Gertens to build more greenhouse space

Gertens Greenhouses plans to grow.

The large greenhouse operation in Inver Grove Heights is planning to add about 300,000 square feet of greenhouse space on the east side of Blaine Avenue, pushing its growing greenhouse space from about eight acres to 14 acres.

An approximately 250,000-square-foot greenhouse facility will be built on the southern part of the lot, and another 50,000 square feet will be added to fill in the gaps between existing greenhouses. The expansion will be completed in phases starting this summer.

"Our business has been expanding for many, many years. It's quite a process to get a building like this built," said co-owner Lewis Gerten.

The development plan is a long-term one that creates a road map for the growth of Gertens for the next decade or more, Gerten said.

The expansion will allow Gertens to improve its automated processes and boost production. Over time, the separate greenhouses essentially will become one building, Gerten said.

The expansion will probably also lead to several seasonal or part-time workers transitioning to full-time jobs.

For this development to go forward, several zoning and planned-unit-development changes, as well as a wetlands replacement plan, had to be approved by the City Council at its meeting last week.

"I feel really good about it," Gerten said after getting those approvals. "I feel really good knowing that we have a very good long-term plan."

This summer, work will begin on the grading and some of the below-ground infrastructure. Some greenhouse construction also may get underway either this summer or next year, Gerten said.

The four-generation business has been in business since the 1920s, when it started as a truck farm.

Haskell's Wine and Spirits in Burnsville

The store opened in late February, in the vacant spot formerly occupied by Talbots.

Haskell's sells an assortment of beers, spirits and wines, some of them exclusive to Haskell's.

For several years Haskell's had considered opening a Dakota County store, said owner Jay Nelson.

"This has been brewing for a long time," Nelson said. "We're very excited to be here."

Right now, the store is preparing for Haskell's annual spring nickel sale, when customers can buy some wines at the regular retail price and get a second wine for a nickel.

One of the things that sets Haskell's apart is that they have certified wine specialists, Nelson said.

"A lot of people are intimidated by trying to pick the right wine because there are so many different selections," Nelson said. "We have specialists in the store to help people make their wine selections."

Massage Envy opens in Apple Valley

Massage Envy has opened on Florence Trail in Apple Valley, adding to the massage therapy clinic's south-of-the-river locations.

The clinic opened in late February in the former Golf Etc. location next door to Verizon Wireless and in front of Sam's Club.