Business Beat - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Business Beat

A combo for you tonight...
Business Beat and our 'Rebuilding the Valley' series as one.
Perry Olson takes us downtown where final preparations are being made to open up Sweet & Flour.

It has been a long battle with lots of high price -- but Chef Shanda Cool is about ready to realize her dream.

A lifelong dream is about to come true for a professionally trained Minot chef who is about to open her very first restaurant...although restaurant may not be the right word...in fact Chef Shanda Cool calls this Sweet & Flour Patisserie.

(Shanda Cool - Sweet & Flour Patisserie) "I have always wanted to have a bakery, I never thought I would do it but something just happened inside of me one day and I said, 'you only have one life, I am going to do it!'"

She is hiring now with a late-May opening planned here at the north end of the Brick Building on Central Avenue.  The patisserie is very unique with many different seating areas -- even a space that can be rented out for large meetings...but wherever you sit -- get ready for great treats...

(Shanda Cool - Sweet & Flour Patisserie) "We are going to have all kinds of house-made pastries, homemade breads, homemade soup...everything is made here in house.  We will have bread for retail...real croissants, real danish, and plated desserts."

And the setting adds to the Sweet & Flour experience...

(Shanda Cool - Sweet & Flour Patisserie) "It is French-coutry inspired.  We did the decor so that it would be fancy, but not too fancy.  We want people to come in and have a good time.

Cool certainly is having a good time -- after a rough year.  The opening was planned for last year until the flood wiped her out.  She has poured her heart and soul into her dream...and her house too.  Having to choose between her dream business -- or having her flooded house foreclosure on ...she went the tasty route.  A tough call...but one she is happy with now as she approaches the opening...

(Shanda Cool - Sweet & Flour Patisserie) "It is a feeling like no other.  When you remember what state this was in and now you can see it like this.  It is something I would be proud to bring anyone in."  

You'll find Sweet & Flour on Facebook -- just search Sweet & Flour.  With Business Beat, I'm Perry Olson.

Chef Cool hopes to open in about three weeks.