Business Beat: May 22nd, 2008

In the past few weeks, we've told you about Hess Corporation, E-telecare, and Borgo...companies t...  More »

In the past few weeks, we've told you about Hess Corporation, E-telecare, and Borgo...companies that are growing and hiring more employees in Minot. Here's another big one. Sykes Enterprises is a customer service center in north Minot that employees 200 people. Site Manager Rick Edward says business at all their centers across the country is strong. The Minot center is getting two new contracts, which means they have begun hiring workers, and will keep adding more. Rick Edward, Site Manager in a few months, certainly by next year we will have 4 or 500 workers Edward realizes its a competitive economy, but they train workers, provide advancement opportunities, and offer various shifts. Sykes has been in Minot since 1996, Edward say business dropped off a few years ago, but they held on and times have really changed. To apply for a job, stop by during business hours or go to sykes.com Sometime later this summer, a new restaurant will open at 112 South Main in downtown Minot, the old Carols building. It will be a pizzeria with a little Chicago theme called Alphonsus, which is Al Capone's full first name. The locally owned restaurant will feature wood fired pizza plus sandwiches and salads. Manager Dan Pfau says they are doing a lot of the renovation work themselves. A new store at 933 South Broadway near CompuTech. It's called Hall of Frames, and they will open before the end of the month. Manager Janel Richter has several years of framing experience. Hall of Frames, is a locally owned store that will provide customized framing, plus a selection of prints and various home decor. You can't bowl at North Hill Bowl until July. That's because there's a major renovation project underway. They have shut down for a few weeks because they are putting in a new scoring system, new bumpers, re-doing the lanes, and adding a light show. When you stop by the pharmacy at the Town and Country White Drug, you'll notice some changes. They moved the pharmacy out a few feet, in order to provide convenience for customers, and a better work flow for employees. The manager of Marketplace Foods in Minot has received quite an honor...a national award...store manager of the year. Ralph Towery says the judging involved: store profits, day to day operations and and community involvement. In New Town, construction began this week on a new Cenex General Store. It's being built behind the present store, which will be torn down once the new one is built. Officials say the business is growing, they needed more room. For Business Beat I'm Carla Burbidge.  « Less