Link here (regional links break early and break often).
From The Williston Herald.
Menard's was aware of the Williston/Bakken opportunity in 2006.
Menard's is in talks with the developer, Granite Peak, according to the news story.
Three ways to look at this:
1. Menard's had the opportunity early on to get in at a good price; dithered; missed the opportunity. Lots of negatives and it might have been the smart thing to do. The biggest obstacles: trained employees; inability to keep shelves stocked.
2. Get back on track and be up and running as originally reported, albeit a bit delayed. Instead of 2012, perhaps 2013. The risks are now bigger to move quickly. Everything is more expensive, and with the surge in home-building the ability to keep shelves stocked, almost impossible. Independent contractors report inability to get building supplies at the Menard's in Minot as it is. The trained employee issue has only gotten worse since 2006 with so many more businesses (mostly oil service companies) having located in Williston.
3. Wait until the subdivisions are built, and then re-evaluate. Menard's is in the after-market housing surge. I don't think Menard's has anything to lose by waiting five to ten years. If Willistonites are willing to drive to Minot for building supplies, now, they won't mind driving to the Epping turnoff north of Williston where land will be less expensive than what they got planned now. Meanwhile, Menard's at Minot is handling all the business they can. The real question is whether Menard's should build a second store at Minot.
Lowe's is in Billings, Montana; Rapid City, SD; and, Bismarck, ND. My hunch is that Lowe's is watching this with a lot of interest. It wouldn't surprise me if Granite Peak/Kiewit isn't talking with Lowe's also.
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