June 24, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by the Lincoln County Economic Development Association.

Pam Harris literally puts the Harris in Harrisburg.

Her great-great-grandfather came to the community in the mid-1800s. Generations later, Harris is building community in a modern way as the founder of the 518 Marketplace.

“I sat down with some other women business owners, and we started talking about how we could share a storefront because individually we knew we couldn’t make that happen on our own,” said Harris, who owns Emer-GenZ Eats & Treats, a take-and-reheat, family-style meal business.

“And this building became available, and it’s just the perfect space.”

The 518 Marketplace opened at 518 N. Cliff Ave. in Harrisburg in October 2018 and has filled with small businesses offering products and services that used to be hard to find in town:

• Gravel Round Blend offers coffee, baked goods and light breakfast and lunch.
• NBM Flower Shop sells fresh flowers, balloons and gift items.
• White Barn Charm sells upcycled furniture, and vintage and new home decor.
• Family Bakery serves baked goods.

There’s still space left for more small businesses, Harris said.

The marketplace quickly has become a community gathering place with lots of regulars.

“They feel like they can just come sit and have a cup of coffee, have lunch. We have seniors who come in and play games in the afternoon,” Harris said. “We have Bible studies, kids coming in for study groups, you name it.”

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The 518 Marketplace is one of multiple entities in the fast-growing Lincoln County city that combine several small businesses under one roof for one-stop shopping or entertainment.

Just across the parking lot at Air Madness, which opened two years ago, several retail and entertainment options have combined across the 95,000-square-foot, two-story complex.

“We’ve added a lot, and we’ll continue to add a lot and build on our entertainment facility,” general manager Tyler Pederson said.

The latest addition to the trampoline park is a performance trampoline for advanced jumpers, which launches them higher than a traditional trampoline as they leap toward 7- and 9-foot walls.

“We also have a trampoline connected to a Velcro wall that’s been a hit,” Pederson said.

Friday and Saturday nights bring a black-lit Cosmic experience in the park.

And it’s always dark in another new attraction – Laser Madness – which offers a 4,000-square-foot laser tag arena that’s customizable for groups.

“Our power-up stations can incorporate special events, corporate groups or birthday parties, so we can make the game unique to them,” Pederson said.

Other additions at Air Madness include Makers Nook, a child care program that runs arts and crafts programs and summer camps, and Xtrinsic Athleisure Boutique.

The latest new attraction, though, is unlike anything in town – or even around it. Conquer Escape Rooms offers Hollywood-style sets and special effects in its three immersive escape rooms.

“You’re part of an adventure, part of a story line like you’re in your own novel,” owner Jonathon Rolph said. “We do costumes so you feel like you’re in the part, and we have the latest in escape-room technology. It’s just a completely unique experience.”

Players choose from three experiences – a jail escape, a post-apocalyptic hacker storyl ine and an Indiana Jones-inspired temple adventure. They tend to be shocked by the level of quality, Rolph said.

“Because it’s in Harrisburg, which is probably the last place people would expect to find quality this good,” he said. “When people come here, it’s building up our community and showing it doesn’t always have to be in Sioux Falls. You can go five minutes outside of Sioux Falls and find amazing attractions.”

Hours for Air Madness are noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday

When Laura Klenk went looking for a different location for her coffee shop in Harrisburg, there was really only one building that seemed like it would work.

And even that was too big. So Klenk subleased part of her space at 305 W. Willow St. to others, including Liv’s Locker, a children’s boutique offering apparel and accessories for boys and girls, and Kruse PhotoGraphics, a photography studio.

She’s also trying to lease an additional 600 square feet.

“I’m just happy the community has stuck with me and come over here, so that’s been nice,” she said. “I think every year the business has gotten better with more customers and new faces.”

Her business, Lava’s Coffee & Cafe offers coffee drinks, smoothies, souffles every morning, Bagel Boy bagels, muffins and baked treats, along with catering services.

The wide-open area also has drawn community gatherings.

“People do baby showers, bridal showers. We had three graduations here, and we do events for kids,” she said.

Lava’s Coffee & Cafe is open from 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Liv’s Locker is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.