Changes Coming to the East Side of Sioux Falls

June 25, 2010 10:03 PM


South Dakota's cities continue to see growth...this time it’s Sioux Falls that's expanding.
The east side of the city is seeing more development ... First it was a Wal-Mart, then a new target, now its a century theater.

It may look like there's still a lot of work left, but Century Theaters on the eastside of Sioux Falls is scheduled to open in less than a week. And developers say they're right on schedule. They are just putting the finishing touches on what should be just a catalyst for more growth to the area.

"It's kind of exciting. Because if you go back about 7, 8 years, the East side didn't really have a lot of retail in that part of town," Craig Lloyd, the CEO of Lloyd Companies said.

With some new stores, restaurants, and now entertainment...the East side is bringing in people from all over.

"We really like it on this side, on the east side of town, because we're from George, and we come in this way and it’s a lot of conveniences," Joan Braun from George Iowa said.

"It's very convenient. Has a lot of the things we need so we don't have to go to too many different places," said Nadia Kurrle from Iowa.

But it's not going to stop here. Soon there'll be some new establishments popping up in this area including a Kohl’s, a Best Buy and hopefully some new restaurants.

"I think it’s going to be really good. I like it. I can't wait until everything opens up and get the new Kohl’s store and that stuff,” said Jolene Benson from Brandon.

While Sioux Falls city officials say they are happy with the changes to that area of the city, they say they are hoping for a little more variety in the next couple of years.
Right now it's the all about the "second store" coming to town: a 2nd century, 2nd target, the 2nd Wal-Mart, the 2nd Menards. But the hope is to build something that's never been to the area before.

"If they get a store on the east side we never had, will they get a crate and barrel, will they get a Macaroni Grill, will they get a PF Changs, that's going to take people from one side of town to another,” said Jeff Schmitt from Sioux Falls Planning.

And whatever that may be, city officials, developers, and residents alike agree... now with all these new developments, more growth is just around the corner.

The East Side Century Theater opens Tuesday night. Just in time for the Twilight "Eclipse" midnight release. Construction on the new east side Kohl's will begin in August, with the plan to open next March.