Downtown Bicycles - The Heart of Lakeville's Cycling Community

In this episode of the South Metro Scoop Podcast, host Brady sits down with Josh from Downtown Bicycles, the family-owned bike shop in Lakeville.

Josh shares the history of the business, which started in Northfield 16 years ago, and the challenges and decisions that led to opening the new location.

They discuss the shop's focus on providing exceptional and personable service, their two main bike brands, Trek and Cannondale, and how they manage different bike repairs, including e-bikes.

Josh also highlights upcoming community events and clinics aimed at educating bike owners on maintenance and safety.

The conversation emphasizes the shop's commitment to maintaining a family-oriented, non-corporate feel while serving their local community.

Downtown Bicycles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downtownbicycles/?hl=en

Downtown Bicycles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downtownbicycle/

Their Website: https://www.downtownbicyclesllc.com/

Downtown Bicycles Maintenance Clinic: https://partiful.com/e/7mNeD7fpR9dcQ39FaBMd

Join host Brady for the inaugural business owner interview on the South Metro Scoop Podcast, featuring Rob Satrom, founder of Feedbackwrench—a web design and marketing agency based in Lakeville, Minnesota.

In this candid hour-long conversation, Rob shares his journey from serving tables at Perkins and selling computers at Best Buy to building a successful marketing agency that helps small businesses clarify their messaging and maximize sales. With over a decade of entrepreneurship experience, Rob discusses:

• The critical importance of front-end sales activity and prospecting for business growth
• Why customer service and employee training make or break small businesses
• The power of video content and digital marketing in 2025
• How to help businesses identify and solve their customers' real problems
• Starting and scaling professional services firms, especially accounting practices
• The challenges of entrepreneurship: managing work-life balance, avoiding burnout, and prioritizing family

Rob doesn't hold back on the realities of business ownership—from the temptation to let work consume your life to the importance of pumping the brakes with clients to truly understand their needs. He also shares practical advice on building a sustainable marketing flywheel through websites, social media, networking, and consistent prospecting.

Whether you're a South Metro business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or just curious about what it takes to build a local business, this episode offers honest insights and actionable strategies.

Feedbackwrench website: feedbackwrench.com

Feedbackwrench YouTube: youtube.com/@feedbackwrench/videos

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:32 Rob's Background and Journey

02:50 Feedbackwrench: Services and Approach

07:19 Sales and Prospecting Insights

11:38 Customer Service and Experience

19:28 Clarifying Customer Needs

26:49 Starting a Business: Key Advice

31:11 Outsourced Accounting Model Explained

32:12 Challenges in Marketing to Accountants

36:01 Effective Marketing Strategies for Accountants

40:46 Balancing Business and Personal Life

44:51 The Importance of Prioritization

47:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections

55:54 Where to Find More Information

In this episode of South Metro Scoop, Brady highlights new businesses that have recently opened in the South Metro area, covering cities like Apple Valley, Lakeville, Farmington, Rosemount, and Hastings. Key additions include diverse dining options like Tono Pizzeria and Cheese Steaks and Spice Village in Apple Valley, unique health and wellness facilities in Lakeville, and innovative retail concepts in Rosemount. The episode also touches on how these new businesses focus on quality food experiences, healthcare accessibility, fitness and wellness expansion, and community building, contributing significantly to the improvement of life in these communities.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:09 Apple Valley's Culinary Renaissance
03:36 Lakeville's Growth in Healthcare and Hospitality
05:23 Farmington's Entertainment and Dining Boom
06:31 Rosemount's Unique Developments
08:43 Hastings' Community-Centered Businesses
10:13 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Understanding District 196 Technology Levy: What It Means for Our Community

In this episode of the South Metro Scoop Podcast, we dive into the District 196 tax levy vote scheduled for November 4th. This levy, originally approved in 2015, is set to expire, risking the loss of $9.1 million in annual tech funding for local schools. The district proposes increasing the tax rate to cover rising technology costs, impacting devices, internet reliability, tech support, and computer science programs. The host breaks down the financial implications for homeowners and the importance of continued tech funding for modern education. Early voting details and how to vote on election day are also covered. Tune in to understand why this levy is crucial for maintaining and expanding educational technology in the district.

https://www.district196.org/about/techlevy2025

00:00 Introduction to the South Metro Scoop Podcast
00:03 Understanding the District 196 Technology Levy
01:23 Financial Impact on Homeowners
02:09 Importance of Technology in Education
02:48 Consequences of Not Passing the Levy
03:48 Voting Information and Options
04:25 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
04:57 Recap and How to Support the Podcast

Valley Station Apartments: Planning Commission Update

The September 3rd Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting focused on the proposed Valley Station Apartments, a 144-unit development near the transit station on Gaslight Drive. Revisions made by Real Estate Equities include reducing unit count, increasing parking spaces, and lowering building height. Significant zoning changes are needed, but the development aligns with the city's 2040 high-density plan. The commission approved the project, which offers various community and unit amenities, though concerns about density and zoning changes persist. The project now advances to the next approval phase.

0:00 Introduction to Valley Station Apartments
0:19 Developer's Revised Plans and Changes
0:46 Zoning Amendments and Requirements
1:24 Traffic and Parking Analysis
1:53 Community Concerns and Developer's Response
2:14 Target Demographics and Income Requirements
2:33 On-Site Management and Amenities
3:19 Density Comparison and Approval
3:52 Next Steps and Upcoming Meetings

Fall Festivities and Local News Roundup in South Metro

In this episode of the South Metro Scoop Podcast, host Brady Greenbush covers a range of topics including a controversial new apartment project in Apple Valley, the bustling fall festival season, and exciting trivia events for both NFL and Gilmore Girls fans. Brady also highlights family-friendly apple orchard outings, various community events from September 15th-17th, and a luxurious lakefront property for sale in Bloomington. Listeners are encouraged to share local news and events to be featured in future episodes.

00:00 Welcome to the South Metro Scoop
00:29 Fall Festivities and Apple Orchards
00:55 Controversial Valley Station Apartments
01:28 Upcoming Community Events
01:52 Trivia Nights and Creative Outings
02:40 Midweek Fun and Featured Home
03:39 Connecting the Community
03:55 Closing Remarks

Welcome to the South Metro Scoop: Introductory Episode

In the inaugural episode of the South Metro Scoop podcast, host Brady Greenbush introduces himself and the origins of the South Metro Scoop, which began as a local email newsletter for Lakeville and Hastings.

Now expanded to cover the entire South Metro area, the podcast aims to bring local news, events, and stories directly to residents.

Brady discusses his background in digital marketing, the podcast's relaxed and conversational format, upcoming interviews with local business owners, and encourages listener engagement through email and social media.

Subscribe to the email newsletter and follow on various platforms to stay updated.

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/southmetroscoop/

00:00 Introduction to South Metro Scoop
00:21 Origins of the South Metro Scoop
00:53 Expanding the Newsletter
01:40 About the Host: Brady Greenbush
02:59 Podcast Format and Community Engagement
03:36 Upcoming Episodes and Closing Remarks