12 More Ideas For Sioux Falls' Empty Gordmans Building

Get our free mobile app

12 More Ideas For Sioux Falls' Empty Gordmans Building

Recently we published a list of ideas for the empty Godmans building near the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls. The discount clothing store closed in September of 2020.

That list was full of the usual things that Sioux Falls asks for. Businesses like Trader Joe's, a legal recreational dispensary, or a Cheesecake Factory.

But you all had lots of other ideas too. So we dug through the responses and comments and found 12 more ideas for the Gordmans building.

12 Businesses That Would Do Great in Sioux Falls' Abandoned Gordmans Building

For thirty years the people of Sioux Falls saw the sign for Gordmans off-price department store across the parking lot from the Empire Mall.

In September of 2020, the store closed for its final time. Since then the building has sat empty, something that doesn't happen too often in Sioux Falls.

We were wondering what people in Sioux Falls would like to see take over the space. Some folks wanted their Gordmans back. It was a great place to find deals on clothing. But, all the Gordmans are gone, so that's a no-go.

And since we've gotten our Chick Fil A and Chipotle, the city is primed for another thing to line up for.

Food Network Shows That Have Been To South Dakota

Living here in the upper midwest we are don't end up on national TV shows very often. That's probably a good thing in the long run.

But it is pretty cool when something from South Dakota is on TV. Three shows from the Food Network family of shows have showcased South Dakota restaurants.

You may remember when Guy Fieri and Diners Drive-ins and Dives was in Sioux Falls in June of 2020 to visit some of our city's unique establishments.

A few years ago the Travel Channel Show Food Paradise visited Deadwood.

If you remember the 'golden age' of Foot Network, back when Rachel Ray was the queen of the channel, she took her show $40 a Day to Rapid City in 2005.

Recently we published a list of ideas for the empty Godmans building near the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls. The discount clothing store closed in September of 2020.

That list was full of the usual things that Sioux Falls asks for. Businesses like Trader Joe's, a legal recreational dispensary, or a Cheesecake Factory.

But you all had lots of other ideas too. So we dug through the responses and comments and found 12 more ideas for the Gordmans building.

A Museum or Gallery

Most of the suggestions were for various restaurants or stores. But several people suggested using the building for a museum or as a gallery. How about something like the Cup Noodles Museum in Japan?

A Buffett Restaurant

Golden Corral was on the last list, but it looks like folks in Sioux Falls really, really, really want a buffet restaurant like it or Bonzana or the former Royal Fork.

Indoor Go-Karts

Quite a number of people would like to keep riding go-karts even when the ground is covered with snow.

A Giant Daycare

Not a daycare for giants. A giant daycare for regular-sized kids. And the kids of giants, no need to be rude.

Dillard's

Wasn't the clothing store Dillard's supposed to be coming to Sioux Falls? Oh, that's right, that announcement came before the pandemic. And that means everything is up in the air right now. But t would be a good location for a Dillard's or a Yonkers.

Shopko

Quite a few people wanted Shopko to return to the Sioux Empire. All of Shopko's department stores closed in 2019. But apparently, people miss it.

Parking Garage

There's a contingent of folks that wouldn't mind a nice, big, multi-level parking garage right next to the mall.

Nightclub

This is a great idea. Especially if the nightclub is like the one in the Wayne's World movie. It was called the Gasworks. There were two levels, several bars, a stage where Wayne first saw the band Crucial Taunt play, and they had a pool table too!

Year-Round Halloween Store

The building has hosted seasonal Halloween shops. But wouldn't it be great if we had a local place to get all our Nightmare Before Christmas home decor any month of the year?

In and Out Burger

In and Out, Whataburger, Wahlburgers, and a whole list of regional burger chains got lots of votes.

Runza

Speaking of regional chains, Sioux Falls has suffered long enough without a Runza restaurant. If you don't know, Runza is an awesome regional fast-food chain from the south.

In this case, 'the south' means Nebraska. What makes them really special is their namesake food the runza, a cabbage burger type thing that hooks you with one taste.

Gordmans Store

Like with Shopko, some people really want Gordmans to come back. But that's probably not gonna happen.

Here is an idea though. We bring in all the best theoretical-physics people and other scientists and turn the building into a temporal wormhole that will take a person anywhere in time!

Then people could shop at the old Gordmans. And I can collect all the Space Jam plushies that McDonald's sold in 1996. Oh, and all the Batman the Animated Seris Happy Meal figures from 1993.

Source: 12 More Ideas For Sioux Falls’ Empty Gordmans Building

Filed Under: Gordmans, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls News

Categories: Articles, In Case You Missed It