[PLEASE STAND BY] >> WELCOME TO "IN BUSINESS."

I’M GETTING A HEAD START ON THE MINNESOTA FISHING OPENER.

I WANTED TO START EARLY, FOR THIS IS BIG BUSINESS.

VERY FORTUNATELY FOR US IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE HAVE THE BEST PLACE IN THE ENTIRE STATE TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

AND THE FISHING OPENER, THAT IS BIG BUSINESS AS WELL.

AND IT WILL BE BIG BUSINESS HERE AT THE MINNOW-ETTE.

IN FREDENBERG.

THAT IS A MAJOR PART OF THEIR BUSINESS.

THEY CELEBRATED 75 YEARS, FIVE YEARS UNDER THE NEW OWNERS, THE MANNINGS, AND THAT IS OUR TOPIC THIS WEEK.

BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE TEST OF TIME.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

MOST BUSINESSES LAST 5-7 YEARS IF THEY ARE LUCKY.

HOW DO YOU MAKE 10, 20, 50, 75 AND 95 YEARS IN BUSINESS, IS IT ONE FAMILY, IS IT A CORPORATION, HOW DO THEY SURVIVE TO THE CHANGES OVER SUCH A LONG TIME TO OUTLAST OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND GOING OUT OF BUSINESS?

THAT IS A TOPIC WE WILL TALK ABOUT.

WE VISIT WITH THE OWNERS OF MINNESOTA CELEBRATING A GREAT MILESTONE.

WITH ITS BALLET, THE OFFICIAL MINNESOTA BALLET IS 60 YEARS OLD.

50 YEARS FOR GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

WE WILL TALK TO THE ORGANIZER.

AND WE WILL VISIT WITH OTHER BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TESTED THE TIME AND ARE STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY.

I HOPE YOU GET A BIG ONE.

-- I GET A BIG ONE.

WHOA.

HA!

IS THAT A KEEPER?

WELCOME TO "IN BUSINESS."

BUILDING A BUSINESS IS ONE THING.

KEEPING IT GOING FOR DECADES IS ANOTHER.

TONIGHT WE ARE LOOKING AT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

AND WHAT IT TAKES TO REACH MAJOR MILESTONE.

WE START IN FREDENBERG WHERE ONE LOCAL BUSINESS HAS BEEN KEEPING CUSTOMERS ON THE LINE FOR YEARS AND IS STILL REELING THEM IN TODAY.

WE OPEN THIS WEEK’S "IN BUSINESS" AT THE MINNO-ETTE, AND WE DECIDED TO MEET THEIR OWN OWNERS.

WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT WAS 70’S YEARS OLD.

OUR TOPIC IS COMPANIES THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

THEY ARE THE NEW OWNERS ON THE CORNER OF FISH LAKE ROAD.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US STOP BY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

KEN: BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF MEAN SOMETHING LIKE LET’S START WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE MINNO-ETTE.

>> 1950 IT WAS PUT UP AS A BAIT SHOP.

THEN EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE YEARS IT CHANGED OWNERS AND THEN IT WAS A BUS GARAGE AND THEN IT WAS A LAUNDROMAT AND IT CONTINUED TO GROW AND DEVELOP IT IN DOWNTOWN FRIEDEN BURKE -- FREDENBERG UNTIL WE BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER OF 2020.

>> WHO DID YOU BUY IT FROM?

.

>> WE BOUGHT IT FROM SCOTT AND JULIE.

THEY’VE HAD THE BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS?

KEN: A LOT OF TIMES THE SUCCESS OF A BUSINESS LIKE THIS IS THE LONGEVITY OF THE OWNERS.

I’M ASSUMING YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND LIKE THAT.

WHY DID YOU CITE TO BUY IT?

-- DID YOU DECIDE TO BUY IT?

>> WE MOVED UP HERE IN 2016 AND WE LOVE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND IT CAME UP FOR SALE AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

>> I CAME HERE TO GET MY BAIT AND TACKLE.

AND I SAID IT WOULD BE COOL TO OWN THE MINNO-ETTE ONE DAY.

IT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS AND SO FAR SO GOOD.

KEN: IT IS A TRADITION OF OPENING DAY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU STARTED THAT OPENING DAY PRETTY EARLY.

>> 4:00 A.M.. IT WAS A TRADITION WE STARTED WHEN WE FIRST TOOK THE PLACE OVER AND NOW EVERY OPENER SINCE THEN, WHY IN THE WORLD AM I OPENING THE STORE FOR YOU?

WE HAD PEOPLE IN LINE LAST YEAR.

I WAS SHOCKED.

WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

KEN: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO TAKE OVER BUSINESS THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THIS AREA?

>> WELL, PEOPLE HAVE A CERTAIN EXPECTATION OF A BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR 75 YEARS, 35 WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER, SO YOU DO NOT WANT TO SCREW IT UP.

YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN EXPECTATIONS FOR PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE ON IT.

>> CONTINUED TO BRING NEW PRODUCTS FOR PEOPLE, WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

OUR EMPLOYEES, WE CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.

>> THAT IS THE KEY, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EVERYTHING.

IF YOU COME TO THE MINNO-ETTE WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LEAVE HAPPY AND SATISFIED AND YOU COME BACK AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR BUSINESS.

KEEP COMING BACK.

KEN: THE MINNO-ETTE EVOLVE FROM THE 10 BY 10 SHACK INTO THE BUSINESS IT IS TODAY.

WHAT PERCENTAGE IS STILL BAIT, TACKLE AND WHAT ARE THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS LIKE YOU HAVE ADDED?

>> CERTAINLY BAIT AND OUTDOOR GEAR AND FISHING GEAR THAT IS OUR BREAD-AND-BUTTER.

IT REALLY IS.

IT’S AMAZING WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED HOW MUCH WE RELY ON MOTHER NATURE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SEASON.

WHEN WE TOOK THIS BUSINESS OVER IN DECEMBER 2020, IT WAS THE HEART OF COVID.

MAYBE NOT THE BEST TIME.

AND WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW WELL WE WERE DOING BUSINESS WISE.

IT WAS BLOOMING.

I LOOKED AT HER AND I SAID, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS UPSET ABOUT.

WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL.

BECAUSE IT WAS COVID.

NO I COULD DO ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT TO GO FISHING.

AND THEN THE RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED.

MOTHER NATURE DID NOT COOPERATE FOR A COUPLE OF WINTERS.

THEN WE STARTED THINKING, HOW WILL WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON OVER THE WINTER?

THAT IS WHEN MRS.

MANNING DECIDED TO PUT IN THE LIQUOR STORE AND IT WAS -- IT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE’VE EVER DONE.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN MY, AND MY LIFE HAS BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER FOR 30 YEARS NOW, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TRY TO ADAPT AND FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE.

PEOPLE THINK, AND I USED TO BE ONE OF THOSE, IT MUST BE NICE TO OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

YOU ARE ROLLING IN MONEY.

YOU CAN TAKE VACATION WHENEVER WE OUGHT -- WHENEVER YOU WANT.

THAT AIN’T THE CASE.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

IT IS REWARDING.

WHEN YOU HAVE A BAD DAY, YOU QUESTION WHY YOU’RE DOING THIS.

BUT YOU KEEP GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AND KEEP GRINDING.

THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

KEN: THE OWNERS OF THE MINNO-ETTE IN FREDENBERG.

TALKING ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT THAT SUSTAINS THE TEST OF TIME.

YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST A BAIT SHOP, YOU ARE ALSO A GENERAL STORE.

HOW ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS RELATING TO THAT?

>> PEOPLE ARE VERY THANKFUL WE ARE OPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR.

THEY ALWAYS FORGET SOMETHING ON ALL OF THE HOLIDAYS, THEY SAY THANKS GOOD -- SAY THANKS GOODNESS YOU ARE OPEN.

WE RAN OUT OF MILK, AND WE NEEDED BOUGHT IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

KEN: SOME DAYS ARE GOOD AND SOME ARE BAD BUT THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE A LOT OF TOMORROWS FOR THE TWO OF YOU?

>> YOU KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSS, MAN AND HOPE YOU’RE DOING IT RIGHT.

WE MAKE MISTAKES EVERY DAY, WE LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY.

WE TRY NOT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES.

ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE MY DAY JOB AND COME HERE AND SHUT OFF FROM THE WORLD FI AND FISH AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.

KEN: FROM MINNO-ETTE, THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

THIS WEEK WE’RE FEATURING BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THRIVED TO REACH MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES.

THIS INCLUDES FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT’S ALIKE.

SOMETIMES IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR A NONPROFIT TO REACH DEEP INTO THE DOUBLE DIGIT ANNIVERSARY CLUB.

WE HAVE TWO WITH US TONIGHT.

CARL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 60-YEAR-OLD MINNESOTA BALLET RESIDING AT THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY DEPOT.

JOINING CARL WE HAVE THE 50 YEAR HISTORY OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON STARTING WITH THE RACE’S FOUNDER, SCOTT KEENAN AND TODAY’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHANE BAUER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PAIRING THE REGION’S LARGEST INDUSTRY EVENT WITH CLASSICAL BALLET MIGHT SEEM ODD BUT IT IS REALLY NOT.

BOTH ARE VERY ATHLETIC.

BOTH DEMAND TRAINING AND COMMITMENT.

AND AS WE WILL LEARN, THERE IS A LITTLE-KNOWN CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ART FORM AND THE ROAD RACE.

AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION FOR A WHILE, I WILL LET YOU GO FIRST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THEM BEAT BY A DECADE.

AT 60 YEARS, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY THE DULUTH PACIFIC BALLET, HOW DID IT START?

>> IT STARTED WITH A GROUP OF 20 PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE STUDENTS IN THIS AREA A MORE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN BALLET AND BALLET TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE.

AND GREW FROM THERE.

>> IN THAT FIRST PERFORMANCE WAS IN FEBRUARY 60 YEARS AGO.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> WELL, IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME, I’M SURE.

IT’S ALWAYS AN EXCITING THING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON STAGE FOR A YOUNG PERFORMER AND IT, YOU KNOW, THE STORY GOES IS THAT JAN GIBSON WAS OUR FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

SHE HAPPENED TO BE IN NEW YORK AND THIS WHAT I CALL PLUCKY SHE FOUND GEORGE BALANCHINE, THE ICON OF AMERICAN DANCE IN THE PHONEBOOK AND CALLED HIM UP AND SAID, WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE?

HE SAID, START WITH THE SCHOOL.

THEY STARTED WITH THE SCHOOL.

AND THEN THEY SAW THAT THEIR STUDENTS WERE NEEDING SOME EXTRA INCENTIVE AND THEY WERE PROGRESSING AT THE POINT WHERE PERFORMANCES WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY REALLY EMBRACED THEM.

KEN: NUTCRACKER WAS THE FIRST PRESENTATION?

>> NUTCRACKER WAS THE FIRST ONE.

THEY HAD A GIANT SUGAR PLUM THAT DESCENDED FROM THE RAFTERS ONTO THE STAGE.

DSSO PLAYED FOR THEM.

IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.

KEN: SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE THEY DROPPED THE CIVIC AND BECAME THE MINNESOTA BALLET.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> SO, IT WAS A TWO-STEP PROCESS.

IN 1974, THEY DROPPED THE CIVIC AND THAT WAS WHEN THEY STARTED TO BRING IN PROFESSIONAL DANCERS INTO THE FOLD.

AND THEN IN 1994, THEY EXPANDED THE WORDING TO MINNESOTA BALLET.

IN THAT WE WERE THE ONLY STRICTLY CLASSICAL BALLET COMPANY IN THE STATE.

AND WE WERE THE OLDEST.

SO THEY WANTED TO TAKE THAT AND RUN WITH IT.

KEN: WE GO TO ADIDAS AND NIKE AND GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

SCOTT KEENAN WAS THE FOUNDER.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

HOW IT REALLY GOT STARTED WAS THAT WE HAD A MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY 26 MILE RUN-A-THON.

IN 1976 WE HAD A MEETING AND DECIDED TO TURN THAT SOCIAL RUN INTO AN OFFICIAL AAU SANCTIONED MARATHON.

JUNE 25 WAS THE FIRST RACE AND THAT WAS THE ONLY OPENING IN OUR RACE CALENDAR.

WE ORGANIZED 25 RACES A YEAR.

SHANE BAUER IS THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

WHAT SPECIAL EVENTS HAVE YOU PLANNED FOR THIS -- TO CELEBRATE HIS HALF A CENTURY ANNIVERSARY?

>> IT IS QUITE A LIST.

IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST MARATHON ANY OF US WILL SEE IN OUR LIFETIME.

SO WE UPPED THE NUMBERS FOR THE DISTANCE PAY BECAUSE IT IS ALL ABOUT GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

WE HAVE THE HALF MARATHON TO COINCIDE ON THE SAME COURSE.

THAT IS SMALLER.

WE CAN ONLY TAKE SO MANY PEOPLE DO TO SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS WE HAVE.

HUGE MARATHON.

AND THEN WE ARE PLANNING A DRONE SHOW.

THAT IS ONE I DO NOT THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.

INSTEAD OF FIREWORKS AT BAYFRONT AROUND 10:00, ONCE IT IS DARK, BIGGER BANDS, ENTERTAINMENT AT BAYFRONT THIS YEAR.

WE ARE DOING AN ENTIRE MUSEUM AT THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY DEPOT.

WITH A HISTORY FROM GRANDMA’S MARATHON -- AND WORKING ON AN ART SHOW WITH THE POSTERS.

THE LIST GOES ON.

KEN: CARL, HOW IS THE BALLET GOING TO CELEBRATE ITS ANNIVERSARY?

>> WELL, WE DIP BACK INTO HISTORY.

WE HAVE GONE AND DONE LARGE STORY BALLETS.

OUR COMMUNITY REALLY ENJOYS THAT.

AND A BIG 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA WHERE WE TOUCHED ON EACH ERA OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

SO IT WAS A REALLY DIVERSE SHOWING.

AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO CAP IT OFF WITH A NICE SHOWCASE FOR STUDENTS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN -- WHERE BEGAN.

KEN: WHAT WAS THAT FIRST RACE LIKE?

>> IT IS A LOT DIFFERENT NOW.

WE HAD 150 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE FIRST RACE.

122 FINISHED.

WE STARTED AT 11 A.M.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GRANDMAS WANTED BECAUSE THEY WANTED PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AT LUNCHTIME.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE SWITCH THAT TIME.

SMALL RACE, DID NOT HAVE A PERMIT.

WE CLOSE THE RACE DOWN PRETTY MUCH OUR SELF AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

ALL I CAN SAY IS 1978 WE HAD TO PREVENT -- WE HAD A PERMIT, AND WE GOT AWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS FUN.

WE WERE ONE OF THE, THE 35TH MARATHON IN THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE OVER 1000 MARATHONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE WERE ONE OF THE RACES BUILDING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WERE EXCITED TO GET ONE GOING INTO THE.

-- IN DULUTH.

KEN: I WAS THERE AND I WAS WORKING FOR A RADIO STATION.

FOR ME PERSONALLY IT WAS A HORRIBLE EVENT.

AND I MADE A PREDICTION AT THAT TIME, I TALKED TO GARY, ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS BECAUSE HE WAS A STRIDER, I SAID, MARK THIS DAY.

GARY, WE ARE HERE AT THE VERY FIRST AND LAST EVER GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

WHICH TELLS YOU WHAT I KNOW ABOUT MARKETING.

SHANE, SCOTT, BESIDES US ARE THERE ANY OTHER 50TH ANNIVERSARY PEOPLE STILL INVOLVED TODAY?

>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE DAY ONE.

AND WE HAVE ATHLETES TO BRING THAT FULL-CIRCLE.

SCOTT BROUGHT IN GARY FOR THE FIRST MARATHON.

WE WILL BRING HIM BACK FOR THIS.

ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER BIG NAMES IN RUNNING FROM ALL OF THOSE YEARS.

TRULY A CELEBRATION OF EVERYONE.

BUT THOSE FOUR, HERB DILLON IN THE MEDICAL TENT.

IF YOU READ SCOTT’S BOOK ABOUT THE MARATHON YOU LEARN ABOUT THE CHARACTERS AND CANDI AND TERRI ARE ALSO STILL INVOLVED.

KEN: SCOTT DID WRITE A HISTORY.

WE HAVE TO PLUG IT.

THIS IS MY JOURNEY TO GRANDMA’S MARATHON, HISTORY AND HEROES BY SCOTT KEENAN AVAILABLE AT STORES ALL ACROSS THE NORTH LINE.

>> VICAR’S BOOKSTORE.

KEN: OUR GUESTS ARE CARL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNESOTA BALLET, CELEBRATING THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

ALSO WITH US IS SCOTT KEENAN, THE FOUNDER AND FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON, AND WITH HIM IS SHANE BAUER, THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

AS YOU LOOK TO THE NEXT 15 YEAR -- 50 YEARS, SHANE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT IS THE NEXT ERA.

WE HAVE A 17 MEMBER BOARD.

WE HAVE RETREATS.

WE CLEARLY WANT TO GET TO THE 50TH.

WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR YEARS NOW.

AND THEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

THE FOCUS ON YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY AND RUNNING AND GETTING THOSE KIDS ACTIVE AND CONSCIOUS OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

AND THAT IS THROUGH THE YOUNG ATHLETES FOUNDATION, ANOTHER INTERNAL CHARITY THAT WE HAVE.

WE DID FREE RACES FOR ALL OF THOSE KIDS.

AWAY FROM GRANDMA’S MARATHON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I THINK THAT IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME.

KEN: THOSE KIDS ARE TOMORROW’S MARATHONERS.

CARL, 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION OVER THE NEXT SIX DECADES?

>> WELL, WE ARE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE RIGHT NOW.

THE PANDEMIC WAS TOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE REBOUNDED NICELY.

WE ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK OUT ON THE ROAD.

AND SHOW THE WHOLE STATE WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

WE ARE THE LARGEST BALLET COMPANY LEFT IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE ARE DOING HIGH QUALITY WORKS, LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THAT.

KEN: A CHANCE TO PLUG YOUR NEXT EVENT.

>> THE SHOWCASE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

MAY 15-17.

AT THE DEPOT THEATER.

KEN: VERY GOOD FOR THE NEXT BIG EVENT FOR GRANDMA’S MARATHON PRIOR TO THE RACE, IS THERE SOMETHING COMING UP?

>> PRIOR TO THE RACE WE HAVE THE MUSEUM OPENING AND WE ARE DOING OUR HALL OF FAME AWARDS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE SOME VERY LONG TIME STAFF MEMBERS 85 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THE GRANDMA’S MARATHON HALL OF FAME.

IT IS A BIG DEAL AND WE WILL DO THAT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OUR OTHER AWARDS, AND THESE EVENTS ARE IN MAY.

BEFORE THE MARATHON AND THEN OF COURSE THE MUSEUM WILL BE OPEN THROUGH THE MARATHON IN THE ART SHOW STARTS BEFORE THAT.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF MEDIA RELEASE TYPE STUFF BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, FOR SURE.

KEN: PAY ATTENTION TO UPCOMING EVENTS FOR GRANDMA’S MARATHON AND UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE MINNESOTA BALLET.

SHANE BAUER, SCOTT KEENAN, CARL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SCOTT KEENAN IS THE FOUNDER AND FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

AND SHANE BAUER IS THE CURRENT GRANDMAS E.D.

CARL RUNS THE MINNESOTA BALLET.

THERE IS A CONNECTION.

SHANE’S WIFE IS A DANCE INSTRUCTOR.

WORKING WITH YOUNG DANCE ENTHUSIASTS AROUND THE AREA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

BEFORE OUR LAST ANNIVERSARY, HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.

THE DULUTH AIRPORT AUTHORITY WILL HOST AN OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 29 TO SHARE UPDATES ON A NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER INCLUDING THE PROJECT DETAILS AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS.

LAKE SIDE EARLY LEARNING WILL CLOSE PERMANENTLY IN JUNE.

CITING FINANCIAL PRESSURES, STAFFING SHORTAGES AND RECENT BUILDING DAMAGE ALONG WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR LIABILITY INSURANCE.

MEANWHILE WALTER SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES IS CLOSING TWO IRON RANGE OPERATIONS, AND CHISHOLM AND IN TRIUMPH AFFECTING 77 EMPLOYEES.

MINNESOTA BREWERIES ARE GETTING GLOBAL RECOGNITION.

FOUR WON MEDALS AT THE 2026 WORLD BEER CUP, INCLUDING DULUTH CANAL PARK.

NEXT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT A RETAIL BUSINESS CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE.

>> THIS STORY STARTS IN 1931 WHEN A 31-YEAR-OLD DULUTH ENTREPRENEUR STARTED A WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE NOT FAR FROM WHERE WE ARE IN SUPERIOR STREET.

JUST DOWN THE BLOCK, AT 230 WEST SUPERIOR STREET.

NOW 95 YEARS LATER, IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS WITH OVER 827 STORES IN THE U.S.

AND CANADA.

AND 95 YEARS IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SURVIVING BUSINESSES.

THIS WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS."

SUE IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER FOR MAURICE’S.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND 95 YEARS AGO WHEN HE HAD THAT LITTLE STORE DOWN THE BLOCK?

>> WE THINK ABOUT IT A LOT.

HERE IS AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO STARTS A BUSINESS IN THE DEPRESSION, WOMEN’S APPAREL CLOTHING STORE.

HIS THE LEGEND SAYS THAT HIS CLAIM TO FAME IS HE WANTED TO BE THE VERY FIRST STORE IN DULUTH TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

SO, TO MAKE THAT KIND OF BOLD INVESTMENT IN THE HEART OF THE DEPRESSION I THINK WAS PRETTY GRAND.

I WOULD IMAGINE WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND IS HOW DO I MAKE THIS WORK?

KEN: OF COURSE HIS SON JOEL TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS AND STAYED IN THE FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS.

>> JOEL REALLY SCALE THE BUSINESS.

REALLY STARTED TO EXPAND THE BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF DULUTH.

FIRST IN VIRGINIA, AND THEN THROUGH SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, IOWA, THE MIDWEST AND IT KEPT EXPANDING AND EXPANDING.

KEN: HE WAS THE ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEUR.

JUST LIKE HIS FATHER, AND HE LEFT THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN DULUTH.

HE GAVE BACK.

>> HE DID.

WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.

I AM ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE BUSINESS SCHOOL.

FOR UMD.

BUT JOEL WAS CONNECTED TO THE BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.

AFTER THE FAMILY SOLD THE BUSINESS.

HE REMAINED A MENTOR TO MYSELF, TO GEORGE GOLDFARB.

HIS DAUGHTER AND HIS SON HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS.

SO WE CONSIDER THEM LIKE OWNERS OF THE BUSINESS.

ANNE LEIBOWITZ IS JOEL’S DAUGHTER.

GREAT ARTIST AND WE COMMISSIONED HER TO DO THIS BEAUTIFUL PAINTING CALLED THE SPIRIT OF MAURICE’S.

SHE PAINTS ON MULTIPLE MEDIAN.

WHAT DOES MAURICE’S MEAN?

AND UNDERNEATH ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL LAYERS CAPTURE THEIR THOUGHTS.

IT BECAME A VERY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

KEN: THERE WAS ONCE A MEN STORE BUT IN 95 YEARS, IT TAKES SOMETHING TO KEEP REINVENTING YOURSELF OVER THAT TIME.

BUT NOT LOSE YOUR FOUNDATION.

>> THE FOUNDATION AND, THIS WAS REALLY MAURICE’S VISION WAS ALL ABOUT -- ALWAYS ABOUT SERVICE FIRST.

AND THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

IF YOU GO INTO ANY OF OUR STORES, THE STORE LEADERS ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE ON THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THEY KNOW THEIR CUSTOMERS BY NAME.

IN FACT, IN OUR FITTING ROOMS, IF YOU GO INTO TRY ON CLOTHING, THEY WRITE THE CUSTOMER’S NAME ON THE DOOR SO THEY CAN GIVE THAT REALLY EXTRA SERVICE.

THAT HAS ALWAYS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

WE HAVE ALWAYS GONE INTO SMALL MARKETS AND THAT HAS REALLY BEEN OUR SECRET SAUCE, PART OF OUR DNA.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE OLD ADS.

THERE WAS A HAIR SALON, A BRIDAL STORE.

KEN: THIS IS -- SHE WAS A GREAT ARTIST.

DID A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH.

THIS WAS HER STYLE.

THESE THINGS ARE COLLECTORS ITEMS.

THAT SMALL TIME APPEAL AND THE SMALL TOWN APPROACH BUT ALSO YOUR MOTTO IS PEOPLE FIRST.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WE HAVE A PEOPLE FIRST CULTURE.

SO WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT A BIG PART OF OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS PEOPLE.

AND CULTURE.

AND I LEAD H.R.

MY MOTTO IS OUR JOB IS TO FIND AND KEEP REALLY GREAT PEOPLE.

HOW DO WE PUT THE SYSTEMS AROUND THAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT?

WE DO A LOT OF PROMOTION FROM WITHIN.

A LOT OF FOLKS INCLUDING MYSELF, INCLUDING GEORGE, INCLUDING THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP HAVE GROWN UP WITHIN THE COMPANY.

AND HAVE HELD MANY DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

KEN: SUE ROSS IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AT MAURICE’S.

95 YEARS.

VERY FEW BUSINESSES REACH THAT MILESTONE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT TOOK TO GET HERE?

>> A LOT OF REALLY INTENSE WATCHING OF THE CUSTOMER.

WE WATCH THE CUSTOMER ALL THE TIME, WE LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER.

WE LOOK AT TRENDS.

MAURICE’S MEN.

MEN DID NOT SHOP AS WOMEN.

OUR MEN’S SHOP WAS REPLACED BY A PLUS CUSTOMER.

WE USED THAT PIECE OF THE STORE THAT HAD MEN’S TO ALLOW FOR A PLUS CUSTOMER BECAUSE WE SAW THAT GROWING.

BUT THAT WAS DONE BY WATCHING THE CUSTOMER.

THINKING ABOUT HER NEEDS.

AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE THE CUSTOMER.

KEN: HOW IMPORTANT IS BEING IN DULUTH PART OF IT?

YOU COULD’VE GONE ANYWHERE.

BUT YOU STAYED IN DULUTH.

>> WE WERE SAYING HERE, MAURICE’S WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DULUTH AND WILL STAY HERE AND WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT HELPS US BECAUSE OUR STORES ARE IN TOWNS LIKE DULUTH.

IT HELPS US REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE MARKETS ARE LIKE.

AND WE LOVE BEING IN DULUTH.

KEN: CONGRATULATIONS TO KEEP MAURICE’S ORIGINAL CONCEPT ALIVE AND GROWING FOR 95 YEARS.

SUE ROSS HAS BEEN OUR GUEST.

SHE IS THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN DULUTH AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF MAURICE’S.

AND YOU ARE WATCHING "IN BUSINESS."

THANKS FOR WATCHING "IN BUSINESS."

IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS THESE CONVERSATIONS IN BUSINESS, AND HAVE IDEAS FOR A FUTURE EPISODE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

PLEASE SEND YOUR IDEAS TO ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PARTS OF TONIGHT SHOW YOU CAN WATCH IT AT PBS NORTH.ORG OR LISTEN ON MONDAYS ON THE NORTH 103.3.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND UNTIL NEXT TIME, LET’S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

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