Friday’s here.

Here’s your thread to comment on the news of the week of the rumors you’ve heard.

Heeeeeere’s the open thread!

If you’re a plus-sized woman, it can be hard to find clothes in Rapid City that make you feel good, said Sue Heil, owner of the new Mona Lisa’s on Main fashion boutique downtown.

But she’s here to fix that. Heil’s new shop features clothing for plus-sized women and will offer “different types of clothes for a reasonable price,” she said. “I wanted nice clothing that fits people.”

Mona Lisa’s on Main, located at 615 Main St., is Heil’s next step in the business world. For years she ran the Windmill Truck Stop with her husband, Larry.

While Heil dealt with some clothing sales at the truck stop, her new fashion business is a whole different deal:

Here, once you order, you’re done. With the Harley-Davidson t-shirts, you could re-order, re-order, re-order.

While the shop is Heil’s business, her husband’s

helped out getting the on-wall clothing racks for the shop. He also added a chair in the corner of the shop for men who are out shopping with their significant others. He calls it the “guy’s chair,” he told me in a mid-day visit.

The location is something of a family affair. Heil’s daughter Lisa Houghton runs Mona Lisa’s Photography in the upstairs portion of the shop.

Heil traveled to Las Vegas, Dallas and Minneapolis to pick the fashions for her store, and she carries brands such as Fresh Produce, Silver, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans and Erin London.

Heil offers a rewards program for frequent buyers and offers alterations, with the help of employee Linda Schwartz. The shop also sells a number of accessory items, such as knock-off designer bags, sunglasses and jewelry.

Mona Lisa’s on Main is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but will eventually open an hour earlier.

To contact Mona Lisa’s on Main, call 484-9835.

That turtle’s been around for some history. What stories could he tell of mud holes, insects and changing tourist fashion?

From the state Office of Tourism:

One of the nation’s oldest living residents will celebrate his 128th birthday with thousands of families from across the country at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, South Dakota this June. A tortoise, Methuselah was born in 1881 in the Galapagos Islands and made the move to South Dakota in 1956.

“Methuselah, as this gentle tortoise likes to be called, weighs in at 600 pounds, and is nicknamed “Earl” after my father who founded Reptile Gardens in 1937,” said Johnny Brockelsby, public relations director of Reptile Gardens. “I met Methuselah when I was 5 years old. He is a strict vegetarian who moves incredibly slow with a stress-free and peaceful lifestyle here at the park.”

(Photo courtesy of Reptile Gardens)

Commenter ‘Ryan’ has a question:

do you know what happened to the strip mall that was supposed to be built in Box Elder on Liberty Blvd. The sign is still up and I think it is actually called Liberty Plaza.

I’ll admit, I don’t get out to Box Elder all to often, and frankly, I don’t have the answer to that. I can do some work on it, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

Does anyone know what’s happening with Liberty Plaza?

Reports of earth getting moved in south Rapid City, on School District land next to the Parkview swimming pool and ball complex . . .

Commenter ’smalls24′ writes:

They are moving dirt by 5th and Minnesota near the water park. As far as I know its school land, and I know they are not building a school..hahaha

Several commenters chimed in with the answer, including ‘Parkview Resident’:

They are moving dirt at 5th & Minnesota because they are putting in 12 tennis courts. Apparently the state tennis tournament will be there next year. As a resident of this area, I am not enthused about the increased speeding traffic along Parkview especially since there are small children in the area.

Yes, tennis courts, which will host the boys and girls state tournaments next year. Questions and answers — the biz blog at its best. Thanks everyone!

What do you think of the feelings of ‘Parkview’s Resident’? Is speeding a problem in that area?

Well, that’s a dose of good news.

A survey of economists shows a majority think the recession will be over by the end of the year.

Oh, and here’s an interesting thought from the article:

Seventy-one percent of the forecasters believe a more-thrifty consumer will be around for at least the next five years. Americans’ personal savings rate edged up to 4.2 percent in March, marking the first time in a decade that the savings rate has been above 4 percent for three straight months.

Only the next five years?

Are we the next generation to scrimp and save, and seem like the old-timers to the fast-spending kids?

Sam’s Club is gunning for a June 2010 opening at its new location in Rushmore Crossing, according to bid documents.

Contractors are expected to start work on the new warehouse membership store Sept. 1 of this year, and wrap up the work in by mid-May 2010, in time for a June 24, 2010 grand opening.

That information comes from the Construction Industry Center’s weekly bulletin.

The 141,253-square-foot store will sit on the far western side of the development, and face the northeast and Interstate 90, according to documents filed with the city Planning Commission.

The store will replace the current, smaller Sam’s Club location on La Crosse Street, adjacent to the city’s only Wal-Mart.

That could mean a lot to Community Health, which is planning to move into the old Sam’s Club building once it’s vacated.

Speaking of signs, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina on East North has a bold new sign that really grabs your attention if you’re anywhere in the vacinity of East North Street and Cambell.

And, like loyal biz blog readers know, there’s room for a few more restaurants at the location, and on the sign.

I’ve got to say, I’ve been fairly neutral about the new restaurant. But now thatt it’s coming together, I’m a little excited.

It looks like a nicely-designed place, and the patio looks fun. There should be some good breezes on that hill, with some nice views.

Anyone else feel the same or otherwise?

Paris Chic’, the women’s fashion boutique, is moving a block away to a spot at Main Street.

The shop will open at 617 Main St. on June 1, said owner Sonja Crowley.

The shop isn’t moving far because the downtown location is key to the business, Crowley said:

Being downtown is important because we’re so specialized.

The larger location will give the popular boutique additional space for items and more. Said sales clerk Andi Kohotek:

It’s a better location and a larger building, we need the room. We hope to have runway shows in their as big as it is.

The shop will fill one side of the former location of Global Market, which moved just a few doors to the west.

The other half of the building is the new home of Edge Sports, which is moving from a location further west on Main Street.

To contact Paris Chic’, currently located at 507 Seventh St., call 605-716-1255.

The Gateway development (that bare patch of earth to the west of Cabela’s) is getting a sign along Interstate 90.

The sign includes a logo I haven’t seen before, so I’m assuming it’s new. Beside the main sign sits a number of other signs, presumably for businesses which will go there eventually.

One of them says ‘Cabela’s,’ the other is a Foursquare Properties ‘Available’ sign. The others are blank.

The sign is matched by a new Available sign on the north side of the property along Mall Drive.

Without a fancy zoom on my camera phone, I had to slog through a muddy ditch to get even this poor photo.

But hey, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for the biz blog and all its hale and hearty readers.