ARMSTRONG - Things looked bleak for Armstrong businesses last year.
Just as the economy crashed, the town lost its supermarket, drugstore and a diner. Business owners were retiring with no one to take over, or the economy had hit too hard.
But last fall, "The mARket opened in the former drug store. A new cafe/pizzeria followed.
In recent good news, the hardware store that closed a few months ago has re-opened as a hardware/automotive store. Plus, after looking for a buyer for some time, the 915 Cafe is successfully operating under new ownership.
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Nearly a month into Dale and Teressa Johanson's latest venture - Johanson's Cafe and Pizzeria - business is "excellent."
"We're twice as busy as we thought we'd be," Teressa Johanson said.
Johanson's Cafe and Pizzeria opened in the former Dreyer's Diner last month. The husband and wife team from Swea City have a long history in food service, from big corporations to operating their own bakery for 15 years.
"Dale just loves to cook," Teressa said. "He worked for places like the Radisson, and that's how we met. Then he wanted to come back to his hometown of Swea City, and we had Johanson's Bakery for 15 years. After that, he was asked to cook for the Main Street Pub and Grill in Bancroft."
But the desire to craft his own recipes put the couple back in business for themselves.
"You can't do your own thing cooking when you work for someone else," Johanson said. "Dale has made about every flavor of cheesecake there is, and usually that's a dessert we have on the menu. We're always offering about three or four desserts."
Then there's the pizzas, with nearly any sort of toppings that can be requested.
"Our crusts that we use are not too thick and not too thin," Johanson said.
Currently, the cafe is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The cafe employs 15 workers, including four other cooks.
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Automotive items to the left, hardware to the right. That is the new appearance for H&H Parts, formerly the Corner Hardware Store on Armstrong's main street.
The store closed the first of the year, but reopened under new ownership six weeks later. The previous inventory is still there but the store will begin stocking Hardware Hank products as it sells the previous inventory.
The new owners are two brothers and a sister from Forest City, Iowa, who began in the automotive business nearly 30 years ago.
"We started off with just a repair shop," said Cathy Foos. "Then we added a parts store. From there we bought a store in Buffalo Center, and then we bought the hardware store in Swea City, and that's when we did the first combination hardware and automotive store."
"It's been a natural fit," said Tammy Good, who manages the Armstrong store.
"It's tough when you have to drive long distances to get some of these small items that are carried in the local hardware store," Loos said. "We would also like to help our customers with the automotive items like that too. We've had a lot of success and we're excited about our new store in Armstrong."
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The coffeehouse at the intersection of Highways 9 and 15 never missed a beat, and on any given day, there's still a crowded parking lot. But some were concerned when the 915 Coffeehouse was put up for sale late in 2008.
As it turned out, the coffeehouse was not in any trouble. And since Armstrong resident Jason Russell has taken over ownership at the start of the year, the 915 Cafe remains an Armstrong hot spot.
"I've worked in different restaurants, and when this was first being constructed, I remembered thinking, 'This would be a great place for a restaurant,' not knowing that was the plan at the time," Russell said. "So when it came up for sale, it was a perfect opportunity. I like cooking, and I like that opportunity to work with people and make them happy."
Russell is not new to business ownership. His wife, Allison, is the owner and manager of Flowers and More in Armstrong. Some of the "Flowers and More" wares can be spotted in the 915 Cafe, and the spouses are known for helping each other out business-wise.
Along with being the business owner, Russell enjoys working as well.
"On Fridays, I get to cook, and we do pancakes and French toast, or burgers," he listed as examples. "I am expanding the menu some, making things available with the space and equipment that we have."
And if it's not on the menu, just ask. Russell might be willing to try something new.
"I like that I can do things for people when they want something special," he said.
Another new direction is making the facility available for private parties and meetings.
"The building sits here empty after 4 p.m. or after 2 p.m. Saturdays, and it's closed all day Sunday," he said. "We're open to renting it out for those special occasions."
As for former owner Martha Gochanoer, she can still be found behind the counter, just not as often.
"She has requested a little less working time, so she's getting some days off now," Russell said.
