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Turning the Page: Main Street Books Begins a New Chapter with North Dakota SBDC Support

August 12, 2026

For nearly 20 years, Main Street Books has been integral to the heart of downtown Minot, North Dakota.

In June 2025, longtime manager Lindsey Bertsch began thinking seriously about what it would take to carry that legacy forward. After 14 years working at Main Street Books, she knew the business from the inside out. She understood inventory cycles and customer preferences. More importantly, she understood what the store meant to the community.

Bertsch describes Main Street Books as more than just a bookstore, viewing It as a community hub, gathering space, music venue, and so much more.

Preparing for the Transition

Encouraged by local contacts, she reached out to the ND SBDC Minot office. Working one-on-one with Center Director Alan Gohary, Bertsch focused on turning her experience and vision into a formal business strategy.

Together, they developed a comprehensive business plan that outlined her goals and demonstrated the store’s viability under her leadership. Detailed market projections and cash flow forecasts provided the financial clarity needed to move forward. The process helped her shift from having an idea to presenting herself as a prepared, credible buyer.

That preparation proved critical. Using the business plan and financial projections developed with the ND SBDC, Bertsch secured a loan from Town and Country Credit Union, along with private funding to complete the acquisition. On November 1, 2025, she officially became the owner of Main Street Books.

"Getting help on a business plan from the SBDC was integral to securing funding to purchase and grow the bookstore."

Lindsey Bertsch, Owner, Main Street Books Tweet

Her path from long-time employee to owner reflects both her commitment and strategic approach. Years of hands-on experience gave her insight. Structured planning gave her confidence. As a young woman business owner, she is also part of a growing generation of entrepreneurs shaping North Dakota’s small business landscape.

Working with the ND SBDC made the idea a reality, and having a sound plan is important to any new venture.

Shaping the Next Chapter

Today, Main Street Books continues to grow while staying true to its culture and mission. With strong support from the Minot community, Bertsch is expanding the store’s offerings. Plans are underway to launch a deli and café, creating even more space for conversation, collaboration, and connection.

For Bertsch, ownership is both a responsibility and an opportunity. What began as a job years ago has become a long-term investment in the place she helped build. Now, she is not only preserving a downtown institution but also shaping its future.

North Dakota SBDC Helps North 9 Bar & Grill Revive Rural Community Gathering Spaces

July 22, 2026

Brian Gullickson describes himself as an entrepreneur at heart. For years, he envisioned owning a bar and restaurant that would serve as more than a business. He wanted to create a place where people gather, connect, and build community.

In 2023, he purchased and restored a bar in Kathryn, North Dakota. Through that experience, he saw firsthand how important local gathering places are in small rural towns. When historic bars and restaurants close, communities lose more than a business. They lose a place to meet.

That realization led him to look for additional communities where a bar and grill could fill a meaningful need. His search brought him to Valley City, where he took over operations of North 9 Bar & Grill, formerly a country club facility, in March 2025. After renovating the interior and stabilizing operations, he purchased the building outright in December 2025. North 9 is now open year-round, providing a consistent dining and gathering space for residents and visitors.

The restaurant offers a comfort food menu built around familiar, satisfying meals, paired with a welcoming bar atmosphere. For Gullickson, the most rewarding part of ownership is the people. He values providing local employment, interacting with customers, and building relationships that strengthen the community.

Planning Around Real Community Demand

Although Gullickson brings a background in marketing and prior ownership experience, he knew expansion required careful analysis. Through his lender, he connected with ND SBDC and worked with Southeast Center Director Paul Smith.

Together, they developed a formal business plan, completed market research and data analysis, and built financial projections to support financing. The process focused on understanding what services were already available in the area and identifying gaps North 9 could realistically fill. That clarity was instrumental in securing bank financing and gave Gullickson a stronger understanding of operational expectations.

A Model for Rural Revitalization

Running a restaurant in a smaller community presents challenges. Gullickson notes that finding reliable employees has been one of the most significant hurdles. Even so, he remains focused on steady operations and long-term sustainability.

Community response has been encouraging. Residents show up for specials, events, and entertainment. Many have expressed appreciation for the building’s facelift and the renewed investment in the property.

North 9 is not an isolated project. With assistance from the ND SBDC, Gullickson has since repeated the process in Fort Ransom, renovating and reopening another rural bar and grill. His broader vision centers on preserving the history and character of these gathering places while updating them with thoughtful improvements and restored vintage elements.

When asked what success depends on, his answer is direct: people. “Without customers and employees, you don’t have a business,” he said.

His advice to other entrepreneurs reflects his own experience. Understand the market. Identify what is missing. Do not get distracted by ego or aesthetics alone. A business succeeds when it meets a genuine community need.

For Gullickson, that mission continues. Through North 9 and future projects, he is working to ensure rural communities maintain places where neighbors can sit down, share a meal, and stay connected.

2025 Report on Nonemployer Firms: Findings on Hiring Plans from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey

November 26, 2025

New report reveals experiences and financing behaviors of nonemployer firms on the cusp of hiring staff

A new report titled “2025 Report on Nonemployer Firms: Findings on Hiring Plans from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey” delves into the experiences and challenges of nonemployer firms—those with no paid employees except the owner(s)—that are on the verge of transitioning into employer firms.

Just released by the Federal Reserve, the report finds that while “potential employers,” or nonemployers that plan to add employees in the next 12 months, are more likely to apply for financing, they face higher denial rates than “stable” nonemployers, or those that do not plan to add employees during the same period. Also explored are financial performance and the types of financing various firms tend to use.

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