Talking Business - The Hidden Gems of Cloquet

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Carmen's Bar and Restaurant.  Carmen’s Bar & Restaurant, located at 1410 Prospect Avenue West in Cloquet, isn’t your average bar and restaurant.  They are the area’s leading fun, food, and drink source.  Carmen’s is a family business owned by brothers Ryan Lindstrom and Zack Zezulka.  Their mother opened the business in 1995, intending to serve delicious, homemade food.  Over the 25 years, that goal has remained the same.

Carmen’s offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu options.  They have daily lunch and dinner specials.  You can dine at the restaurant or place a to-go order by calling in or placing an online order.  They provide catering where their team can create custom menus for small to large events with many food options.

Under the ownership of Ryan and Zach have added outdoor seating with a large deck.  Their future goal is to expand the facility and add a larger kitchen.  Their staffing is solid, but they could always use more cooks in the kitchen.  You can always inquire onsite with them.

The restaurant is known for its welcoming feel, like hanging out in someone’s living room.  They have solid relationships, are sporting team sponsors, and, as such, are a popular destination for local and junior league hockey teams, annual fisherpersons, local businesses, and more.  Their catering is available for off-site weddings and local business events.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Fond du Lac Cultural and Veterans Center.  The FDL Museum, located at 1711 Big Lake Road, was built in the summer of 2000 with a focus on veterans that was broadened to encompass FDL history and cultural arts. The log building was a kit donated by foundations to reservations with tribal colleges to create a museum so tribes could display native American items found in graves and are part of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.   NAGPRA is a federal law related to displaying artifacts and a place for ceremonial burial items.

Nagaajiwanaang, “Where the Water Stops,” is the name of the homelands of the Fond du Lac Band at the time of the 1854 Treaty. We retained this name in Ojibwemowin for the present-day Fond du lac Reservation that was established under the 1854 La Pointe Treaty. Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac Band) is one of the six Bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. There are three districts that make up the Fond du Lac Reservation: Bapashkominitigong (Cloquet), Gwaaba’iganing (Sawyer), and Ashkibwaakaaning (Brookston). Today, our Band includes over 4,200 members. We have always been, and continue to be, a proud sovereign Ojibwe nation. We uphold all of our rights retained and agreed to within the 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, and 1854 Treaties.

Facilities like the one here at FDL are tribally funded.  The focus is physically limited – spend more time teaching of arts of language with a focus on the four seasons:

SPRING

o   Maple sugaring in the spring – SUGAR BUSH- maple syruping

o   Early fishing April/May

SUMMER

o   Gardening seasonal products harvest birch bark outside physically in the summer harvest wild plants berry picking

FALL

o   All things harvest

WINTER

o   Indoor cultural activities, beadwork, storytelling, and lesson time.

The  FDL Reservation seasonal activities retain the community to cultural practices, which is the facility's purpose. This department also covers language programs focusing on revitalizing the Ojibwa language. Recently FDL has expanded to provide a building across the street for cultural and seasonal activities hosting inside and outside workshops. They are working on a language emersion school, integrating into FDL schools – ISD94 cultural exchange.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Necessities Salon and Spa.  Purchased by Deserae Pederson in 2010, Necessities Salon at 8 13th Street is a must-try experience.  She spent 8 years on Selmser Avenue after buying the business from Bonnie Peterson before purchasing a commercial building at 8 13th Street.  Before coming to Cloquet, Deserae worked in Duluth, the Twin Cities, and learned hands-on education techniques related to skincare, hair, and more.  She saw an ad for a sale of a salon in Cloquet on Craigs List miscategorized under the appliances section and had an interest in moving back north (being a native of Cook, MN).  She pursued the ad, purchased Necessities from Bonnie Peterson in 2010, and has worked in the industry for 22 years.

She is known for providing individualized care that is one on one customized in the space of confidentiality.  She prides herself on providing a sanctuary where people feel comfortable during their appointment, and the door remains locked for one person at a time.

Her motivation daily is to make a difference and leave this place better than she found it in the morning, it’s all art, and she is an artist and musician at heart.  Her daily music list is based on the energy of the day.  As a small business owner, she loves her ability to set a schedule that allows her a three-day weekend.

The pandemic shutdown was brutal, and now is the time to feel energy again and bring that back into her practice.  She’s taking new clients; however, with limited daily massage appointments, you may have to wait!

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Studio 33 Hair Design - Recycling 95% of Salon Waste.  Studio 33 Hair Design, located at 702 Stanley Avenue, is owned by Angela Carlson.  Studio 33 is a full-service salon operated by independent stylists offering haircuts, perms, facial waxing, manicures, hair treatments, color services, updos & special event styling, and eyelash extensions.  They provide a relaxing and family-friendly experience during your salon visit.  Angela wants her guests to leave the salon feeling refreshed and looking great.  New to Studio 33 Hair Design is Halocouture Extensions, halo, and tape in hair extensions available in many lengths, colors, and styles.

Angela is a graduate of the WITC Superior Cosmetology Program in 2002.  She enjoys owning the salon and loves to make people feel good about themselves.  She is always trying to enhance her skills.  She is a "waste warrior" committed to making her salon environmentally friendly and keeping people and the planet beautiful.   She is doing her part to help make beauty beautiful.  

Studio 33 partners with Green Circle Salons to help recycle 95% of salon waste.  They collect hair clippings, used foils, color tubes, excess hair color, paper, plastic, and more.  Once the waste is collected, it is shipped to Green Circle Salons, and they will turn it into new products and clean energy.  

Hair is either composted with other organic waste, turned into bio-composite plastic to make new products, like recycling bins, used in research and development of new environmental technology like insulation and stormwater filtration, and made into products used in humanitarian efforts.  Hair color is turned into clean energy and can be separated into water and oil.  Foils, color tubes, and aerosol containers are sorted by grade and type, melted down into aluminum sheets or bars, and used to make new products like car parts and bicycles. 

Studio33 offers products from Milk Shake and Loma.  They also sell locally made products from Sweet Land Farms.

If you are interested in booking an appointment you can book online or call 218.879.9309 to schedule.

Part-time or full time booth rental space is available.  You can contact Angela with interest at [email protected].

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Cloquet Carlton County Airport. Say what?  Do we have an airport in Cloquet?  A very common response from community residents.  The Cloquet Carlton County Airport "(COQ)" located at 125 Wheaton Rd, Cloquet, MN 55720, is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Cloquet.  The airport was opened in the 1930's and ownership was conveyed to the County in 1968.  In the past major industry has held a strong aircraft presence owning planes that have shifted to being served by private carriers.  While commercial aircraft cannot land here, the demand for private aircraft is growing.  Carlton County owns two airports – one in Moose Lake and another in Cloquet, both with similar-sized runways.  At the Cloquet Airport, the facility has two runways #1836 is 4,000 feet and #725 is 3,100 feet.

Quinten Anderson has managed the airport for the past 23 years.  In the last few years, three private hangars have been constructed.  Private hangars are under individual ownership, while the County retains land ownership via a land lease.  By grant assurances, the County can't sell off airport land, so they maintain ownership via land leases structured for 30 years and available for renewal.  The County maintains a waiting list of 35 people interested in hangar space.  The Cloquet Airport has very little turnover annually.  Perhaps one to two clients leave and gain two to three new clients annually.

At the Cloquet Airport, there are 40 hangar spaces, not including the burgeoning business of Venture North, which recently received a Federal EDA Grant for the Cloquet Airport to construct another hangar to assist in expanding their aviation business at the airport.

Venture North Aviation will lease a new hangar and office space and plans to invest an additional $600,000 into aircraft and maintenance equipment and "many, many good-paying jobs" to support its growth at the airport.

That project is expected to wrap up this fall, and then the Airport headquarters building will be available again to rent for community meetings; in the meantime, it's full with Venture North staff.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Sammy's Pizza. One morning in late 1999, Mike Acheson was headed to work at the Lakeside Sammy's when a real estate agent stopped him, wondering if he was interested in looking at a piece of property in Cloquet, MN. He had no idea why the man came to him, but he went to look at the property, and on June 20, 2000, he opened Sammy's Pizza in Cloquet.

Family, Friends and Traditions are not just words printed on the pizza boxes and marketing materials. Mike is committed to the community, his family, and his employees. He has lived in Cloquet, raised three children here, volunteered on many local boards, and contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to various causes in the Cloquet and Twin Ports area. He has invested over $1M in taxes in 22 years and paid over $3.5M in local payrolls that have benefited local families.

The Sammy's family tradition began more than 67 years ago with Sam Perrella - or as Mike calls him, Grandpa Sam. Grandparents, Sam and Louise Perrella, owned a small café on the Iron Range in Keewatin, MN. It was during the early 1950s that Sam would listen to stories from World War II veterans about favorite foods they had discovered while serving in Italy. One of those favorites was pizza – something few people on the Iron Range knew anything about at the time.

Sam decided he wanted to learn more, so he traveled to Chicago to visit some pizzerias, and it was there where he picked up the idea for square-cut pieces. The Perrella's combined some traditional family recipes with their own special touches to create their own pizzas.

In 1954, after encouragement from customers who knew they were on to something big, the Perrella's moved their café to Hibbing, MN, and Sammy's Pizza was born. Over the years, Sam invited family members into the business, and more and more Sammy's locations opened – including one in Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood in 1958.

Jim Acheson Sr. and Marguerite (Perrella) Acheson opened the restaurant and ran it until 1978, when their son, Jim Jr., took over. A few years later, in 1982, another son, Mike, went to work full time with his brother and never looked back.

Now in its fourth generation, almost fifth, of pizza artisans across 17 locations, the Sammy's family continues to uphold Grandpa Sam's dream. The tastes and traditions of Sammy's Pizza have gained a cult-like following, as devoted Sammy's lovers have developed their own traditions around the pizza and the restaurants.

When you visit Sammy's Pizza in Cloquet, you will find a newly remodeled inside and addition of outdoor dining. You'll find a menu of not only pizza but broasted chicken, pasta, sandwiches, and salads. Sammy's makes much more than great pizza – they inspire traditions with family, friends, and the local community.

Stop by and say hello to Mike and his dedicated staff, grab a pizza and support local growing families, friends, and traditions.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Carlton County Abstract. Carlton County Abstract & Title Company (C.C.A.T), established in 1890, is your locally owned abstract and title insurance company serving Carlton, St. Louis, and Pine Counties with offices in downtown Cloquet and Moose Lake.

Tim Johnson, Title Examiner / Manager has been with C.C.A.T since 1988  and is proud of the firms reputation for stability, accuracy, integrity, and professional quality of its work. They can help you with title insurance, abstracting, plat drawings, closings, ownership & encumbrance reports, and other real estate settlement services. Their affiliate Arrowhead Abstract & Title Company in Duluth, MN, was established in 1980. Both companies are known for providing clients top-notch title and abstracting services. Their professionals have decades of experience in the title industry and includes an on-site attorney to handle even the most complex legal issues, and hold the original handwritten  title documents for Carlton County dating back to the late 1800's.

Have you ever wondered what title insurance is and why it’s important?  Or perhaps what to expect during the closing process?  Check out informational videos here: https://www.carltoncoabstract.com/resources

Services offered by C.C.A.T. include Residential Transactions, Construction Loans & Disbursement, 1031 Exchange Services, Commercial Transactions, Short Sale & R.E.O. Transactions, Abstracts of Title, Ownership & Encumbrance Reports, Title Searches & Examinations, and Plat Sketches. For customer convenience, order services directly online: https://www.carltoncoabstract.com/order-online

C.C.A.T uses Old Republic and Chicago Title as underwriters who provide policyholders with strength, stability and piece of mind for one of the largest investments they'll make.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.  Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a 40-acre campus located at 2101 14th Street within the city limits of Cloquet. All land and buildings are State of Minnesota property. FDLTCC is one of a kind, the only one in the nation that is both a Tribal College and a Community College. Save money, same quality, personal support for students, personalized learning. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a member of Minnesota State and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. 

The mission of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is to provide higher education opportunities for its communities in a welcoming, culturally diverse environment. FDLTCC was established in 1987.  

The college's technology infrastructure was upgraded during COVID to allow for new staff equipment, modern, flexible hybrid class options, internet upgrades, and new infrastructure. Enrolled students are given free access to Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Total Enrollment in the 2019-2020 academic year was 2,024, new entering students 1,078+, 69% are part-time students, 31% full-time students, female 1,150, male is 855, 406 students of color. The most popular degree programs are liberal arts/Minnesota transfer curriculum, law enforcement, nursing, human services, environmental science, business, and child development. 

In 2017-2018, a total of 288 degrees, certificates, and diplomas were awarded to 238 students. In a recent five-year period, the college added 1,400 college graduates to northeastern Minnesota. 79% of graduates reported that they had found related employment to their program of study. 

Each year, approximately $5 Million of financial aid is awarded to students. About 90% of students receive some sort of financial aid. 

We are the Thunder! Competitive intercollegiate athletic programs of Football, Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, and Men's Basketball. FDLTCC is a member of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association. 

Faculty, staff, and admissions are State of Minnesota employees. One hundred forty-one employees, 85 full-time and 56 part-time. Through Work-Study programs, FDLTCC employs approximately 60 students on campus and at off-campus sites in local communities. 

FDLTCC hosts and sponsors numerous community events each year, reaching thousands of people. Summer concert series, Pumpkin Run & Walk Race, Career and College Fair, Giving Thanks Feast, Community Holiday Celebration, Law Enforcement Career Expo, Fine Arts Week, Health Care Career Fair. 

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College provides customized training to area businesses at an affordable cost with a solid commitment to education and the workforce. Professional and personal growth topics around leadership development, organizational development, customer service, diversity, technical trades, and licensing exam preparation.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of After Glow Tanning.  After Glow Tanning in Cloquet, owned by Liz Little, is located at 1307 Hwy 33 in Cloquet and is locally owned, not a part of a chain.  Liz moved her shop to Cloquet in 2019 after closing her shop in superior after four years.  She has high-quality upgraded beds, spray tans, teeth whitening, and lashes at an affordable price.  You can book tanning sessions online.After Glow has four upgraded new beds – three laydown, one standup, fifteen minutes is the max you’ll be in any bed here, facial lamps are stronger because your face is harder to tan. Spray tans are offered in light, medium, or dark and are done by inserting a cartridge and spraying in the standup bed. They provide a no-burn bed, the most expensive bed that penetrates deeper into your skin and will not have your skin wrinkle. There are several different packages offered.

CLASSIC TANS

After Glow  provides multiple levels of tanning at an affordable price.

SPRAY TANS

After Glow provides spray tans in our MyMyst Spray Booth, with several different shades to choose from. Their spray solution goes on clear and slowly reacts with your skin to give you a very natural looking tan. Spray tans typically last 5-10 days.

TEETH WHITENING

After Glow provides Teeth Whitening Services. They can get your teeth 2-8 shades whiter in just 15-20 minutes. Results typically last around 3 months.

RED LIGHT THERAPY

Red Light Therapy is a non-invasive service that can have both cosmetic and remedial benefits. It does not contain UV light and will not tan your skin. Cosmetically, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, and cellulite and help rid your skin of acne. It can also help heal skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. There’s no end to the benefits of Red Light Therapy.

It is always recommended you speak with a doctor prior to using red light therapy for medical conditions

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of United Way of Carlton County. The pandemic has increased local demands on many nonprofit organizations. While the United Way is national in its branding, we are lucky enough to have a Cloquet office to help respond to those needs. Sarah Buhs is the new Executive Director of the United Way of Carlton County, located downtown at 807 Cloquet Avenue; she has been involved for a years with the organization, helping to organize Santa's Home for the Holidays and other local events. A few examples of responses by the United Way that are in place now with the pandemic include an emergency food shelf, crisis referral, direct aid to families and individuals, or, more creatively, local volunteers virtually conducting storytime featuring books from a program they support, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (https://www.unitedwaycarltoncounty.org/ilstorytime).

The United Way of Carlton County annually raises roughly $200,000; staff is paid for locally, along with operations and items. What is raised here stays here—so remember to give where you live or work. This local office is not supported nationally by United Way, and it is a big deal to house a local office. Several area Cloquet employers launch workplace fundraising campaigns, and that funding allows the United Way of Carlton County to support local nonprofits. In recent years, data has demonstrated that virtual campaigns are not as successful as the traditional workplace pledge cards. To donate https://www.unitedwaycarltoncounty.org/donate.

Since 1956, the United Way of Carlton County has been mobilizing community resources to support local nonprofit programs. While the community has changed and grown throughout the years, the mission of the United Way has stayed the same: to fight for the health, education, and financial security of every person in every community. Together, we can do so much more. United Way fights for the health, education, financial security, and basic needs of every person in every community. United Way works with residents and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, support, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive. United Way commits to leveraging assets (convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create more equitable communities.

Annually in the region, they also host Operation Community Connect, connecting those in need to resources available. United Way focuses on cradle-to-career education strategies that provide a firm foundation at an early age and continue to help develop our children into successful adults who can contribute to their communities. This year, the United Way of Carlton County invested over $40,000 in the following programs to give kids a hand in their education and healthy development: