Biz briefs: Gordman's set for March 24 opening

Gordman's, an Omaha-based off-price department store chain, will open a store in Woodbury on March 24, said Jeff Gordman, president and CEO.

The 50,000-square-foot store in Tamarack Village will have 70 to 80 employees, of which 13 will be full time. It will occupy the space formerly held by Bed Bath & Beyond, which will take over the space that used to be held by Circuit City.

Gordman's, a retailer described as similar to Kohl's and J.C. Penney, is also opening a store in Burnsville this spring. Its only other Minnesota store is in Mankato. But look to see more Gordman's in the Twin Cities in the future.

"Our intention is not to stop with two stores," Gordman said.

Chamber offers $500 scholarshipsThe Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce plans to award four $500 scholarships to 2011 high school graduates from Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park and Newport.

Applications will be accepted between Feb. 21 and April 1. Interested students should mail an application, a one-page essay and their transcript to Education Committee, Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 16, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

For application forms and information, go to www.cottagegrovecham ber.org.

Lori's New York Fashions, a designer-inspired boutique that specializes in unique accessories, opened in Stillwater in mid-September.

"I was just thinking if I was ever to open another one, Stillwater would be the best spot because it's another river town," Turner said.

Turner travels to New York City about every four months to select and purchase items for her three shops. The stores receive new items weekly from New York City.

McDonald's redesign gets council go-aheadA plan to tear down a McDonald's on Weir Drive and Valley Creek Road and rebuild it with a two-lane drive-through got the green light when the Woodbury City Council gave its unanimous approval at its Jan. 26 meeting.

Demolition of the restaurant is expected to begin in late spring or early summer. Construction of the new facility is expected to take about three months, said Woodbury Associate City Planner Eric Searles.

Health education series kicks offJan Hanson of Woodbury's Advanced TherEx Rehab Specialists will talk about holistic, traditional and advanced physical therapy treatments available to those suffering chronic pain in a program called "New Advances in the Treatment of Pain and Stress." Hanson, a licensed physical therapist, will be joined by Julie Tebben, a nurse practitioner from Minnesota Natural Medicine, who will speak about adrenal fatigue. Other local health providers will be on hand to talk about nutrition, sleep and other wellness issues.

The session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Kowalski's Community Room, 8505 Valley Creek Road, is the first a new series of free community health education events that will be held throughout the year. Registration is requested by Friday by calling 651-501-2010.