One Twin Cities firm that is investing big time in the North Dakota oil boom is Oppidan Investment Co.

On Tuesday, the property development firm said it was opening an office in Watford City, N.D., so it has a "more-consistent presence in the Bakken region."

Joe Ryan, president of Oppidan, said in a statement the firm has invested more than $150 million to develop a wide range of retail and residential properties in the oil-rich area.

The company chose Watford City because it is centrally located, and because it's the most rapidly growing city in the region.

The new office will be located in the Watford Plaza shopping center, which Oppidan is developing. While still under construction, other tenants are Cash Wise Foods, Alco, Happy Rice Buffet and Red Wing Shoes (which probably sells a lot of steel-toed boots out there).

Your blogger has never been to Watford City, but according to its website its motto is "the good life awaits."

Oppidan has done a number of retail projects in Minnesota since its founding in 1991, including five Goodwill stores, eight Cub Foods/SuperValu store, four Coburns and Rainbow stores, respectively, and seven Gander Mountain stores.

Janet Moore covers commercial real estate for the Star Tribune.