1. Bernie’s

In case you haven’t heard, Food Network star Molly Yeh and her husband Nick opened a restaurant/café/mini market in downtown East Grand Forks called Bernie’s (named after their oldest daughter). Bernie’s café offers breakfast, lunch, and newly added dinner options including sandwiches, soups, salads, and fresh baked breads and pastries with a local Midwest flare. My absolute favorite is the Potato Chocolate Chip Cookie. (I affectionately call it the “Chipper Cookie,” a nod to the famous treat from Widman’s Candy shop in downtown Grand Forks). Other Midwest-inspired staples include Knoephla soup, cheese curds, and bologna sandwiches.

In addition to food, Bernie’s also has a mini market featuring items from local producers. You can find everything from homemade gelato to salsa to pasta to farm fresh eggs, along with some of Molly’s favorite kitchen gadgets and utensils. And of course, official Bernie’s t-shirts, hats and tote bags.

2. Play It! Multi-Sports Complex

Grand Forks is home to a new indoor sports and recreation center. Play It! Multi-Sports Complex is located on 32^nd Ave S. and includes basketball courts, batting cages, billiards, golf simulators, foosball, cornhole, and more. Monthly and yearly memberships are offered, with day passes available for those looking to check out the scene.

3. Midtown Marketplace

A community-style shopping center solely focused on small, local businesses opened next to the Grand Cities Mall. Midtown Marketplace houses a variety of vendors and retail booths showcasing handmade items such as jewelry, greeting cards, woodwork, and clothing, as well as homemade items like baked goods, salsas, and dog treats. In addition, shoppers can meet with area photographers, crafters, and other service providers. A couple of doors down from the marketplace is Rydell’s Toy Shop featuring classic cars and the vehicle collections of Wes, Brian, and Bob Rydell, owners of Rydell Cars. This is a great place to shop small and support local businesses.

4. The Happy Camper Coffee

The newest mobile food and beverage shop in the Greater Grand Forks area is The Happy Camper Coffee, serving a variety of hot beverages, açaí bowls, and local baked goods. You can find this fun camper parked outside local businesses and at special events. With this place always on the move, follow The Happy Camper on Facebook and Instagram to find out when and where it will be stationed.

5. Sierra/TJ Maxx

Sierra Grand Forks is a new retail store offering great savings on active and outdoor lifestyle brands, including Adidas, Columbia, Spyder, Patagonia, Carhartt, The North Face, and more. Sierra is part of the TJ Maxx family so I would liken it to a discount Scheels. On that note, the Grand Forks TJ Maxx opened in a new location between Super Target and Sierra. The new space is much larger than its previous one and offers a wider selection of home goods, apparel, footwear and more.

6. Club Libre

Club Libre is a lounge, restaurant, bar, and night club newly opened on Gateway Drive. It hosts regular DJ dance nights, karaoke nights, open mic nights, and game nights. For those looking to plan a fun night on the town for bachelor/bachelorette parties and birthday parties, or simply a rockin’ Friday night with friends, the club offers bottle service, food, and rentals of its VIP space, The Spot.

7. Lotus Yoga (Downtown)

Fellow Yogis, Lotus Yoga opened a new studio in downtown Grand Forks at the corner of DeMers Ave. and N. 4^th St., offering both hot and traditional Yoga classes. The main studio is quite large and has a lot of windows that let in beautiful, natural light. Purchase a multi-day pass or simply drop-in for a class whenever it suits your fancy. And if you can’t make it to the studio, you can follow along with one of its virtual classes.