A new standard of living

Undoubtedly when you search for a new home preferences have to be prioritized. Some choose location over space, while others pick a spacious layout over a charming neighborhood. The relatively new, community-focused Epic Management refuses to make their residents choose. Instead, this property management team creates lifestyle-focused buildings to empower communities.

"With any of our buildings we are focused on increasing the community’s shared quality of life," says McKenzy Olson, marketing and public relations director at Epic Management and FiveStone Development.

Olson explains their innovative approach to craft these new, one-of-a kind spaces stems from building vertical instead of horizontal to maximize the space in an area. FiveStone Development was created through a partnership between longtime friends and business associates. It works with municipalities to renovate downtown areas breathing new life into communities. The property management arm of the company – Epic Management– creates comfortable, affordable yet luxurious homes in Five Stone’s signature mixeduse projects.

“Our buildings are lifestyle-focused first, so we really think about the type of things our residents will need when designing an apartment building,” she says. “The mixed-use buildings allow us to partner with other businesses so we can provide necessary services to our residents.”

Buildings like Sheyenne Plaza blend residential, commercial and cultural services to create a richer and more convenient way of life. Based on their past success of both McKinley Plaza (Detroit Lakes) and Boulevard Square (West Fargo), Sheyenne Plaza was created as a private-public partnership between the City of West Fargo and Sheyenne Plaza, LLC. The main goal was to revitalize the 400 block of Sheyenne Street and downtown West Fargo. The architect, EAPC, and the construction company, Gehrtz Construction Services, also provide expertise and guidance as the project progresses. The result: building and designing the unique, $12 million, 94,000-square-foot Sheyenne Plaza complex.

Convenient, urban lifestyle

“This partnership with the city will create a new standard in the area,” Olson says. “Sheyenne Plaza has become a catalyst project in downtown West Fargo, designing a new way to live.”

With few of these multi-use buildings in the area, both longtime locals and newcomers are seizing the opportunity to choose this new affordable and comfortable lifestyle.

“We do try to make our apartments feel more like home – whether that’s in the materials that we use to create the apartments, the leasing options we provide or the additional amenities added to satisfy the diverse lifestyles of our residents,” Olson says.

Work and play

Residents who live in the new building at 444 Sheyenne Street will have a hard time choosing between a relaxing night in or a fun get-together with friends. A prominent community organization –the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)–will be headquartered on the first floor of Sheyenne Plaza, creating a popular meeting place.

“With this building you really do live, work and play in the same area,” Olson says.

Sheyenne Plaza features well-thoughtout open floor plans. New residents can choose from 1 to 3 bedrooms ranging from 900 to 1,600 square feet. The 2 and 3 bedroom apartments each feature two stories giving it a more condo-like feel than apartment. Monthly rent also ranges in price from $900 to $1,600.

With high-end features as standard offerings, all kitchens in the new building have quartz countertops and movable butcher block islands. Polished concrete floors throughout the entire apartments finish off the look and create a clean and modern feel. All apartments also include underground parking, washer and dryer in unit and central air conditioning.

Oasis of comfort

The lowest level of Sheyenne Plaza is home to an underground parking garage that will support tenant vehicles and as an added bonus tenants can use the car wash station. Additional peace of mind comes from extensive security features at all entrances.

“At Sheyenne, the concept of ‘home’ is more than just four walls,” Olson says. “It turns into the people and places around you.”

Epic Management is excited to show their dedication to developing and creating a comfortable and upscale lifestyle for the West Fargo Community.

“A home isn’t just where someone sees themself for a week, a month, or even a year. It’s where someone sees themself for a lifetime,” Olson says.

Sheyenne Plaza is set to open December 1. Epic Management is already entering into Phase II of revitalizing downtown West Fargo. A similar concept to Sheyenne, Pioneer Place will be lifestyle-focused with mixed-use living above retail and commercial spaces.

Although there are still apartments available, only one commercial space remains in Sheyenne Plaza. Residents of Sheyenne Plaza will live next door to Ohnstad Twichell, Moore Engineering, and the aforementioned VFW. See all of Sheyenne Plaza’s features and different floorplans at sheyenneplazafargo.com or call 701-866-1006 to schedule a walkthrough.

The Candy Clubhouse, one of The Empire’s newest stores, opened July 1. Business has been very good, said Cathie Jaton, coowner. “The mall is just a great place to have a business with all its traffic and vibrancy,” Jaton said. “We’re just so excited and thrilled with the reception we’ve gotten.”

The Empire does not release annual visitor estimates, either, but it claims be the busiest tourist attraction in the Mount Rushmore State.

“We certainly know it’s one of the top tourism attractions in South Dakota, if not the top,” said Teri Schmidt, executive director of the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We know that visitors from all over the region shop at The Empire Mall as their shopping place, and during the summer months the draw broadens to visitors from across the United States. Occasionally, even international visitors will stop at the mall.”

More than 3,000 people are employed by businesses in the mall, and there are more than 6,000 parking spaces. A $12 million renovation was completed in 2013.

The Empire is owned and operated by the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, which promotes itself as the largest real estate investment trust in the world. Its portfolio includes more than 100 malls and other retail centers, mostly in the United States. The Empire is the only Simon shopping center in the Dakotas, but there are four in Minnesota: in Albertville, Duluth, Edina and Eagan.

Locally, The Empire faces competition for shoppers from developments such as the growing Dawley Farm Village shopping center and the emerging Lake Lorraine lifestyle center. But Schaffer said businesses collectively make Sioux Falls a stronger regional draw. “Our competition is stores pulling shoppers out of state,” she said.

Shawn Lyons, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, said the retail industry has never been more competitive. “Online retailers are opening brick and mortar stores, and brick and mortar stores are investing more in customer experience.”

Leaders in the retail industry and mall operators don’t just talk about new stores and fashions any more. They talk a lot about improving “shopping experiences” and the convergence of physical and digital shopping.

To combat competition from online retailers, stores in The Empire increasingly function as fulfillment centers for online buyers. Stores either ship online purchases to customers or serve as pickup centers for people who buy merchandise on the Internet.

Renegade, a branch of a Norfolk, Neb. store, specializes in selling “work, western and weekend” clothing and accessories. It is among The Empire stores that have embraced sales avenues popularized by the Internet. Customers may buy online and have their purchases delivered by UPS or pick up their purchases at stores in Sioux Falls or Norfolk, said C.J. Prewitt, sales manager for Renegade.

Renegade remains primarily a brick-and-mortar business, but it encourages customers to pre-shop online, Newitt said. “We try really, really hard to provide the ultimate customer experience,” she said.

Providing entertainment is another national trend becoming evident at The Empire. Escape 605 is an example. The new business features themed game rooms in which people work together to solve puzzles to escape.

Co-owner Amy Stockberger said the company was approached by mall representatives and encouraged to consider a mall location after the company had opened a location elsewhere in Sioux Falls.

Escape 605 has three escape rooms open for business in the mall, and three more are expected to be open in September.

Escape 605 includes a room for children, but it specializes in special events, such as team-building exercises for adults.

Business “has been amazing,” Stockberger said. She credits the mall setting as well as the unique nature of the business for Escape 605’s early popularity. “It’s out of the box. It’s not a picnic. It’s not a potluck.”

Providing entertainment will help the mall achieve its goal of ensuring that customers have a great time whenever they’re at The Empire, Schaffer said. “We’re always looking for the latest and the best to enhance the shopping experience.”