July 22, 2022

By Courtney Collen, for Sioux Falls.Business 

A discount bin store that is going for an upscale take on the retail concept has opened just north of The Empire Mall.

Crate features — you guessed it — large crates or bins full of items with significant markdowns from their original prices.

Shoppers were in line as early as 8 a.m. for the grand opening at noon Thursday.

Co-owners Marshall and Paula Bahm partnered in the business concept with relative Shane Oien, who opened the first Crate store in Rapid City in July 2021.

“A few months later in our hometown of Yankton, we sold our house, and now we’re here,” Paula Bahm said.

Crate is west of Menard’s at 2707 S. Carolyn Ave.

“We buy semi-loads of overstocked goods and returned goods from retail stores and sort through the boxes and bring them to the customer at half the prices,” Bahm said. “Those items come in at different times throughout the week.”

Crate plans to receive two to three truckloads per week.

When the truckload comes in, Bahm and her team of employees will sort through and make sure the items are in good condition and price them accordingly.

“We have no idea what we’re getting,” Bahm added.

Items come from big-box stores, including Target, Home Goods, Home Depot and Lowes.

The store features electronics, baby items, clothing, shoes, household items, large and small furniture, appliances, mattresses and more.

“We physically touch every single item; items are wiped down, cleaned and separated by category,” Bahm explained. “I want everyone to have the experience of digging through the bin, but it’s still organized.”

While many of the items are sold via the crate system, larger merchandise will be set aside at reduced prices.

Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Crate features a special discount, Dollar Mark Days, from Thursday through Sunday where items in crates are priced from $9 down to $1 the final day.

Similar discount bin store offerings include A Crate Deal Liquidation Outlet with locations in Sioux Falls and Tea as well as DaaBin Store on East 10th Street.