A few of us recently attended the International Downtown Association annual conference in Toronto, joining downtown leaders from across the world who are working through the same questions we are: How do we grow well? How do we stay safe, clean, welcoming and economically strong? How do we build places people love?
I came home more convinced than ever of something I already believed: Downtown Sioux Falls is one of the best downtowns in the world.
That may sound bold, especially compared with larger cities. But size is not the only measure of a downtown’s strength. In many ways, Sioux Falls is ahead. Our downtown is clean, safe, welcoming, walkable and full of local businesses that understand experience. Our restaurants and retailers do not just sell products; they create moments. They put the customer at the center, which is exactly how small businesses compete and win in an online world.
Downtown Sioux Falls is also becoming what many cities are working hard to create: a complete neighborhood. Within about a 15-minute walk, people can live, work, eat, shop, gather, enjoy art, visit parks, attend events and build a full life. Our residential growth is helping lead the way, and we still have hundreds of acres with the potential to grow east and north in the decades ahead. Done well, that growth can expand downtown’s return on investment for the entire community.
The trip also clarified where we need to keep pushing. As downtown grows, transportation will matter more. Better transit, dedicated bike and running lanes, stronger wayfinding and eventually more direct connections to major community assets, including the airport, should all be part of the conversation.
We also need to keep building identity. Some cities rally around major league teams or iconic attractions. Sioux Falls will need our own version: Something that draws people from beyond the region, brings visitors downtown during the week and gives locals something unmistakably ours to gather around.
Smart growth does not mean building anything, anywhere and hoping people show up. It means letting real demand guide investment, doubling down where infrastructure already exists and supporting the businesses already creating momentum.
The “extras” matter more than we sometimes admit: trees, planters, lighting, safety, public art, collaboration, ease of use and a shared sense of ownership.
Toronto reminded me that downtowns do not become great by accident. And Downtown Sioux Falls is already great because so many people here choose to care for it.
This was originally posted as a Viewpointin The Dakota Scout written by DTSF, Inc. CEO, Brandon Hanson.
CJ Schwan’s came to Sioux Falls bringing a major investment in a new Asian food production facility.
But from the beginning, company leaders said they planned to be part of supporting the broader community too.
That commitment soon will be seen in a big way throughout downtown Sioux Falls for years.
CJ Schwan’s has become Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.’s signature event season sponsor from 2026 through 2030, a first-of-its-kind partnership in the organization’s 38-year history.
The multiyear sponsorship will support DTSF signature events and the broader work that helps keep downtown active, welcoming and economically strong.
“This is the first partnership of its kind in DTSF’s 38-year history, and what makes it exciting is that it came from a very creative and sincere place,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
“CJ Schwan’s did not come to us asking how to put their logo on one event. They came to us asking how they could become part of the downtown community, show up in a meaningful way, and give back to Sioux Falls.”
The partnership will launch publicly at Riverfest on Sept. 19, where CJ Schwan’s will have a booth in the vendor area, a presence in the VIP area and recognition through event signage and stage announcements.
“The goal is for their presence to feel connected to the experience, not separate from it,” Hanson said. “This is the first step in what will become a consistent year-round presence across DTSF’s signature event season.”
As CJ Schwan’s looked for ways to become more involved locally, Downtown Sioux Falls stood out because of its role in creating community experiences.
“What resonates most with us is Downtown Sioux Falls’ ability to bring people together through events, experiences and community programming,” said Dave Furlong, global supply chain leader for CJ Schwan’s.
“They create meaningful connections through shared experiences, and that aligns closely with what we strive to do every day through the foods we make.”
At Riverfest, which runs from 3 to 8 p.m. along the Big Sioux River at Cherapa Place, attendees will see CJ Schwan’s and its brands represented at the event. The company’s booth will include information about CJ Schwan’s, the manufacturing facility being built in Foundation Park and career opportunities that will be offered there.
The company also plans interactive activities, giveaways and bibigo-branded swag.
“Most importantly, we’re looking forward to meeting members of the community and celebrating everything that makes Sioux Falls such a great place to live and work,” Furlong said.
Growing presence
For CJ Schwan’s, the partnership builds on the company’s expanding Sioux Falls presence.
In September 2025, the company opened a 12,000-square-foot office in the River Centre building in downtown Sioux Falls. The office complements the manufacturing facility being built in Foundation Park and serves as a hub for collaboration, innovation and customer engagement.
Currently, about 20 to 30 people operate from the downtown office, with that presence expected to grow over time.
The office includes collaborative work areas, conference rooms and a commercial kitchen where CJ Schwan’s can host customer meetings and product samplings.
“Our expansion into Sioux Falls is extremely important to us, and from the beginning, our goal has been to become a trusted and engaged member of the community,” Furlong said.
Since opening the downtown office, the team has experienced the energy of downtown firsthand, he said.
“We were immediately drawn to the vibrancy of downtown Sioux Falls,” Furlong said. “It’s a place where business, culture, entertainment and community all come together, and that creates a unique energy.”
The downtown office also gives CJ Schwan’s team members and guests access to restaurants, businesses, events and riverfront views.
“We have been very happy with the office so far, and our team has really enjoyed being part of the downtown environment,” Furlong said. “The location provides great access to local restaurants, businesses and events, and the views of the river certainly are an added bonus.”
Partnership’s benefits
For DTSF, the partnership with CJ Schwan’s creates both visibility and stability.
The multiyear structure gives the organization more predictability as it plans, markets and continues improving its signature events.
“This partnership is primarily focused on DTSF’s signature events and the broader work that helps those events produce impact for downtown,” Hanson said. “It allows us to keep investing in the quality and appeal of our events, stretch our marketing reach further, and continue fueling the advocacy work that makes downtown stronger over time.”
The impact of downtown events is measurable.
In 2025, DTSF turned every $1 invested in events into $144 in spending for downtown businesses, Hanson said. Its membership program showed a similar return, with every $1 invested producing $124 in downtown spending.
“That is real support for small businesses, but it is also a stronger tax base and a stronger city,” Hanson said. “Investing downtown is an investment in Sioux Falls and in South Dakota.”
The partnership also supports what Hanson describes as the full ecosystem of downtown impact: events and activations that bring people together, the Ambassador Program that helps keep downtown clean, green and welcoming, and advocacy work that strengthens the long-term health of the district.
More broadly, the partnership “sends an important message that downtown is worth investing in,” Hanson continued.
“There are few places where an investment can touch so many parts of a community at once: visitation, business growth, public experience, infrastructure, amenities, and long-term economic confidence.”
For CJ Schwan’s, the partnership reflects the kind of corporate citizen the company intends to be as it grows in Sioux Falls, Furlong added.
“This investment reflects our belief that strong communities create opportunities for everyone, including residents, businesses and future generations,” he said. “As we continue to expand our presence in Sioux Falls, you’ll see CJ Schwan’s looking for meaningful ways to show support and deepen our engagement in the community.”
While the company is still early in its journey in Sioux Falls, the commitment is long term, he continued.
“We want to be a company that contributes to the vitality of Sioux Falls and earns the trust of the community over time,” Furlong said.
To stay connected with upcoming downtown experiences and the ways CJ Schwan’s is helping bring more activation to downtown Sioux Falls, sign up for the DTSF Insider newsletter.”
When something needs attention downtown — a cleanup, a safety concern, a visitor looking for directions or someone who might need help getting connected to services — police Sgt. Jason Montgomery increasingly knows who else might be nearby.
The Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. ambassadors.
“They’re a set of human eyes and ears,” said Montgomery of the Sioux Falls Police Department. “I’m not looking at a camera to find someone. You just ask them.”
That street-level presence has become one of the clearest signs of how the ambassador program has grown.
Ambassadors are more accessible throughout downtown, more connected with law enforcement and service providers, and more active in the daily work that helps downtown feel clean, safe and welcoming.
“I think they’re more visible,” Montgomery said. “The cleanliness is on point. Two years ago, I worked with them a little bit, but they’re more ingrained, including at special events. I know they will be there. It’s a seamless transition between us and them. We all work hand in hand now.”
The numbers tell the same story.
Through Aug. 19, DTSF ambassadors had completed 82,786 tasks — already 27 percent more than the 65,376 tasks completed during all of 2025, with more than four months still remaining in the year.
The largest categories so far this year show the range of work involved: 25,651 bulk trash removals, 20,256 planters watered, 18,799 visitor interactions, 3,822 trash cans emptied and 3,716 instances of sidewalk gum power-washed.
For Downtown Sioux Falls Inc., the growth reflects a program that is proving well worth the investment.
A year ago, DTSF had five full-time ambassadors and two seasonal staff members. It has since expanded seasonal coverage and is preparing to hire a director of operations, bringing the team to six full-time employees.
The enhanced program has been supported by multiple funding sources: the city of Sioux Falls through its Community Partners Program, the Downtown Business Improvement District and growing private investment.
Last year, city funding for the ambassador program shifted from a subsidy agreement to a competitive request for proposals that resulted in Community Partners grants.
“The change pushed us to be more intentional about measuring our work and demonstrating its impact,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
That shift also resulted in the largest city award DTSF has received for the program.
“Downtown is a big part of what makes Sioux Falls special, and helping strengthen programs that make it safer, more welcoming and easier to enjoy aligns with our priorities within the city’s Community Partners program,” said Mayor Christine Erickson, who noted that the city is proud to support the ambassadors.
“Our support has helped the ambassador program grow and make an even bigger impact, and that benefits everyone who spends time downtown. And while every neighborhood in Sioux Falls matters, keeping our downtown strong lifts the whole city.”
The Business Improvement District remains another critical part of the model, with downtown property owners collectively investing in services that benefit the entire district.
Avera Health also provided support this year that directly funded an additional seasonal ambassador and expanded training and safety efforts.
“Avera is proud to be a part of downtown Sioux Falls,” said Micki Lundin, director of community partnerships for the health system. “The ambassadors help create a clean, safe and welcoming environment, while connecting people with assistance and resources when they need it. Their work reflects the spirit of caring for our neighbors.”
The work is wide-ranging – from cleaner sidewalks, watered planters, removed trash to a friendly person offering directions or recommendations.
And sometimes, it can be life-changing.
Ambassadors work directly with people experiencing homelessness, often providing assistance or connecting someone with resources without requiring a police response. They address graffiti and maintenance issues that otherwise could require involvement from property owners, city staff or law enforcement. And they serve as a front-line visitor service throughout downtown.
For Hanson, that is what makes the program more than a list of completed tasks.
“These are all economic development tools,” he said.
“A clean, active and welcoming downtown supports visitor traffic and spending, protects property investment and contributes to a strong tax base.”
From a board perspective, the ambassador program has become an increasingly important part of DTSF’s work.
“The ambassador program has been a huge value-add to the DTSF service offerings,” said James Krueger, BID board chair. “They are on the front lines keeping the DTSF area clean and acting as friendly faces to talk with and point visitors in the right direction. Having a friendly face to help out really goes a long way with enhancing the downtown experience.”
They also are a resource for businesses and property owners when nonemergency issues arise involving people downtown who may need assistance.
“In place of police being the only option, ambassadors are trained to deal with the transient population in nonemergency situations,” Krueger said. “This is a huge deal for businesses downtown and a huge benefit for those owners.”
Krueger said the program has become an emerging priority for the DTSF board, especially after seeing its early success. Allocating appropriate resources was an emphasis during the budgeting process.
“The ambassadors have become the heart of the DTSF program,” he said. “They are the boots on the ground and the faces the DTSF visitors see each day. So far, this program has been wildly successful and has exceeded any expectations we’ve had.”
The data is helping make that impact more concrete, he added.
“I’m a big data guy and love when you can make business decisions off of real, relevant data,” Krueger said.
“The DTSF crew has done an amazing job using software to track where ambassadors spend their time and where they are called to property-/location-wise. Property owners have been floored when they see the heat mapping associated with their properties and the amount of requests the ambassadors have helped with.”
Montgomery sees the impact from another angle.
In some cases, officers have called DTSF ambassadors when items such as garbage, blankets or mattresses are left in public spaces, and the ambassadors have responded quickly.
“I could call another city department, but the ambassadors are right there and get it done super-fast,” he said. “They’re fantastic.”
The partnership also has grown among law enforcement, DTSF ambassadors and service providers working with people experiencing homelessness or other challenges downtown.
“The working relationships we have with these entities have only strengthened our bonds,” Montgomery said. “The resources available now have totally changed the game for our homeless population, so it’s been great collaboration between the various entities.”
As downtown continues to grow, DTSF leaders are looking at how the ambassador program can scale with it. That means focusing on employee retention, better equipment, stronger systems and data, continued conversations with the city and property owners, updates to the BID ordinance and better education so those investing in the program understand the services available and how to access them.
There also have been ongoing discussions about eventually expanding the district eastward. While that may still be years away, Hanson said DTSF needs to build the structure now that would allow services to grow with downtown.
“The bigger story from the past year is the model behind the program: city investment, property owner support and emerging private investment working together to provide shared services with a return that extends well beyond downtown,” he said.
For Krueger, the ambassador program also helps broaden how people understand DTSF’s work.
“Sometimes, people still only associate DTSF with flowerpots and events,” he said. “The ambassador program showcases some of the deeper services that play a big role in keeping downtown the amazing place we all love. Services we don’t think about like trash collection, graffiti removal, scraping gum off sidewalks, street outreach — things that create a great first impression for everyone.”
And for Montgomery, the value is visible in the working relationship that now exists downtown every day.
“Just personally, I love working with them,” he said. “They’re good folks, and I think it’s a great partnership between our city and them, and I look forward to working with them in the future.”
The International Downtown Association has awarded its highest industry recognition to Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. for its work related to Jacobson Plaza.
The IDA annually recognizes outstanding projects as winners of the Downtown Achievement Awards, which identify advances to urban centers by organizations worldwide.
The industry’s highest recognition, the Pinnacle Award, represents the most inspiring innovations in urban place management.
Photo courtesy of Co-op Architecture
Jacobson Plaza won in the category of Public Space Management and Operations.
“We are incredibly honored to accept the International Downtown Association’s Pinnacle Award for Jacobson Plaza,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of DTSF. “This recognition reflects the power of partnership and what can be achieved when the public and private sectors come together around a shared vision for a stronger, more vibrant downtown.”
DTSF accepted the award this week at IDA’s annual Downtown Achievement Awards, presented as part of a conference the organization held in Toronto, Ontario, to discuss emerging trends in place management.
“We are deeply grateful to the Jacobson family for their extraordinary generosity, as well as the creativity and dedication of our local leaders, architects, developers and countless community partners who helped bring this transformational project to life,” Hanson said.
“Together, we continue to make meaningful improvements year after year that enhance quality of life, strengthen our economy and create exceptional places for residents and visitors alike.”
Born from a vision that began in 2021, Jacobson Plaza transformed Falls Park West into a new destination for recreation and community gathering, featuring the region’s largest inclusive playground, Sioux Falls’ first outdoor ice ribbon, the city’s largest splash pad and year-round programming. The 7-acre park welcomed more than 250,000 visitors in its first six months and hasn’t slowed down.
“Downtown Sioux Falls’ innovative project received the IDA Pinnacle Award for setting the new standard for improving cities around the world,” said David Downey, IDA president and CEO. “Jacobson Plaza has made an impact on its community and the people who live, work and play there, and is evidence of the continued commitment to champion livable, vital and thriving urban centers.”
The park is drawing more than 500,000 visitors annually, and 80 percent of them are Sioux Falls residents, according to the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department.
“It’s continued to be wildly popular in its second summer,” park development manager Mike Patten said. “It’s an anchor of our downtown now. I would say it’s the most popular public space downtown, and I’m glad they submitted for the award because I think it deserves it.”
A public-private partnership totaling $19 million was led by Garry and Dianne Jacobson, with additional support from T. Denny Sanford, the Craig and Pat Lloyd family and most recently Rob Everist, who partnered with the Jacobsons to bring additional landscaping, a new scenic overlook and more play equipment to Falls Park West.
The donation covered all design and construction for connective pathways, green space, landscaping, drainage and utilities.
Construction is on track to wrap up by the end of the month, Patten said.
“It’s been a nice summer for construction as far as keeping crews on-site working every day,” he said.
“We’re able to make some amazing things happen thanks to our partnerships. We’ve built this big community park and place to experience downtown, and people flock to it from all over the city.”
“Traffic calming” is an odd phrase. It sounds technical, maybe even a little dull. But at its core, it asks a very human question: what should our streets feel like for the people using them?
I think about this most as a parent. A crosswalk can look simple on a map, but it feels different when you are standing at the curb with your child’s hand in yours, wondering whether the next driver will slow down.
In those moments, infrastructure is not abstract. It is personal. It either tells you that you belong there, or it makes you feel like you are in the way.
For the month of July, Downtown Sioux Falls tested that question on one of our main corridors into downtown. We added planters, invited food trucks, and commissioned artists to create chalk murals. The goal was not to make driving impossible or to suggest cars do not matter. Cars are part of downtown, and they always will be.
But they are not the only part.
Downtown Sioux Falls has more people, cars, workers, residents, visitors, bikes, deliveries, strollers, wheelchairs, and scooters interacting in close proximity than anywhere else in South Dakota.
That means the number of potential conflict points is high. Downtown districts are complex, and our streets need to reflect that complexity.
Somewhere along the way, many of us got used to thinking of walking as unusual and driving as the default. But legs, bikes, wheels, transit and cars are all ways people move through a city.
Walkability is not anti-car. In fact, a walkable downtown is a place where everyone wins. Cars still get access. Pedestrians can safely move from shop to shop.
Visitors stay longer. Spending goes up. Local businesses benefit. Our community is strengthened by people choosing to spend their time and money here.
Which brings us back to the 10th Street traffic calming pilot. What we have already learned from this temporary project is encouraging – traffic volume did not appear to drop off, but vehicle speeds naturally came down.
People still got through the corridor, but the street felt different.
It also affirmed something important: People respond more to physical design than posted speed limits. A sign can ask drivers to slow down. A well-designed street proactively helps them do it.
That is the lesson worth carrying forward. If we want downtown to be safe, welcoming, economically strong, and full of life, we must build streets for people first, with cars included, not the other way around.
*This “Viewpoint” article was featured in The Dakota Scout and written by DTSF, Inc. CEO, Brandon Hanson
Downtown Sioux Falls has been buzzing with energy all season long thanks to the incredible success of Open Streets 2026. From May through August, thousands of locals and visitors from across the region have gathered on First Fridays to celebrate community, creativity, and connection in the heart of downtown.
Each event brought its own unique flavor while showcasing everything that makes Downtown Sioux Falls a destination worth exploring.
The season kicked off with the beloved May Art & Wine Walk, where guests enjoyed live art demonstrations, sampled wines, discovered local artists, and experienced the vibrant creative spirit that helps define our downtown. June brought out the competitor in everyone with Mini Golf Open Streets, featuring a custom-designed mini golf course that transformed downtown streets into a playful and memorable experience for all ages.
July’s celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary filled downtown with patriotic pride, family-friendly activities, great food, and live music that brought the community together in a festive and meaningful way. Throughout the season, visitors enjoyed performances from talented musicians, explored creative vendors, sampled delicious food from local restaurants, and discovered something new around every corner.
And the fun isn’t over yet.
The upcoming August Wags & Wine Open Streets on Friday, August 7th, promises a tail-wagging good time with dog-friendly activities, treats, shopping, and plenty of opportunities for pet lovers to enjoy downtown alongside their four-legged companions. It’s the perfect way to wrap up another successful Open Streets season.
What has made Open Streets so special is the people. Visitors traveled from communities throughout the region, while Sioux Falls residents from every corner of the city came downtown to create a joyful, welcoming atmosphere that turned each First Friday into a celebration. Together, they’ve helped make Spring and Summer 2026 one of the most vibrant Open Streets seasons yet.
As we look ahead, the excitement continues with the upcoming Cherapa Street Dance, presented in collaboration with DTSF. This can’t-miss downtown tradition will keep the momentum going with live entertainment, great food and drinks, and another opportunity to gather with friends, neighbors, and visitors in the heart of Sioux Falls.
Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, businesses, artists, musicians, vendors, and attendees who helped make Open Streets 2026 such a tremendous success. We can’t wait to see you downtown for Wags & Wine and the Cherapa Street Dance as we continue celebrating everything that makes Downtown Sioux Falls come alive.
Get ready for a throwback trip through the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s with a vintage store that opens today in an expanded downtown space.
Thrift Heat Vintage opens at 222 S. Phillips Ave., making a move from 8th & Railroad Center, where owner Owen Monahan has operated since 2023.
“I think it’s awesome,” he said of the new space. “I didn’t get everything done, but I’m ready to open … and it’s always going to be a work in progress.”
The new location allows him to double his inventory, including between 500 and 600 T-shirts and a women’s section that has tripled in size with more than 300 pieces of clothing.
He also has expanded a section of classic toys with two full display cases and three shelves.
And there are women’s handbags from brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Coach.
The store also offers vintage and collectible sneakers.
And a new addition has plenty of vinyl: a record wall.
“I ended up overbuying, so I have a bunch to put out that I can’t fit, and I’ll be constantly restocking as well,” Monahan said.
He also is still buying — so feel free to stop in if it has taken you decades to be willing to part with your things.
Because his grand opening coincides with the Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. Crazy Days event, Thrift Heat Vintage plans to offer 10 percent off purchases through Sunday.
Monahan also navigated an unexpected hurdle in preparation for the move when his business Instagram account — which helps significant drive sales with more than 182,000 followers — was mistakenly flagged and temporarily deactivated.
“It was the day my lease started originally, and I was like, they’re trying to test me at the worst time,” he said. “I had to work it out … so I’ll be back to posting again starting next week. I’m just going to take a few days off.”
When he does return to social media, he will have a new space to show the merchandise.
Thrift Heat Vintage will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for opening weekend, then 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Monahan expects that he will end up closing on Mondays but is going to try daily hours to start.
It’s “surreal” to be opening in the heart of downtown, but Monahan said he’s ready for it.
The next piece of former downtown rail yard land is about to be transformed into new places to live, work and spend time downtown.
The Switchyard development breaks ground at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 10, along Eighth Street east of the 8th & Railroad Center.
The 4-acre project is led by Iowa-based Christensen Development, marking the company’s first major project in Sioux Falls.
“It’s a long time coming, and we’re excited about it,” founder Jake Christensen said. “Our focus recently has been on our leasing to reach enough occupancy to go vertical.”
Christensen plans to finalize the land purchase from the city this week. The design team has been finalizing layouts for the first multistory office and retail building, along with determining access points and signage opportunities so tenants have clarity as they make commitments.
Leasing is being overseen by Marcus Mahlen and Gregg Brown of NAI Sioux Falls and Steve Watson of TetonRidge Consulting.
“We’re in active conversations with several tenants,” Mahlen said. “We’re highly optimistic a financial services tenant will be leasing most of the second floor, with a retail presence on the first floor, and we’re significantly progressing in lease negotiations with a tenant who could take the fourth and fifth floors.”
The first floor likely will include a bar/restaurant from out of state, which is working through lease negotiations. Depending on how much space it takes, there could be some additional retail area available.
“Our goal has been and continues to be an active main tenant on the east end of the building that engages the bike path and adds to the amenities on Eighth Street,” Christensen said.
Office interest has included diverse businesses, from architecture and engineering firms to marketing agencies and trust companies, Mahlen said.
“For users looking for new Class A office space, there are very few options downtown, especially in the size suites we’re able to offer,” he said. “This project is the most ready to go for downtown redevelopment. It’s fully designed, so we’re seeing the interest play out based both on our timing as well as our location.”
The building is expected to be available by late 2027 or early 2028.
Each floor offers 12,000 square feet, and leasing interest is such that the building could add a story for a total of six, Christensen said.
“We’re still at a stage where we have some flexibility, so I’d encourage any business looking for Class A space to reach out soon,” he said. “We have strong activity, but there’s still room for others. I want people to realize we have real conversations going, and it could be spoken for relatively soon.”
Additional plans for The Switchyard development include two more buildings, with underground parking and more multifamily living options on the way.
“We’re excited to see this project move forward to redevelop an underutilized property but also for the mix of uses it’s going to bring to this area of downtown,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
“The apartments being built here will offer a more affordable starting rent and open the door for people who maybe have been hoping for a downtown address. And the office space is ideal for smaller and midsized businesses looking to make a move downtown or expand their presence here.”
The development is supported through a tax increment financing district approved by the City Council, which will support site development and parking that will be open to the public on nights and weekends.
“TIF is an important tool because the inflationary increase we’re experiencing consistently outpaces rent growth,” Christensen said. “And Sioux Falls is a strong market with rent growth. I can point to markets where even with a TIF you wouldn’t be able to make this project work, but there’s no chance we could do it even here without one.”
The tool is key for encouraging downtown redevelopment, Hanson said.
“DTSF has been an advocate for this project receiving TIF funding because it is the mechanism necessary for economic activity to occur in areas that are more challenging to redevelop,” he said.
“Most importantly, these are funds generated by the increased property tax paid at The Switchyard, allowing the developers to be reimbursed with that money for the improvements they made. It does not require use of existing tax dollars, and when the TIF is complete, our entire city benefits from the overall increases in taxes that will be paid ongoing.”
The Switchyard is using local design and construction teams, including ISG, Sayre Associates and Journey Construction.
From the start, Christensen added, the city and his downtown neighbors have been welcoming and supportive.
“We’ve had really good conversations with all the downtown property owners. The Scherschligts at Cherapa Place from the beginning have been great ambassadors for Sioux Falls, and we’ve really enjoyed working with the on-site manager at 8th & Railroad Center,” he said.
“The city has been a strong partner with us, and I especially appreciated Councilor Curt Soehl, who was a champion for the project and truly wanted to see this happen.”
Uniquely, Friday’s groundbreaking will include officials from both the current City Council and newly elected leaders.
“This is a project that transcends administrations and underscores the need for long-term planning to help guide major reinvestment efforts like this,” Hanson said. “It will be powerful for our departing leaders to celebrate what they made happen and for our new ones to understand the benefits of this work as they begin their leadership.”
An outdoor European-style holiday market will be offered in downtown Sioux Falls this December as Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. was awarded a national grant from AARP to launch the effort.
It’s one of nine 2026 Community Challenge grants awarded in South Dakota by AARP, totaling $125,800 to support local projects.
The goal is “to use public infrastructure that created a divide between humans to get people face-to-face and to produce community,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
The winter market will run for one weekend in December at a location to be determined, adjacent to the MarketBeat Holiday Plaza.
“We’ll pick a public space to rent tents and buy heaters and invite vendors out,” Hanson said. “The inspiration are the European Christmas markets. A lot of people have wanted to see our own Christmas market take place. My mind goes to hot pretzels and mulled wine and string lights and heaters to finally embrace winter.”
The $15,000 AARP grant is “100 percent funding it,” he added. “We wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”
Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. has a history of funding from AARP in recent years. The AARP South Dakota office sponsored the first Open Streets event in the fall of 2024, while the national AARP organization awarded a Community Challenge grant last year to go from one small pilot to a full summer of events.
AARP South Dakota sponsored one of this year’s Open Streets events, and other organizations sponsored additional dates, which is the goal of the Community Challenge grants, Hanson said.
“They’re hoping these turn into something permanent without them,” he said.
Sioux Area Metro in Sioux Falls also received a grant to upgrade a frequently used city bus with digital route displays, improved lighting and more comfortable seating to make public transit easier and safer, especially for older adults.
“America is aging, and most older adults want to stay in the communities they know and love. There are a lot of things that localities can do to support residents of all ages,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer.
“AARP Community Challenge grants help transform local ideas into real improvements — from safer sidewalks and improved transportation options to public spaces that bring neighbors together and enhance community connections. As we celebrate the program’s 10th year, we’re proud to double our investment so even more communities can become great places to live for people at all stages of life.”
They are pioneers, innovators and big dreamers — exactly the trifecta that tends to lead to success for downtown businesses and business leaders.
For the winners of this year’s annual awards from Downtown Sioux Falls Inc., doing business downtown is about something bigger than their own individual endeavor — it’s about contributing to a broader community.
“It’s always hard to narrow down which businesses and individuals to honor, but this year’s group especially captures the spirit of what has made downtown successful,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
“It’s a group that also doesn’t sit still long. Even weeks after we honored them, many already are moving on to grow their presence downtown even further.”
We caught up with several of the winners for a closer look at their commitment to downtown and what’s ahead for their businesses.
Retailer of the Year
When Mel Guse returned to her native Sioux Falls after living in the Twin Cities, she had a vision for bringing something new to the downtown retail scene.
Located at 108 W. 11th St., Gist Wine Shop has matured into what Guse imagined: a way to share her passion for wine while creating a community within the community.
“That’s what we’ve created,” Guse said. “It’s people exploring new wines and tasting new things and maybe stepping outside what they have known. And once they’ve seen that, they keep coming back to see what else we’ve got.”
At Gist Wine Shop, customers will find a curated selection of lesser-known producers and varietals.
“I think there is a wine for everybody, and we have some unique, different selections,” Guse said. “It’s just a welcoming place. I find people make friends as they come in and meet other people. Wine can be a little scary or unknown at first, and this is just a comfortable place — like coming into my second kitchen and having a glass of wine.”
She also brings an expert eye to the experience, learning from a James Beard Award-winning chef in California, achieving the highest-level international sommelier certification, working with a Michelin-starred chef at a specialty grocery and opening a nationally recognized fermentation bar with her sister in the Twin Cities.
As the DTSF Retailer of the Year, Gist Wine Shop now has two things to celebrate: the downtown honor and its recent five-year anniversary.
“It was such an honor to be recognized for hard work and doing what you love and knowing people really appreciate what you’re doing,” Guse said.
Try out Gist Wine Shop from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to beverages, guests can snack on charcuterie boxes from local business Cultivated in Love along with retail meats, cheeses, chips, crackers and nuts.
Upcoming events include monthly wine classes; Civics Uncorked, an event featuring local leaders and issues, which is offered next on June 30; and a Bastille Day celebration on July 14 featuring French wine and a little language lesson.
“Wine and creativity go together,” Guse said. “We’ve done art classes. There are all kinds of things we can do.”
Food & Beverage of the Year
When Beau Vondra learned his Totally Rad Eats concept at Fernson Brewing Co. had been named Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.’s Food & Beverage Business of the Year, his first reaction was disbelief.
“I heard we’d won an award and just laughed. Like, for what — best French fries?” he said. “But I realized it was for real, and I was honored and happy the effort our team put into that space was noticed. It was really cool for the team to experience that and see their hard work pay off.”
Vondra opened Totally Rad Eats inside Fernson’s downtown taproom in 2025, bringing a chef-driven menu built around scratch cooking, thoughtful sourcing and a sense of fun. Since then, the concept has developed a loyal following for everything from burgers and sandwiches to creative brunch offerings and special dining events.
“I think it’s been a combination of a lot of things we’ve been doing,” Vondra said. “We get great feedback when people finally get to the Eats concept because people still don’t even know it’s there sometimes.”
The addition of brunch last fall helped introduce the concept to new customers, he said, while collaborative dinners with fellow chefs also have attracted attention.
“Those dinners have been really special and fun nights, not only for me but for the guests who get to experience them,” Vondra said.
Now, he’s adding another concept to downtown with the recent opening of Totally Rad Pizza, located just blocks away from Fernson. The restaurant builds on the same philosophy that has guided his work at Totally Rad Eats.
“We take what we do very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves very seriously,” Vondra said. “That’s the concept.”
Behind the playful branding is a commitment to quality ingredients and careful preparation.
“We do our own butchering and baking, and we thoughtfully source products from makers we care about,” he said. “From the pepperoni to the prosciutto to the flour, everything has meaning and purpose. But I also make a wing sauce with Kool-Aid because food is meant to be fun.”
Vondra’s history downtown goes back more than a decade to his days as a restaurant owner in the area.
“I didn’t think I’d ever want to open something downtown again,” he said. “But being with the Fernson team and next door to Michael Haskett, who I grew up with and connect with multiple times a week, it’s been fun. There are great residents who make us a destination, and it’s like a whole new group of regulars who are actually old friends for me.”
He also credits the continued momentum downtown for helping businesses like his succeed.
“DTSF has really made downtown a focal point, and it’s become a really cool spot to be,” Vondra said. “I bring in friends who are chefs from across the country and show them what a cool oasis in the middle of the country this is.”
New Business of the Year
Expanding to downtown isn’t always an automatic “yes” in business.
“I admit we said no four or five times before we finally started to capture the vision of what a Pomegranate Market could look like downtown,” said Jonah Snyder, co-owner of Pomegranate Market.
His family-owned grocery store opened its second Sioux Falls location last year at Cherapa Place.
“We’re lifelong residents of Sioux Falls and have been richly blessed by the many people and businesses who revitalized downtown over the last 20 years,” Snyder said.
“We could see the rapid growth and the need for more grocery options as the residential community downtown has exploded. We want to be bricklayers in helping build the type of community we want to live in, and we felt like opening a Pomegranate Market location downtown was an investment in the future of a community we love.”
At the downtown store, hundreds of shoppers have come to check out the new location and have shared generous praise, he added.
“The Cherapa campus has really embraced us, but we know there’s still a lot of work ahead to earn our place as the downtown community’s grocery store of choice,” Snyder said.
“We have a team of clerks, cooks, department managers and store leadership working hard every day to innovate and create a shopping experience that resonates with the community.”
There’s always something new in the store, from more than 70 local vendors to rotating daily and weekly offerings. Pomegranate Market also recently added online grocery ordering, geared to the busy downtown resident or professional who doesn’t always have time to browse.
“They can either pick their items up at the register or have them delivered,” Snyder said. “It’s something guests have asked for, and we’re excited to launch it.”
Pomegranate Market also readily welcomes guest feedback and recently put out a call to shoppers interested in joining a Pomegranate Community Council.
“We cannot succeed with a passionate group of supporters and advocates, so we thought it made a lot of sense to invite some of our most loyal shoppers to to the table and have a voice in the business we’re building,” Snyder said.
Stop by this Friday and enjoy the monthly farmers market hosted at Pomegranate Market from 4 to 7 p.m., plus check out new summer features at the Groove Wellness Bar. And don’t miss the new Sioux Falls Bike Prom from 5 to 7 p.m. June 27.
“It is sure to be a very fun event for anyone looking for an excuse to round up a date, a few friends or family members for a prom-themed bike ride complete with prom photos, a barbecue, music and games at the end,” Snyder said.
Being honored by DTSF as New Business of the Year was a welcome surprise and a full-circle moment, he added. A few years ago, the family announced it was expanding downtown at the annual meeting.
“We owe all the credit to a lot of very dedicated team members who poured so much into opening our downtown location,” Snyder said. “The DTSF team also has been a huge support and advocate for us going back to before our opening. We’re proud supporters of the work they do to make downtown Sioux Falls the thriving economic center of our city.”
Professional Service of the Year
Brienne Maner also knows something about a full-circle experience. The president of Startup Sioux Falls, her career in Sioux Falls included serving on the leadership team of DTSF for many years.
This year, the organization she leads was named Professional Service of the Year.
“It felt vindicating, three years after our move downtown, and for me personally, it meant a lot because of the work I had done with DTSF,” she said. “To know this organization recognized the work so many people did to build up this concept downtown really meant the world.”
Since moving downtown in early 2023, Startup Sioux Falls has seen nothing but upside.
“We’re more visible, we’re more accessible, and we’re in a location where development all started to come online as we moved in,” Maner said. “It was the absolutely perfect time for our ecosystem organization to evolve into the heart of our city.”
Remote workers began walking into the space looking for a place to find community.
Small-business owners were intrigued enough to learn more about what was offered there to help scale their businesses or support them as founders.
Special events and networking opportunities drew business community members of all ages and career stages.
“You can immediately walk in and plug in here,” Maner said. “All our programs have helped us stand apart as a small-business startup ecosystem organization.”
Being downtown has been the difference-maker, she said.
“It’s difficult to build community on the fringe of a city. The action is downtown. We’re in the heart of it all, alongside banks, law firms and Main Street businesses we want to serve. There’s nowhere else we could possibly be thriving like this other than downtown. I don’t know what we would be, honestly, had we not moved here. It’s helped make us who we are today.”
When you visit downtown Sioux Falls, your spending multiplies across the city.
“We did an analysis recently and found the average visitor spends $124 downtown,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.
“With more than 7.5 million visits last year, that generates $930 million in spending a year.”
Where does the tax from that spending go? It’s spread across the community.
“Sales tax from downtown businesses funds things everyone cares about: public safety, roads, snow removal, public health and paying down our shared debt,” Hanson said. “The more downtown generates revenue, the more everyone benefits.”
That’s especially true in the summer months — prime season for visitors.
“Hopefully, you’re discovering downtown year-round, but if the nicer weather tends to draw you here, you’re about to find a lot has changed,” Hanson said.
Here’s a closer look at eight great new reasons to pay a visit to downtown Sioux Falls.
Discover new dining
No matter your taste, you’re likely to find a menu to your liking at several new restaurants that have opened in recent months downtown.
Chef Bryan Moscatello has brought three concepts to Cherapa Place: Nunzios, offering chef-crafted Italian menus at lunch and dinner; HK, offering curated small-group fine dining; and BlackFork Farms Tasting Room, a distillery tasting room with a standout appetizer menu.
Find them on the ground floor of The Dakota at 318 N. Reid Place.
And then, don’t miss a new addition to the original building at Cherapa Place. Locally owned Rivage Oak Kitchen has opened inside Cherapa’s Apex building at 900 N. Cherapa Place.
You’ll find a menu of South Dakota-inspired dishes, a popular happy hour — it even starts at noon on Fridays — and a weekend brunch.
Plus, outdoor dining is waiting, overlooking the Big Sioux River at one of downtown’s most popular patios.
New sculptures are waiting
Downtown’s own outdoor art galley is back, this time with 80 new sculptures.
Now in its 23rd year, the annual show features work from 56 artists representing more than 20 states and British Columbia, Canada. Twelve of this year’s artists are from or based in South Dakota.
New this year: A series of Sculpture Talks offers opportunities to hear directly from artists.
This marks the first full year for Jacobson Plaza, and it’s already expanding.
Work is underway to add the Everist Family Overlook and further enhance the green space leading down to the river, plus add to the most popular play equipment on the playground.
This spring and summer, bring your roller skates or scooters to the ribbon and enjoy it without the ice. Skates also are available to rent.
Plus, enjoy yoga in the park at nearby Lloyd Landing every Saturday this summer beginning at 8 a.m.
Falls Park Farmers Market has more to shop
Falls Park Farmers Market is back outdoors — with more vendors to shop than ever.
Shop from 42 local businesses, including seven new vendors this year, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday.
Enjoy different entertainment each week, from Latin dance groups to aerial artists.
Shop local and get creative
Wild Peach & Co. marks its first summer in a much larger location. Find it at 196 E. Sixth St. Shop unique merchandise from local makers, and put your own creativity to work.
Wild Peach offers a make-a-bracelet station, pop-up shows, rotating on-site crafts and craft camps.
Stop by on Saturdays for mini-maker mornings. And no matter what time you visit, pick up a downtown scavenger hunt adventure pack filled with more ways to discover downtown.
Popular Italian favorite Maribella Ristorante now offers Brunch Club. It’s served from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays and includes a menu of sweet and savory entrees, plus brunch-friendly beverages.
Can’t decide on a brunch cuisine? Four restaurants at The Steel District ensure you’ll find an option — from classic favorites at Big Sioux Diner & Dive to Mexican-inspired options at Dahlia Kitchen +Bar.
Interact with artists at Alcove
Keeping it at The Steel District, Alcove has a new mission and new reasons to stop in. Artists are taking up residence here, offering the chance to learn from them and purchase their work.
Artists Marlee Hayes and Sara Mulder are in residence through June and have a calendar filled with workshops and special events.
Here’s a look at their upcoming events:
Enjoy the ‘Open Streets’
Each First Friday this summer brings a new reason to visit downtown Sioux Falls — and leave your car behind.
On June 5, the monthly Open Streets event will close Main Avenue from 11th to 13th streets. There, you’ll discover a special mini golf course created for the event and designed for an evening of outdoor play.
At every Open Streets event you can expect:
Local vendors and makers showcasing unique goods.
Live music and pop-up performances.
Family-friendly activities for all ages.
Outdoor seating and street games.
Food trucks and downtown dining.
Interactive art and hands-on experiences.
And then, come back on the Fourth of July for the America250 celebration, featuring the return of the Independence Day parade and a Food Truck Madness competition.
“No matter what your reason to visit downtown, we’re here to welcome you,” Hanson said. “And as you bring guests to town this summer, make sure you show them the heart of our city.”
Downtown by the numbers
It’s not just visitors driving business downtown.
There also are 5,000 residents and an estimated 17,000 people who work there.
“Many people don’t realize it, but while downtown occupies less than 2 percent of the land in Sioux Falls, it generates 14 percent of the city’s property tax revenue,” Hanson said.
“It’s an investment engine. As our community commits resources to downtown, there’s a multiplication effect as people spend more time here. The revenue generated becomes a true return on investment that benefits everyone.”
Not only will there be seven new vendors when the Falls Park Farmers Market reopens on Saturday, but also longtime vendors will offer new products.
Take Skipping Stone Pizza, for example. The Hartford-based business has perfected its latest specialty pizza, which owners Kyle and Nicky VanDerWerff have dubbed the Miss Pippi.
With its toppings of slow-roasted beef, banana peppers and ranch sauce, it’s a variation of the Mississippi pot roast recipe made with Hidden Valley ranch dressing in a crockpot, Nicky VanDerWerff said.
The Miss Pippi will appear at the farmers market later this year. This Saturday, Skipping Stone Pizza will open for its 14th summer there with a customer favorite: the Carolina BBQ.
“It’s a fan favorite: smoked pork with a mustardy barbecue sauce, and once it’s out of the oven, we top it with coleslaw,” VanDerWerff said.
Ten other varieties also will be offered, including a breakfast pizza, supreme, Italian and Hawaiian with pineapple and ham.
VanDerWerff, who serves on the Falls Park Farmers Market board, said this year’s total of 42 vendors is the largest number in the event’s history. A 43rd spot is reserved for a nonprofit or entertainment such as the South Dakota Aerial & Arts performers or Latin dance groups. This Saturday, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue representatives will fill that space.
Some of the new vendors will replace businesses whose circumstances changed and they decided not to return such as CH Patisserie, VanDerWerff said.
“One thing we haven’t had for a long time at the market is fresh pasta, and we do have a vendor that will be making fresh pasta,” she said. “There’s a pork vendor and a mini-doughnut vendor who will be doing fresh mini-doughnuts on-site.”
Another new vendor will serve varieties of matcha drinks, while One Smart Cookie will offer decorated sugar cookies.
Falls Park Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Oct. 31 at the shelter on Falls Park’s northern side. About half of the vendors took part in the first winter farmers market, which concluded in April.
Skipping Stone Pizza was not part of the winter market, but VanDerWerff said she was told that the vendors who did were pleased.
“It was well attended,” she said. “Now, we’re excited to get into the outdoor market and the hustle and bustle of summer. We’re hoping for good weather and big crowds” for opening day, the weekend before Mother’s Day.
Skipping Stone will be there, offering 10-inch pizzas served after about 90 seconds in the mobile wood-fired oven. The business started in 2012 when the VanDerWerffs had graduated from college but recession woes had hampered their job searches.
“My father-in-law had built a wood-fire pizza oven in his backyard, and we wondered if we could do it like a business,” VanDerWerff said. Even though the couple soon found employment, they decided to continue with Skipping Stone as a summer business.
“We love our customers, and it’s fun,” she said. “The vendors are all super-nice and happy to be there. It’s become like a little family and a community.”
Downtown Sioux Falls is ready to create a slam-dunk experience during this year’s Summit League Basketball Championships.
A quick look around starts to tell the story: signage, banners and plenty of energy waiting to greet the tens of thousands of guests who will be coming to Sioux Falls for the tournament today through Sunday.
“People are not here for a single two-hour game. They are here for a weekend, and we’re here to make sure they’re finding a place to eat, shop and explore between sessions,” Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. CEO Brandon Hanson said.
“What is different this year is how coordinated the effort is. We are taking a literal approach to our mission of driving people downtown.”
The effort is essential, said Mike Krewson, general manager of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
“We need to be more than a basketball tournament to be successful,” he said. “Attracting visitors for the games is great, but we want them to come back at other times to enjoy all we have to offer.”
Summit League Central
Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park West will serve as “Summit League Central” this year, offering photo backdrops, a life-size tournament bracket and the chance to try out curling activities.
Look for food and beverage specials inside The Lodge Bar & Grill, and catch the games on TV there.
“It’s just been a great partnership,” said Shawn Pritchett, the city’s director of finance. “Our work with DTSF and other partners was a big reason why we were able to secure another contract with The Summit League. There are expectations that there’s broad, visible community support and that people feel welcome.”
Look for game-day specials, themed promotions and interactive elements like mini basketball hoops, with discounts at retailers and restaurants throughout downtown.
“Every positive experience creates the opportunity for a return visit,” Hanson said. “Think about families planning summer trips and regional visitors who did not realize how much Sioux Falls has evolved.”
The tournament also aligns with the annual DTSF Mash Madness event, which has grown significantly to include 31 participating businesses this March.
Sponsored by Williquors, this taste-and-rate competition offers guests the chance to try craft beers, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages while voting for their favorites.
“It is energetic, accessible and designed to pull people across multiple blocks instead of keeping them in one place,” Hanson said.
The downtown visitor experience already has been noticed by tournament guests, Krewson said.
“We hear comments ranging from enjoying the Falls and the green space to the small-town feel of Phillips Avenue,” he said.
“Having such a large community lift on creating these experiences through multiple partners is why Sioux Falls stands out as a host site. We don’t just rinse and repeat — we want to level up every year and raise the bar on what we did the year before. Fans love it, teams love it, and even members of the public that don’t go to the games love it because it creates something fresh to do in town.”
Free shuttle, free parking
Through a partnership between Via, which manages Sioux Area Metro, and The Steel District, a free city shuttle will run on the busiest tournament days, Thursday through Saturday. It will connect the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, The Steel District and the downtown core, including Summit League Central.
“The idea is to make movement simple,” Hanson said. “This is a direct effort to make downtown the easiest next step after the final buzzer.”
If you prefer to drive, the following parking ramps are free during the tournament:
The Steel District Ramp, 505 N. Metli Place
1st Avenue Ramp, 110 E. 11st St.
Downtown Mall Ramps, 110 S. Mall Ave.
“Fans can park downtown or near the Arena and move easily between locations without worrying about cost or logistics. No circling. No reparking. No stress,” Hanson said.
“The ramps are well lit, easy to access and positioned within walking distance of restaurants, retail, hotels and shuttle stops. Instead of circling for street parking or moving your car multiple times, pull into a ramp, lock up, and step straight into the weekend.”
Park once, move easily between the games and downtown, and enjoy everything happening in between.
The Summit League Downtown Shuttle will run every 45 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the following stops:
“The whole point is that even if you’re not going to a game, you can experience everything going on,” Pritchett said.
And, don’t miss the activities planned at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center around the games.
The Sioux Falls Arts Commission is launching “Full Court Color: Arena to Asphalt” — a live public art experience. Artist Les Cotton will create a live mural at the tournament where families can contribute their own basketball-inspired artwork in an interactive Design Lab. Selected designs will be transformed into custom vinyl basketball backboards installed in 10 parks across Sioux Falls.
“They will be focused on high-attendance times between sessions in the atrium of the Convention Center,” Pritchett said. “We’re excited to see the artwork installed in our parks.”
Locals: You’re invited too
The events and activities happening during The Summit League tournament are definitely designed for locals too. The same benefits offered to visitors are extended to locals.
“Locals should absolutely take advantage of this weekend,” Hanson said. “Each time we host a major event, we hear the same feedback from residents who come out. They are surprised at how clean, safe and alive downtown feels. Some perceptions linger from decades ago. When people give downtown another look, they are often blown away.”
The effort is important for the community too. It keeps major events like the tournament coming back and provides another way to support the local businesses that give downtown its one-of-a-kind character.
“The deputy commissioner of The Summit League compared walking into our downtown to ‘stepping into a Hallmark movie.’ That kind of reaction speaks to atmosphere, place, scale and character,” Hanson said.
“A strong downtown produces a strong city. The prioritization and investment over the past five years have reshaped the experience. The tournament weekend simply amplifies it.”
“It’s our goal that this year our businesses are aligned, our promotions are synchronized and the message is unified,” Hanson said.
“This is an intentional extension of the tournament. It’s not just something happening at the PREMIER Center. It’s happening across the city. When people think about The Summit League tournament in Sioux Falls, we want them to think about downtown as part the experience.”
Congrats to Swamp Daddy’s, the 13th Annual Downtown Burger Battle Champs! With a high score of 9.20, their Bayou Stack Burger took home this year’s trophy.
The top sales award went to Monk’s Ale House for an impressive 9,095 Burger Battle Burgers sold!
Finally, Zandbroz Variety took home the first ever award in the Burger Battle Storefront competition.
Check out these business and give them a huge CONGRATS!
Join our “Letter to Santa” card drawing competition. Put your card in Santa’s mailbox at the Marketbeat Holiday Plaza and be entered to win fun DTSF gift cards! (Digital entries allowed at marketing@dtsf.com or tag us on Instagram @dtsiouxfalls
This holiday season, shop Downtown Sioux Falls. From November 1st – December 31st you can purchase a Downtown Gives Coupon Book from over 20 local retailers containing extraordinary deals for Downtown. Proceeds form the Coupon Book sales go to the Downtown non-profit, Emily’s Hope. Beyond the Downtown Gives opportunities, Downtown Sioux Falls is home to over 280 member business which offer unique and speciality items and services that serve both the local economy of entire Sioux Falls Community. Take a look at our list of shopping, entertainment, eateries and watch our events here.
Below is a list of the businesses both selling and accepting the Downtown Gives Coupons:
605 Running Co. / Child’s Play Toys / Coffea Roasterie / Combine / Dahlia / Great Outdoor Store / Lauriebelles / Mint + Basil / MK Threads Boutique / Nyberg’s Ace / Plum’s / Rose & Eugene / Simply Perfect / Sticks and Steel / Terra Shepherd / The Cookie Jar Eatery / The Spice & Tea Exchange / Threads by Simply Perfect / Trio Jazz Club / Zandbroz Variety / City of Sioux Falls / + a chance to win a $100 gift card from Duluth Trading
The 33rd Annual DTSF Holiday Parade AWARD WINNERS.
Catfish Bay won the First Bank & Trust “Hometown Pride” AwardKnife River won the Spirit of Sioux Falls AwardMary’s Mountain Cookies won the Best Use of Lights AwardPinnacle Productions won the Best Workmanship AwardOverhead Door won the Mayor’s Choice AwardVern Eide won the DTSF Award
This culinary event, now in its 5th year, features dishes from repeat champions, Chef Lance’s Kitchen and Crawford’s, along with over 25 new and returning Downtown competitors. Here you’ll find a full list of dishes and locations participating. Every entry can be ranked and rated on our DTSF app (passport.DTSF.com). Results will be collected and tallied to announce the 2025 winner in early November.
A Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich from Fernson’s Downtown & Totally Rad Eats: The breakfast sandwich is an Olympia Provisions pork roll, fried egg, grainaise and New School American on a Big Marty roll.The Iron Boar at Josiah’s Coffee House: Angus beef patty stacked with savory smoked pulled pork and layered with smoky gouda, creamy Swiss, caramelized onions, stone-ground Dijon mustard and shredded cabbage on a pretzel bun.Pizza al Pastor at La Luna Cafe: Pizza with a pineapple-infused base, mozzarella and our signature Al Pastor-marinated pork. Includes oven-roasted pineapples, avocado-lime and house-red salsas and finished with red onions and cilantro on a homemade crust.Pork Yeah! by PAve: Char Siu pork lettuce wraps with butter lettuce, Jasmine rice, Char siu marinated pork, shoestring carrots, shredded radishes, crispy chow mein noodles and green onion.Bay of Pigs Grinder: Monk’s Ale House: Hot Italian sausage link, Compart ham, bacon, provolone, pickles, grainaise and a bacon fat aioli on a hoagie bun with potato salad.Hog Heaven by Parlour Ice Cream at the Washington Pavilion: Caramelized pork belly rolled into brown butter ice cream, with bourbon candied pecans and bourbon caramel, served between two chocolate chip pecan cookies.Dongpo Pork Bowl from Bread & Circus Sandwich Shop: Soy Braised Duroc Pork Belly from Creekstone Farms, Sauteed Bok Choy w/ Lemongrass, Smashed Cucumber Salad & RiceItalian Grinder at The Lodge Bar & Grill, Jacobson Plaza: Chopped Italian sausage with mozzarella, marinara, basil and giardiniera on a toasted hoagie bun.Snap, Crackle, Bacon from Shenanigan’s: Crispy pork belly bites in a rice-crispy crust, drizzled with raspberry–jalapeño glaze, topped with cilantro, pickled onion petals and powdered sugar. Pozole at BibiSol Kitchen: A pork and hominy in a dried chili pepper broth, garnished with radish, onion & lettuce, and served with lime wedges and chipsThe Porkie O’Smash Burger from Blarney Stone: Two, grilled, four-ounce seasoned ground pork smash patties atop shredded lettuce and pickle chips on a toasted bun. Topped with smoked chedder, bacon, pickled red onion and chipotle cream sauce.Cascata Pork Chop by Cascata Italian: Compart Farms Duroc pork porterhouse with a peach and grain mustard glaze, served with buttery whipped potatoes.Bavarian Echoes at Crawford’s Bar & Grill: Crisp-edged pork belly glazed in hot honey alongside charred pork tenderloin, set over truffled potato purée. Autumn herbs and a spiced vinaigrette weave brightness through layers of tomato jam, mustard caviar and pickled onion relish. Finished with pretzel crumb and almond brittle for a Bavarian nod.The Pulled to Perfection Burrito at Chef Lance’s on Phillips: Slowly-braised pork, bell peppers and latin cheeses, baked in green chili sauce and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, Queso, and jalapeños.Mojo Pork Hoagie at DaDa Gastropub: Sourdough hoagie with Mojo pork, butternut squash aioli, fried onion strings, garlic herb butter, mustard cheese and house pickles.Pork Carnitas Tacos at Dahlia Kitchen & Bar: Thinly sliced pork carnitas with salsa verde, chopped onion, jicama slaw, and cilantro in a flour tortilla.Sunset Pork at R Wine Bar: A bone-in pork chop glazed with orange hibiscus sauce, served over parmesan corn gnocchi with two crispy corn ribs, finished with espelette and a fresh orange wheel.The Carne Adovada Benny from PERCH: Red chile braised pork shoulder, two poached eggs, hollandaise, pickled red onion and cilantro on an English muffin.Braciola di Maiale @ Maribella Ristorante: Grilled tomahawk pork chop topped with a fig onion pancetta jam and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes.The Pulled Porker Burger @Big Sioux Burger: Giardiniera aioli, cheddar cheese, pulled pork, spicy barbecue sauce, fried onion curls and house pickles on a corn bread bun.Oktoberfest Dunkelwurst @ Fernson Downtown & Totally Rad Eats: Olympia Provisions dunkle wurst, grainaise, New School wiz, sauerkraut, on a pretzel roll.Franken Pork Nachos @ The Phillips Avenue Diner: House-smoked Cuban pork shoulder atop sidewinder fries, topped with Queso, smashed avocado, pickled jalapeños and finished with a drizzle of poblano crème.BBQ Bee Brat Sandwich @ Remedy Brewing Co: Warm french bread, beer barbecue pork brat burnt ends, roasted garlic cream cheese, queen bee onions and curry ketchup dipping sauce.Our Little Secreto @ Rivage Oak Kitchen: Iberian secreto with duck-fat fondant potato, charred endive, honey-poached fig chimmichurri, tomato confit, and chili threads.Guinness-Brined Pork Chop @ Ode To Food and Drinks: Hand-cut, Guinness-brined bone in pork chop over cheddar mashed potatoes topped with grilled asparagus & apple beurre blancA Crispy Pork Schweinshaxe @ Ironwood Steakhouse: Spätzle, mornay, bacon-braised kale and pork jus.
The 12th Annual Riverfest is set to take place on September 20, 2025, from 2–8 p.m. This year, Riverfest is more than just a music festival with food vendors, retail booths, cold beverages, and more. It’s taking a bold new step in advocating for the conservation and sustainability of the Big Sioux River. The event’s mission is to spark a love for the river through playful activities, engaging programming, and storytelling.
Riverfest 2025 will be held along the Big Sioux River Greenway and Cherapa Place. Food vendors will be set up in the Cherapa parking lot next to the Arc of Dreams. Expect 18 different food vendors, including SDSU Ice Cream, Breaking Burrito, King of Gyros, and Backyard BBQ, just to name a few. Retail vendors will be located on N. Reid Place, in the heart of Cherapa Place, featuring 16 businesses such as Aerial Arts, the Sioux Falls Food Co+op, and Redmond Prime Cuts. Four local breweries: Fernson, Remedy, WoodGrain, and Severance will also be on site serving up cold beers. Picnic tables and restrooms will be available throughout the area.
For the music portion of this year’s event, three bands will take the stage: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Jamie Lynn Trio, The Teels, and the Brassholes. While Riverfest runs from 2–8 p.m., music will kick off at 3 p.m. and close out the night. In addition to live performances, attendees can try their hand at rock climbing up the side of the Cherapa building. This exciting feature will be led by Jeff Johnson, a single pitch instructor with Sylvan Rock Climbing School, and his trained team.
Since 2020, The Friends of the Big Sioux River have collaborated with local breweries to create the Big Sioux Brew, a beer brewed with water sourced directly from the river. After collecting water from the Big Sioux, it’s purified using reverse osmosis (RO), producing a clean and neutral base for brewing. This year, Remedy, and Severance are each crafting their own version of Sioux Brew, continuing the tradition of raising awareness through innovation and taste.
CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
In partnership with CNH Industrial, The Friends of the Big Sioux are also introducing floating islands, an exciting and impactful water quality initiative. These 6×7-foot islands are made from PVC frames and filled with a coconut-husk-based fiber wrapped in burlap, serving as a growing bed for native plants. As the plants grow, their roots dangle below the surface, absorbing nutrients and helping purify the water. Each panel can support up to 800 pounds.
Currently in use at Covell Lake, the goal is to place these islands directly into the Big Sioux River in the near future. The benefits are multifaceted: the islands improve water quality and provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and fish. Once the plants bloom, bees, butterflies, and other insects can use them as pollination plots, and birds and fish can benefit from the added vegetation and shade. It’s a beautiful example of how we can help restore the health of our local ecosystem. Friends of the Big Sioux will also be hosting a river clean-up on the day of Riverfest (September 20th) from 10am to noon. The clean-up will take place on both sides of the River from Falls Park to Fawick Park.
The river was here long before us, and we want to make sure it’s here long after. That’s why we host Riverfest, to celebrate this natural resource and imagine a cleaner, more vibrant future. This year’s event will continue to be a lively music festival, but with a renewed focus on family-friendly programming and activities that all ages can enjoy.
To get in the spirit ahead of the festival, don’t miss the Downtown Story Walk. This self-guided activity features banners placed along Phillips Avenue that make up an eight-stop journey telling the story of the Big Sioux River. It’s a fun and educational experience for the whole family, and a reminder that the river is a vital, ever-flowing part of our community.
Whether you’re coming for the music, the food, the climbing wall, or the chance to learn more about our river, Riverfest 2025 offers something for everyone. Join us on September 20 to celebrate the Big Sioux River and be part of a growing movement to protect and preserve one of our city’s greatest natural treasures.
Looking to sip, snack, and save in downtown Sioux Falls? Whether you’re winding down after work, catching up with friends, or starting your night out, happy hour is the perfect excuse to explore the local bar and restaurant scene. From craft cocktails and cold beers to tasty bites and unbeatable deals, here’s your guide to some of the best happy hour spots in downtown Sioux Falls.
Special: Thursdays are all‑day half‑priced drinks plus $3 Long Islands Thu & Fri evenings.
Hello-Hi
$2 off all drinks on weekdays from 4–7 pm, with a charming front/back patio vibe
Wiley’s
Monday – Friday 3-7pm
½ off Well Liquor Drinks
½ off Domestic Beer – Bottle & Tap
$5 Appetizer Menu
The Blarney Stone
Saturday 9-close with reduced prices of drinks and appetizers
Sunday: ALL DAY
Dahlia Kitchen + Bar
$10 Tuesdays – Enjoy $10 pitchers of margaritas and sangria all day every Tuesday!
Happy Hour 3-6pm everyday with reduced drafts, house wines, cocktails, margaritas. Also enjoy a reduced price appetizer menu including Guacamole Tostada, Pork Pastor Tostada, Wings & Fries, and more.
Big Sioux Burger
Daily from 8-11am and 3-6pm
Beer, Seltzers, Proverb Wines, Rail Cocktails all at a reduced price.
Really Happy Hour – Available every Wednesday from 3-6pm. Enjoy a house burger, fries, and a domestic beer for just $10.
Highball
On Wednesdays at Highball stop by for half off all whiskey pours all night long.
Bin 201
Weekday Wine Down – Every Monday-Thursday enjoy $5 glasses of wine from 4-9pm.
On Thursdays be sure to check out Make Your Own Martini Thursdays for just $6.
Lucky’s
4-8pm Monday-Friday enjoy .50 of all beers and $1 off all liquor.
They also run additional daily specials.
Pro Tips for the Best Experience
Start Early: Most happy hours wrap up by 6–7 pm.
Group Friendly: Pave and The Hello Hi have lively back patios—great for social vibes.
Food Pairing: Dahlia, Big Sioux Burger, Blarney Stone, and Wiley offer great food deals with their drink specials.
Downtown Sioux Falls offers a delightful array of happy hours—from upscale cocktails and laid‑back patios to half‑priced brews and bar snacks. Whether you’re planning a casual after‑work meetup or a full evening of bar hopping, there’s something for every taste and time of day.
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