ALDI at Thunderbird Mall in Virginia opened last week as part of a $3.4 billion investment to expand to 2,500 stores nationwide by the end of 2022.

ALDI has been in the grocery retailing industry since 1976 and sells frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, to 40 million customers each month.

“ALDI stores are designed to make life easier for people. We offer high-quality foods at affordable prices and a streamlined shopping experience unlike anything else,” said Matt Lilla, Faribault division vice president for ALDI. “From our award-winning products, to trendy, fresh and healthy options, we’re focused on carrying a selection that has something for everyone.”

According to ALDI, the new Virginia store layout provides an improved in-store experience and features additional refrigeration space to accommodate more fresh products. Compared to last year, 20 percent of the ALDI product selection is new, and the company is increasing its fresh food selection by 40 percent with additional organic, convenient and easy-to-prepare options.

The Virginia store is part of a larger retail transformation which began four years ago when Texas-based RockStep Capital purchased the struggling Thunderbird Mall with the goal of bringing investor capital to the property. Demolition and renovation of a portion of the former Kmart building and parking lot have made way for the addition of new national tenants such as Caribou Coffee & Einstein Bros. Bagels, Verizon Wireless, Tractor Supply Company and ALDI. RockStep said the redevelopment was critical to stabilizing the property and validating the market for other potential national and regional tenants.

The mall revitalization is locally led by Jody Vest, RockStep’s director of mall management and long-time Virginia mall property manager. Vest supervises the daily operations and financial management of Thunderbird and RockStep’s other enclosed mall properties. She plays a key role in helping the malls adapt and achieve financial health in an era of robust retail change.

According to RockStep the redevelopment project has created demolition, construction, part-time and full-time jobs and is also increasing the City of Virginia and St. Louis County tax bases. ALDI was named to the Forbes list of “America’s Best Large Employers” four years in a row and was also recognized as a 2018 National Top Workplace by Energage for the second consecutive year.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the larger mall project with a Commercial Redevelopment grant. “The agency’s grant was instrumental in making this project happen,” said Andy Weiner, RockStep CEO. “The new development could not have happened without it.”

ALDI in Virginia is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Email Chris Ismil for grant information or call him at 218-735-3010.

The Hibbing artist community enhanced the city’s downtown curb appeal through art mural wraps on eight highly visible utility boxes. Artists were asked to submit designs that reflect the unique culture, people and history of Hibbing. Eight designs were chosen and transformed into vinyl wraps that encase the streetlight utility boxes. View utility box video by WDSE The Slice.

Utility wraps are a relatively new art form that have been implemented in many rural and urban American cities. The wraps are fairly easy to maintain, last about 10 years, and are reported to deter graffiti.

The public art project was led by the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce’s downtown steering committee whose goal is to implement new initiatives that improve the vitality and attractiveness of downtown.

“Cultural assets are important to economic development,” said Lory Fedo, Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce president. “Beautification projects like this help promote downtown as a central gathering place.”

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported this project with a Downtown Streetscapes grant.

The former Vertin’s restaurant which closed in 2006 was bank-owned until Alley A Realty purchased it in 2014. Alley A Owners John and Tanner Ott partnered with Executive Chef Daniel Vollom and Sarah Wigdahl-Vollom to reopen the building as Insula Restaurant. The Otts focused on modernizing the mechanical and HVAC systems to reduce utilities and create an affordable lease. The Volloms applied their culinary and restaurant operations expertise to the interior renovations and aesthetics.

Insula, named after a popular Boundary Waters lake, opened to the public in 2014 with a newly refurbished interior. In 2017 investigative demolition began on the building’s exterior which was built in 1969 and had a Switzerland-themed façade. The Otts secured a Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grant to put toward large glass energy efficient picture windows along the front and side of the building.

“Insula quickly became a favorite restaurant for many locals and tourists. We couldn’t wait to restore the building’s exterior so it would honor its history and match the high quality food and atmosphere that Dan and Sarah create on the inside,” said Tanner. "Pedestrians walking by can now see into the restaurant with people laughing and enjoying their meal. I think new guests are naturally drawn in.”

Four blocks away is the historic American Fraternal Union (AFU) office, another former vacant building likely constructed in the 1930’s through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Alley A purchased the AFU, renovated it and now leases space to two tenants, Range Mental Health Center and Ely Community Resources.

“In its original state the AFU office was a solidly constructed stout government-esque building,” said Tanner. “We purchased it not knowing quite how it would be reused, but we were determined to preserve its original character. We used a BER grant to help pay for new HVAC systems and large double hung energy efficient windows that match the building’s original integrity.”

According to Tanner, BER enabled his company to complete more projects at a quicker rate by offsetting the costliest part of building renovations, the HVAC and mechanical systems. Through Alley A’s use of the BER program, new businesses were able to locate into commercial spaces that were previously cost prohibitive due to exorbitant utility bills from old and inefficient HVAC systems.

Ott noted that Ely recently joined Minnesota’s new statewide PACE program administered by the St. Paul Port Authority, making PACE financing available to the city’s businesses, multifamily and non-profit property owners. The financing may be used to fund energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure improvements. According to Ott PACE will be another tool for his company’s revitalization efforts in Ely.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, 285 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. The program is funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). To learn more email Vince Meyer at AEOA or call him at 218-735-6828.

A three-year research project is underway to study revegetation on the currently idled Mining Resources, LLC iron concentrate plant site near Chisholm at which scram mining operations last took place in 2015.

Scram mining is an iron mining process that extracts the iron left behind in the tailings basins of former iron ore mining sites. The iron concentrate is then used to make iron nuggets or pellets. Minnesota state law requires that vegetation cover reach 90 percent within three years after the surface within a mining operation ceases and will no longer be disturbed.

The law’s purpose is “… to control possible adverse environmental effects of mining, to preserve the natural resources, and to encourage the planning of future land utilization, while at the same time promoting the orderly development of mining, the encouragement of good mining practices, and the recognition and identification of the beneficial aspects of mining.”

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) is overseeing the project which involves research plots to measure native species, invasive species, germination, degradation of straw mulch, effectiveness of surface nutrients, erosion control and moisture holding treatments. The final study will reveal recommendations for native vegetation restoration and establishment for large scale mineland reclamation.

“The research during the first two years has shown vegetation percentages increase and different native and non-native species develop each year,” said Allyz Kramer, a senior biologist at SEH. “The third year of research we are currently in will determine if these trends continue.”

The study will be completed later this year. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the research project with a Laurentian Vision Partnership (LVP) Minescapes grant. Other project partners include SEH, Mining Resources, LLC and Prairie Restorations, Inc. For LVP Minescapes grant information email Jim Plummer or call him at 218-274-7006.

To strengthen the broadband experience in the Chisholm area, a new landing page was launched that includes a shared community calendar, social media feeds from several community partners, and direct links to each partner’s individual website. The city, chamber of commerce, economic development authority and the school district worked together to create the centralized portal.

“Chisholm is an excellent example of how advancing broadband forges partnerships within communities,” said Whitney Ridlon, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation community development representative. “All of the key stakeholder groups in Chisholm worked toward the common goal of centralizing Chisholm’s online presence, and the result is a great new landing page and portal that promotes their town.”  

The project was part of a larger Blandin Foundation program designed to advance broadband in northeastern Minnesota rural communities which is critical to economic development, education, healthcare and quality of life. The Blandin broadband program was supported in part by a grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation.