Bizbeat: South St. Paul restaurant wins makeover prize

The Coop Restaurant in South St. Paul was recently announced as the winner of the River Heights Chamber of Commerce's first Small Business Makeover Contest.

The family-owned restaurant will receive more than $22,000 in goods and services donated by area firms. The business was one of nine local firms that entered the contest and was chosen based on an online poll conducted in November.

Owner Karen Hanson said the restaurant will use the prize to improve its website, work on a marketing strategy to increase its catering business, print new menu boards and make some cosmetic repairs.

The chamber conducted the contest in partnership with Pawn America Minnesota, Payday America, Xcel Energy and Dakota Electric Association. The prize package was sponsored by Allrounder Remodeling, Endorse Communications LLC, Ensemble Creative & Marketing LLC, FASTSIGNS of Inver Grove Heights, Jon Erickson, Mahoney, Ulbrich, Christiansen & Russ PA, Protouch Painting, Inc., Staples Financial Inc., Tabor Communications Consulting and Ultimate Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning.

Fan Man Lighting recently relocated from Burnsville to Apple Valley. The new store is in front of the new Apple Valley Transit Center next to Midas Muffler.

Fan Man offers residential and commercial lighting and fans. Its showroom has more than 60 ceiling fans, hundreds of lights and more than 80 styles of water fountains. The business also includes a repair service.

The retailer was started in 1981 and at one time had seven stores in the Twin Cities area. The relocated store is now its only outlet.

Kalambokidis will address on the economic realities for business growth in 2014: Will exporting increase? How many jobs will be created and in what industries? What other issues will businesses face as they work to expand?

Kalambokidis was named state economist in July 2013, with duties that include for developing twice-yearly revenue and economic forecasts and quarterly revenue updates. She is also a professor of applied economics and an extension economist at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches public finance and does research on federal and state tax policy issues.

Tickets for the event and breakfast are $25. To register, call Jessy Annoni at 651-288-9202 or e-mail jannoni@dcrchamber.com.