard feelings over his desire to open his own store.

"I can't run my business based on what mayor may not happen with Tyson," Holmer said. "Whatever he chooses to do is up to him, but I won't let it affect the decisions I make with my store."

More retail news

In other developments affecting the downtown retail scene, the Four Seasons Men's Department, located just north of the main store at the corner of North Broadway and Robert Street, opened about a week ago, said owner Jim Chandler.

When Bruun's for Men closed, Chandler decided to liquidate the inventory in the Four Seasons Outlet Store and reopen with an expanded inventory of men's apparel.

"We're still getting some things ready over there, but people are noticing," Chandler said. "It's a positive thing for downtown and for the community."