SUPERIOR HAPPENINGS

What to expect in the ‘next normal’

Our Chamber of Commerce has been serving the business community of Superior, Douglas County and the greater Twin Ports area since we were established in 1883. As we’ve written before, Chamber organizations are often likened to the air traffic controllers of a community.

TAYLOR PEDERSEN Business outlook

We wear many hats, adjusting to the everchanging needs of the communities we serve. We do the work that many people think “just happens” in a community and have the honor of representing the business community and, specifically our membership every day.

Likewise, the Chamber, our Chamber, has also changed over the years. The SuperiorDouglas County Area Chamber of Commerce today represents three individual organizations: The Chamber, Travel Superior and The Chamber Foundation. They focus on business, tourism and education. How we function tomorrow will continue to evolve with the everchanging needs of our community and those who invest in it.

Over a year ago, communities all over the world were shaken with the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., we saw unrest, a lack in trust and rising tensions. Some communities were affected more than others, while the impact on commerce varied greatly depending on industry. The hardesthit industries were the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors.

Our business communities, health systems and schools all especially felt the

OUTLOOK: Page H2

By Shelley Nelson snelson@superiortelegram.com

The city of Superior welcomed a variety of new businesses in the past year.

Here’s a brief rundown:

Central Flats

Construction was completed on the new mixed-use building that stands on the site of the former Central Middle School, offering 136 market-rate apartments and 12,000 square feet of commercial space.

The 175,000-square-foot, five-story structure started welcoming new residential tenants late last year, and its first commercial customer, Imperium Chiropractic, is planning to open this summer.

Purr-fectly Superior

A mobile grooming business launched last June. Owner Amy Laessig provides one-on-one grooming services at her clients’ homes, where older or more nervous pets are likely to remain more calm.

Laessig carries supplies like a folding table, industrial dryer, shampoo, clippers, scissors and nail clippers in a few bags to groom dogs, cats and rabbits. Visit the Purr-fectly Superior Grooming Facebook page, call 218-576-2796 or email amy@ purr-fectlysuperiorgrooming. com for more information.

Toppers Pizza

A Superior branch of Toppers Pizza, 1231 N. Ninth St., Duluth, opened at 1214 Tower Ave., in October.

While the pandemic interrupted plans to open the new location