Business is going on as always at Liberty Lanes in East Grand Forks after a November auction failed to fetch the price its owner wanted.
The final bid for the business came in at $223,000, but that was not enough for its owner, a lending company, according to Conn Walters of Tranzon Asset Strategies, which conducted the online auction. That means no sale for now.
"It's on the market right now," he said.
The bowling alley, just off of U.S. Highway 2 east of town, has 16 lanes, a bar and grill and was built in 1976.
For anyone with at least a quarter million to invest, there is still time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Safe-T-Pull on its own
A product developed for sugar beet farmers more than two decades ago officially became its own company at the beginning of 2014.
Safe-T-Pull, which was a product of Kringstad Ironworks, will move into a larger production facility in Park River, N.D., in a couple of months. Previously, workers at Kringstad would dedicate a couple months out of the year to manufacturing the hydraulic towing bars.
But now, about nine workers will be focused on Safe-T-Pull year-round, said Jacob Kringstad, the company's general manager. He said talks of becoming a separate company started in early 2012, when the company introduced a new version the product.
"We saw how much potential there was," he said.
Safe-T-Pull is a device that allows for easier and safer pulling of sugar beet trucks and other farm-related machinery. The company sold many of the devices in Michigan and Colorado last year, Kringstad said, and he expects even wider sales now that the company has its own sales team.
Safe-T-Pull will still be owned by Kringstad Ironworks, which is run by Jacob Kringstad's father, Bernie.
Altru's new brew
ADVERTISEMENT
Patients and visitors at Altru Health System facilities will not have to go out for a drink from the coffee chain already famous for being ubiquitous in most American cities.
Starbucks coffee has been available at Altru's hospital, main clinic and rehab facility since mid-December.
And though Starbucks' gift cards and loyalty programs cannot be use at the Altru locations, prices there are slightly lower than at other Starbucks stores, according to Lindsey Reznicek of Altru public relations.
Send business tips to Bjorke at cbjorke@gfherald.com and (701) 780-1117 or to Hageman at jhageman@gfherald.com or (701) 780-1244.
