Oct. 18–The new(-ish) owners of the Red Roof Inn TownHouse hotel in downtown Grand Forks have launched a remodel of the 39-year-old building.

David Kravitz, who is part of the Winnipeg-based ownership group that bought the hotel in April 2013, said the renovation has already begun and they hope to complete it next year. The hotel also became part of the Red Roof Inn franchise in late September.

The former owner of the hotel filed for bankruptcy in 2010, and the property was foreclosed on, according to Herald archives.

Kravitz said one of the first things they did was to replace the box television sets with flat-screen TVs. They also put high-speed wireless Internet service in the building, which was first constructed in 1975.

The work also involves renovating the rooms from “top to bottom” and remodeling the common areas, including the Muddy Rivers Bar and Grill.

“It’s a full renovation,” Kravitz said.

He said the hotel’s employees have provided good service, but “you have to give the staff tools to work with.”

“You have to improve, you always have to push your business forward,” Kravitz said.

More room for convenience store

A gas station on 32nd Avenue South is expanding its convenience store.

The Cenex gas station operated by Dusterhoft Family Stores recently moved its auto repair operation to the company’s DeMers Avenue location near Interstate 29. That will allow for more room for the station to expand its convenience store.

“They’re almost doubling the size of the C-store, and consequently almost doubling their selection and products,” said Dave Gilbert, spokesman for Dusterhoft Family Stores. That will also mean a seating area for hot lunches.

He said that area attracts a lot of traffic for convenience stores because of nearby apartment developments and single-family homes.

Gilbert said they hope to finish the work in early 2015.

Shopko adds grocery items

Shopko Hometown in East Grand Forks has added some grocery items and is now accepting food stamps.

The Green Bay, Wis.-based retailer announced the expansion in its stores, including the East Grand Forks store, this week. In addition to the snacks, canned goods and frozen foods it already offered, it now sells bread, milk, eggs and specialty foods.

In addition, Shopko has started to accept the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. That’s the federal program to help low-income families buy food.

Shopko is located next to the East Grand Forks Hugo’s grocery store. But Michelle Hansen, a company spokeswoman, said the expanded grocery selection is meant to target the people already coming to Shopko.

“We’re not trying to compete with the grocery stores,” she said.

Send business tips to Hageman at [email protected] or (701) 780-1244.