Go Local: The Human Side of Sioux Falls Businesses
Behind every local storefront in Sioux Falls is a story of hard work, creativity and connection — and behind every purchase, a person, a story and a community worth supporting.
When Sioux Falls residents choose to shop local, they’re not just buying a product; they’re investing in relationships. Their choices help neighbors hire staff, give students their first jobs and allow families to carry on traditions. Shopping locally strengthens both the city’s economy and its shared sense of belonging, keeping Sioux Falls vibrant and resilient.
Across the community, business owners are finding ways to make those connections last. A bagel baked before sunrise, carefully curated local produce, a cup of coffee shared with friends, a handcrafted mead poured with pride or a piece of pottery painted with family — each one carries something deeper: trust, gratitude and joy.
Meet a few of the people behind Sioux Falls’ most beloved businesses and discover how their work continues to shape the city we call home.
Baked from Scratch, Built by Locals
For more than three decades, Bagel Boy has been part of Sioux Falls’ morning routine — the kind of place where the bagels are fresh, the greetings are familiar and regulars have become family.
Managers Kevin Hauger, Michal Hartmann and Cassy Bailey shared their thoughts on what local support means to the business and the community.
“Local support means everything to us,” they said. “Local people are who made Bagel Boy what it is today.”
That support runs both ways. The team has celebrated births and weddings with their customers and mourned losses, too. Many of the employees have been with Bagel Boy for more than 15 years. “We not only know our customers, but their families,” the managers said. “We have watched their kids grow up, and they know a lot about our families as well.”
One longtime customer, Jim, has been stopping in every day for years and now lends a hand on Sundays. “He stands guard with his Bagel Boy shirt on, ready to wipe tables,” they said. “He knows how busy we are and loves being able to help out.”
Open since 1994 and owned by Mike and Brenda Dinsmore since 2000, Bagel Boy employs about 40 people. Every morning begins before dawn, with dozens of hands shaping, baking and brewing to get Sioux Falls ready for the day.
Bagel Boy’s story is one of lasting relationships built through consistency and care. That sense of community is what keeps the doors open and the ovens warm.
The management team shared a message for their Sioux Falls customers: “Thank you,” they said. “We truly love and appreciate you all. Without you, we would not be a successful part of this community.”
Nourishing Sioux Falls from the Ground Up
When you walk through the doors of Pomegranate Market, you’re stepping into more than a grocery store — you’re entering a community hub built around local food, wellness and connection.
“There’s something powerful about supporting a local food ecosystem,” said Jonah Snyder, president of Pomegranate Market. “Every time someone chooses to shop locally, they’re helping sustain farmers, bakers and producers right here in our community.”
Since opening in 2010, Pomegranate Market has grown into a cornerstone for natural foods and local sourcing in Sioux Falls. The market proudly features eggs, dairy, produce, meats and baked goods from local producers. “Supporting our local food supply chain isn’t just a priority — it’s at the heart of what we do,” Snyder said.
That commitment has built deep loyalty among customers who choose to shop at Pomegranate Market. “Our customers return because they feel that sense of community, quality and care that can’t be packaged and shipped,” Snyder said.
Shoppers can look for green “Shop Local” tags throughout the store, highlighting locally made products. “Choosing those items makes a direct difference in keeping local producers thriving.”
Behind it all is a team of nearly 40 employees — soon to double with a new downtown location opening later this year. “The heart of Pomegranate is our team,” Snyder said. “They’re the reason our customers feel at home when they walk through the doors.”
For Snyder, Sioux Falls’ strength lies in its spirit of collaboration. “We’re fortunate to have a strong economy, a collaborative business community and people who genuinely care about helping one another succeed,” he said. “Organizations like the Chamber of Commerce play an essential role in that ecosystem by connecting businesses, fostering collaboration and strengthening that culture of entrepreneurship that makes Sioux Falls so special.”
Fueling Sioux Falls’ Active Spirit
At first glance, Scheels might look like a regional retail powerhouse — a sprawling store filled with everything from bikes and treadmills to fishing gear and fashion. But to the hundreds of local associates who work there, it’s also a family.
The Sioux Falls location first opened in 1977, under the leadership of Steve D. Scheel, the fourth generation in the Scheel family. That personal tie to the company’s roots has shaped the store’s culture ever since. “It still feels like a family no matter which store you are in,” said Josiah Christoffer, assistant store leader.
Scheels employs about 600 people, most of them part-time, and Christoffer says many are local students or community members building careers. “Local support for us also means great quality associates,” he said. “We hire our community, and we are successful because of those people.”
Christoffer sees shop local as a shared movement — one that depends on collaboration, not competition. “Large retailers can bring a lot of traffic into Sioux Falls that, in turn, benefits everyone else around them,” he said. “Retail is a large ecosystem, and we all have something to gain from each other’s success.”
That spirit of connectedness, he added, extends across Sioux Falls businesses of every size. “Our community steps up when there’s a need, and much of that connection is established through the Chamber and their dedication to showcasing opportunities to be involved,” he said.
And while the store’s scale is impressive, Christoffer said the smallest gestures often mean the most. “Handing a kid a free ice cream cone or a few ferris wheel tokens and seeing the unsolicited joy in their eyes never gets old,” he said.
Meaningful Moments, One Cup at a Time
For Coffea Roasterie, great coffee is just the beginning. Since opening in 2009, the Sioux Falls-based roaster has built a reputation for excellence — but also for heart.
“Simply put, we wouldn’t exist without local support,” said Esther Shore, COO. “We have so many incredible regulars who have been coming to our shop for years, or even over a decade. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to invest in the incredible people we employ, we wouldn’t be able to support coffee farmers across the world and we wouldn’t be able to partner with other local businesses.”
Coffea now operates three cafés in Sioux Falls, along with catering, wholesale and online sales. In the past year alone, the team has sourced 33 unique coffees from 23 producers across 14 countries. “The coffees we source are among the best in the world,” Shore said. “But perhaps more powerfully, our cafés have become a meaningful third space for a lot of people — a place to gather, connect and learn over a good cup of coffee.”
That sense of connection shapes every interaction. “I personally am delighted by giving people more than they expect,” Shore said. “Every interaction we have is an opportunity to see the dignity in every person and to leave them feeling like they’ve been seen, heard and valued.”
Coffea’s partnerships extend beyond its own doors. Locally sourced honey, milk from a small regional dairy and peanut butter ground fresh by an employee-entrepreneur all find their way into the menu. The company also supplies coffee to community partners across South Dakota and neighboring states.
Shore said shopping local is both an act of trust and a shared investment in the community. “Spending your money at a local business means more of that investment is staying here in our community,” she said. “But I think it also means a level of trust and responsibility that I personally take very seriously.”
Raising a Glass to Local Spirit
When Big Lost Meadery opened its Sioux Falls location in early 2025, it brought something new to the city’s growing craft-beverage scene: handcrafted mead, beer and mead cocktails designed to blend creativity with community.
“We look to provide an enhancement to the wonderful offerings already available in Sioux Falls by showcasing something new, interesting and something you can tell a story about,” said Sam Clikeman, owner of Big Lost Meadery.
Originally founded in Wyoming, Big Lost chose Sioux Falls as its first expansion market after months of research and, ultimately, a leap of faith. “We could have run our business from Wyoming as a quasi-chain,” Clikeman said, “but the local scene, the community engagement and the vibrancy of this community said we really needed to uproot our family and move here to be part of this.”
Inside the taproom, every pour is part of a conversation. Sioux Falls customers serve as Big Lost’s proving ground, offering feedback on new flavors that often influence what the company produces next. The result is a space that feels both experimental and rooted. It’s a reflection of the city itself.
Clikeman believes supporting local business means taking pride in your community and sharing it with others. “We in Sioux Falls are building out an oasis of food and drink that is growing to be unique in the region,” he said. “The community as a whole is working hard to make Sioux Falls a destination for sports, events and business.”
“Brag about what you see!” he added. “The more pride we have in our community, the better she will become.”
That sense of pride, he added, is what keeps local businesses thriving. “There are so many options for places to eat and drink in Sioux Falls, but they choose to come to our business. We are honored to have the ability to serve them when they vote with hard-earned dollars,” Clikeman said. “Every business needs to remember that: your locals make you.”
Color and Connection in the Heart of Sioux Falls
When Karen Masloski bought Color Me Mine in 2015, she wanted the Sioux Falls paint-your-own pottery studio to be more than a place for art — she wanted it to be a place for connection.
“I love seeing people paint a gift for someone,” Masloski said. “It is a one-of-a-kind gift! There is nothing quite like opening a gift and knowing it was made special, just for you.”
That personal touch has made Color Me Mine a favorite for families, friends and creative spirits. “We see groups coming in and painting together,” she said. “They are creating a memory. When they look at their finished item they also have a memory of who was with them and the special time that they had.”
Those experiences often grow into lasting traditions. “I had a family come in to do prints of their new baby,” Masloski said. “This was their fifth child and I’ve done prints on all of them as newborns. Being part of a tradition is very special.”
Masloski said she feels that support every day through returning customers and word-of-mouth recommendations. “I love it when I ask how new customers heard about us and they say, ‘You were recommended by family or friends,’” she said.
Local support also allows her to create opportunities for others. “Supporting my business not only benefits my family, but the staff I am able to hire,” she said.
For Masloski, the best moments come from seeing creativity through her customers’ eyes — especially the youngest ones. “I love interacting with the kids that come in too,” she said. “Kids are great! They see things so differently. Their dogs don’t have to be brown — they can be purple with blue spots. It’s fun to see art through the eyes of a child.”
It’s those small, joyful moments that remind her why she loves what she does. “The laughter I hear in the studio and the memories that I get to watch happen mean so much to me,” she said.
Chamber members interested in sharing what shopping local means to them are invited to email jblom@siouxfalls.com to learn how to get involved.