Farmington hardware store ready to go bigger

Several new ventures are building or moving in Farmington.

Pellecci Ace Hardware is remodeling a larger space in the old Allina Medical Building on Hwy. 3, said city planner Lee Smick. She said the family-run business is moving from its smaller downtown store and hopes to open in the new location by year's end.

Down Hwy. 3 near Hwy. 50, Twin Ponds Townhomes is building 26 more rental units of affordable housing, Smick said. The Dakota County Community Development Agency is adding the moderate-income townhouses to 25 units it built at Twin Ponds in 2009.

Downtown, dentist Lindon Dungy is building Immanuel Dental Clinic on Third Street, between Elm and Oak Streets, Smick said. Dungy, the brother of former National Football League player and coach Tony Dungy, plans to move a few blocks to his new location next year.

Asian restaurant reopens

Little Asia Bowl, formerly known as Asia Inn, which closed its West St. Paul restaurant last summer, reopened this month in Inver Grove Heights.

Manager May Lin said the new space is smaller with four tables, but most orders are takeout.

Spotlight on tech companies

Burnsville and its Chamber of Commerce are hosting a breakfast on Oct. 26 to honor city companies that have a science, technology, healthcare, engineering and math core. Burnsville has more than 1,000 companies with employees in these disciplines.

A sampling of such companies will showcase their products and services at the event, to be held at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.

The featured speaker will be Mike Langley, president of the newly formed Greater MSP, a 13-county economic development partnership. The group's mission is to develop regional strategy and marketing that results in increased job creation.

A complimentary continental breakfast will be served, starting at 7:30 a.m. The event ends at 9 a.m. RSVP to Anne at anne@burnsvillechamber.com.

Valley Tap House will be moving into the old Majors Sports Cafe space on Florence Trail near County Road 42 and Galaxie Avenue in Apple Valley.

The building was bought by the owners of Lyndale Tap House in south Minneapolis, known for their Baltimore-style pit meat (well marinated), steamed beer mussels, homemade hot salty pretzels, and many tap and bottled beers, according to the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.

General manager Tony Ostlund said the new Tap House will open after remodeling is done in mid-November.