ASTOUND OPENS IN APPLE VALLEY

Astound, a video duplication company has opened their fourth location in Apple Valley with the others being in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Roseville.  We have posted photos over the last four months of their coming, construction and now opening in the Kennedy Transmission building at 147th & Cedar.  With 12 employees between the four locations, they can transfer anything to DVD or CD for you, most jobs within 10 business days (funeral slide shows the exception which they will rush overnight if you lose a loved one.)  They can take old photos (even boxes of them) and put them from your attic into one DVD (make copies for relatives too).  They handle both commercial and residential needs (most are residential).  They can scan  the photos for you (highest resolution scanners).  They said some people even bring old albums from as far back as 60 years ago and have them put on CD or any of your can't find it again albums.  Many bring in old cassette tapes, old real video and even the old 8-tracks.  Their pricing is online.

Longtime FedEx Apple Valley GM Wayne Gann who has been a huge Chamber supporter, has left FedEx and is now the Director of Operations (#2 behind owner Henry Cho) in Apple Valley. Wayne had been with FedEx for 6 1/2 years.  Wayne told us he "couldn't turn down an opportunity to work with Henry and he loves Chick-Fil-A's corporate philosophy of each being independently owned and you can own only one.  Their oompany support and marketing is amazing and he has dreamed of working for a Christian based organization like Chick-Fil-A.  He knows their expansion plans of over a dozen in the Twin Cities eventually and he wants to be part of it.  Wayne is originally from the mountain area of Western Montana but attended college here.  He has lived in Apple Valley for 15 years.

FEDEX HAS NEW GM

Pictured about to the right is Cassandra Pries, Apple Valley FedEx's new General Manager.

Cassie Pries has replaced Wayne Gann (mentioned above) as the new GM of Apple Valley FedEx.  Former GM Wayne told us "Cassie is amazing and a real win for Apple Valley."  Cassie has been with FedEx 11 1/2 years (8 locations) and is thrilled to be back in her home community.  We met with FedEx Regional Manager Marty Spannbauer who called Cassie, "one of the best in the business, outstanding worker and leader, extremely friendly, keeps a tight clean store (critical to them) and she is rated as one of our highest in the company for GM's.  Cassie grew up in Wabasha, MN and is married with  a 3 year old daughter and 18 month old son.  Cassie (Cassandra), Apple Valley is fortunate to have someone as friendly as we found you to be.   

Southport Autobody Repair in Apple Valley has closed.  There are no further details.  They had been in business for 19 years but under several ownership changes.  If you are looking for that kind of space for your company, they are located just behind Kennedy Transmission.  The property is listed for sale or lease with Colliers, Eric Rossbach 952-897-7872.

Smashburger will open very soon in Apple Valley in front of CUB right next to Chick-Fil-A.  We caught them putting up their sign today.  If you have never been to one, there is one next to Panera Bread in Eagan in front of TJ Maxx.  They have specialty burgers which they literally smash on the grill to reduce grease and also serve beer.

Cobalt Mortgage headquartered in Denver, closed their Apple Valley location (and only MN Location) Thursday . Nancy Smith from their Denver office was here to make the corporate announcement and said they are closing smaller locations in this ever changing housing market.  If you are interested in their offices, which are across the hall from the Chamber in the Eagle Valley Bank Building.  Contact Marketplace Commercial's Shelly Muelken at 651-639-0821. 

GopherMods has put up their sign.  It is open on the north side of the ACE Hardware building.  As we reported a few weeks ago, they can replace any smartphone/cellphone glass, laptop glass, tablet glass, broken buttons at nearly half the price and usually within hours.  They only use original parts and therefore have a one-year full warranty.  Now you have a place in Apple Valley to quickly repair your phone when it breaks.