Talking Business - The Hidden Gems of Cloquet

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Lake Superior Dental, Cloquet Clinic.  

Lake Superior Dental Cloquet is staffed with 20 employees and is a bustling clinic located at 716 14th Street.  For 25 years this dental office was home to North Country Dental under the ownership of Paul Bartlam but during the pandemic, he consolidated and became a partner of Lake Superior Dental and rebranded. 

Lake Superior Dental is owned by six partners across four regional offices in Duluth, Hermantown, Cloquet, and Two Harbors.  They refer patients within these clinics to specialists and employ over 85 staff.  They offer comprehensive dentistry and a full spectrum of care.  An advantage of their clinic system is seamless charting for patient care. 

 “We estimate, then decide what to treat. Our motto is patient-first treatment plans,” said Hannah Serre the Operations Manager of Lake Superior Dental.  Kelsey Duffy the Business Office Manager for Lake Superior Dental shared their office mantra is, “Happy Team, Happy Patients!”  She shared that they are  a connected team of staff across the four clinics and hold events, meetings, and parties and are active stewards of their communities.

 They offer dental care for the whole family and love watching children grow up within their practice which provides the services of: Preventative (oral health and cleaning care)

• Common procedures (root canal, fillings, extractions, prosthetics)
• Additional services (TMJ, Implants, Sleep Apnea/Snoring, Botox/Juvederm)
• In-house lab (dental prosthetics)
• Cosmetic (teeth whitening services and custom at-home bleaching systems)

They provide care for clients with different insurance coverages and programs, uniquely offering their Oral Health Plan (OHP) which is a flat fee for those without insurance covering a 12-month period of care providing two child and two adult exams, cleanings, and x-rays, plus 15% off restorative care.  They also offer care credit.

Lake Superior Dental – Cloquet Clinic

716 14th Street

Cloquet, MN 55720

(218) 879-5271

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Cloquet Community Education and Recreation.

The backbone of community programming in Cloquet is managed by Community Ed & Recreation. If you have had your middle schooler signed up for babysitting classes, or rented the Chalet at Pine Valley, or are signed up to learn to sew in an education course through the Lumberlog, chances are you’re a user of services provided by Cloquet Community Ed & Recreation.

Located in the Cloquet Middle School, the staff provides a strong work culture, and people love working for them in this small-town atmosphere. 

Community Ed & Recreation has 75 employees and manages 21 lifeguards for the Beach at Pinehurst. They have benefited from many long-term staff. A critical piece to realize for Cloquet is that the number of kids sets their funding, so they work to market and capture accurate enrollment numbers to maximize funding.

Community Ed & Recreation Director Erin Bates grew up north of Duluth, lived in various places, and then returned to the area in 1998 to work for the City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department. She saw a position open for Community Ed & Recreation in Cloquet, took the position, and moved to the community. “I love the variety of my job. I get to bounce between several programming areas,” said Director Erin Bates.  

Community Ed & Recreation leverages partnerships and covers an array of education, including:

• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) School Readiness (preschool)
• Early Childhood Screening (required before Kindergarten)
• After-School Enrichment (Washington and Churchill Elementary schools)
• Middle School After School Enrichment
• Driver’s Education 
• Adults with Disabilities
• Adult Enrichment (classes, activities, and trips)
• Age to age (generational gatherings)
• Facility Reservations and rentals (schools and city parks)
• Recreation (youth and adult)
• Aquatics (youth and adult, plus WSI certification courses)
• The Beach at Pinehurst
• Kids Corner School Age Childcare (before and after childcare ages 5-12)
• Li’l Lumberjacks and Li’l Thunder Learning Centers (preschool childcare for ages six weeks to Kindergarten) 

Mission Statement: Cloquet Community Education and Recreation promotes, provides, and facilitates learning opportunities and social activities to serve all individuals & families while bridging generations, inspiring collaboration, and building community.

Cloquet Community Education & Recreation

2001 Washington Avenue, Cloquet, MN 55720
Phone: (218) 879-1261

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Kiminski Paving.

Family owned and operated Kiminski Paving began in 1989 by Adam and Randy Kiminski’s father.  By 2008, twin brothers Adam and Randy owned the business 50%-50%.  The business model of Kiminski Paving has evolved to half earth work and half asphalt paving.  Earth work services include site preparation, new utility installations and removal/replacement of existing, grading and drainage contouring, utility construction, asphalt patching and maintenance, street striping, site sweeping, winter maintenance, and more.  “We work side by side with our staff and stand behind our work.  If something isn’t right, we fix it,” said Adam Kiminski.

Kiminski Paving is a union business with plenty of competition in the Twin Ports area.  They maintain 15 to 20 person staff, with about 10 who have been with the business for over 20 years.  The core geographic area that Kiminski Paving is from Two Harbors to Sandstone.  “We don’t advertise, we don’t need to, business referrals are how we get our work, people ask their neighbors and share their experience, and we appreciate people doing their homework and selecting us,” said Adam Kiminski. 

During the off-season, Kiminski Paving staff operates large business snow removal contracts and recharges for the busy summer season.  Call today for free estimates:

Kiminski Paving

1441 Moorhead Road

Cloquet, MN 55720

(218) 878-0503

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Epic Nutrition.

Next time you need to relax or warm up on a cool day, head to Northern Minnesota’s ONLY Himalayan salt room offers unique halotherapy in this fantastic Cloquet shake shop called Epic Nutrition located at 10 N. 12th Street! Epic Nutrition is under the new ownership of Syna Robinson who purchased the business this spring. A Proctor High School graduate who returned to the area after living in other states, is a new mom. Syna is fueled by the passion to promote wellness. Her academic degree is in health and wellness from UW-Superior where she played soccer. She is also a certified personal trainer and coach specializing in post-partum and prenatal fitness. All of these skills will leverage and help her grow this Epic Nutrition wellness business where she plans to incorporate challenges and coaching support.

“Meal replacement shakes are easier on your stomach in the mornings than a large meal, they make a light and easy breakfast,” said business owner Syna Robinson. Syna admits the most popular shakes are, “Anything with peanut butter in them – currently Peanut Butter with Heath is neck and neck with Smores with Peanut Butter.”

Epic Nutrition offers a full menu of protein shakes in various and specialty flavors such as Chunky Monkey, herbal teas (hot or cold), juice bar, and iced coffees! The products boost energy and metabolism. Epic Nutrition also offers beauty products by Nu Skin ranging from anti-aging skincare, body butter, firming cream, sole solutions, tanner, and toothpaste.

The Salt Room at Epic Nutrition is the newest health trend in the United States, Halotherapy. Some of the many benefits you’ll receive from the Halotherapy include:​

• Abatement of bronchial inflammation
• Removal of airborne pollen particles from airways
• Strengthening of immune system that decreases allergic reaction to pollen
• Cleansing and sanitation of the airways
• Prevention & treatment of the common cold & flu
• Improvement of dermatological disorders such as acne, dermatitis and psoriasis
• Reduction of snoring
• Better sleep
• Reduction of anxiety

​Halotherapy has been around for hundreds of years in Europe. Thousands of salt rooms and caves are operating to provide salt therapy experiences. Halotherapy, or salt therapy, is a drug free and all natural, non-invasive treatment used to alleviate a multitude of health conditions.

Salt therapy appointments are taken on the hour and will last 45 minutes. The salt room is open Monday - Friday from 7 am - 3 pm and Saturday from 9 am - 1 pm. You can purchase single sessions or purchase a package of 3, 6, or 12 sessions for a discounted package price. They even offer a "Salt Room Spa Package." You can come to the salt room by yourself or come with a group. The salt room is a must-have experience.

Stop by and have a shake and tea, grab some whitening toothpaste and firming cream, and schedule an appointment in the salt room.

10 152th Street

Cloquet MN 55720

(218) 879-0971

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Nu Luxe Salon. On July 5, 2023, Nu Luxe Salon opened their new Cloquet facility at 901 Stanley Avenue after being open along Hwy 33 since 2016.  The new facility offers a chic presentation with custom floors that are a must see, nine chairs, four private rooms for skin services, four sinks, and 2,000 square feet which is double the size of their former location.  Now across from Walmart, near Bearaboo Coffee Escape, and close to several food service options, it’s the perfect location to host your group.  “We can better accommodate our wedding parties in this space now,” said owner Bree Morton.  She currently employs one esthetician and seven stylists but could use two more with business demands!  

Locally owned and operated, offering various products and services to suit every style for men, women, and children. The salon is owned by Bree Morton, a stylist who married a Cloquet native and has a full life with four kids. Her team at Nu Luxe includes Dray, Hanna, Sam, and Meagan. They offer hair services, including Balayage coloring, are certified for Brazilian Blowouts, and Lahbee eyelash extensions and full body waxing. What you probably don’t know is that they are known for providing bridal updo hair services and makeup onsite and offsite, as well as reduced-price haircuts for military and public safety staff.

Perhaps most importantly if you’re wondering how to pronounce the business name, just say “new looks.”  Nu Luxe is open six days a week, with Sundays off.  Book your services today!

Nu Luxe Salon Cloquet

901 Stanley Avenue

Cloquet, MN 55720

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Shop on the Corner. Pam Hubbard opened Shop on the Corner at 612 Cloquet Avenue in downtown Cloquet just before the fourth of July in 2023.  Shop on the Corner is a specialty gift shop featuring local handmade products made by local artists and craftspeople.  They also offer vintage items, repurposed furniture and antiques.  In the future, they hope to add more Antiques and the Bergquist family will soon be adding Scandinavian products as well.  The customer following is growing with appreciation for the variety, reasonable prices, and beautiful store layout.

Hubbard, a talented graphic artist, sews, paints, makes hats, designs print letterhead and business cards, and sublimation design.  She grew up on the Iron Range in Aurora, Minnesota and has been in Cloquet for over sixteen years.  For the past five years, she has been an event planner coordinating craft shows at the Cloquet Armory and Pine Tree Plaza.

Shop on the Corner hosts over 75 vendors and is selective with artists they chose from, ensuring a good selection for men, women, and children.  Passionate entrepreneur Pam Hubbard says the Shop will offer classes and hopefully in the future she will get the commercial kitchen back into certified operation to offer deli sandwiches, soup, and French pressed coffee.

“I’ve always dreamed of owning a shop like this! There isn’t another art shop like this around for miles.  The dream of Shop on the Corner came together so quickly and naturally. Everything really fell into place like it was divine intervention. I feel so very blessed and a little lucky that I have great connections. I’ve always been a networker and I’m not afraid to talk to people, ask for help or put myself out there. I think I got that from my dad,” said owner Pam Hubbard.

Products from featured artists are ever changing so stop by today and follow the classes offered at the store online!

Shop on the Corner

612 Cloquet Avenue

Cloquet, MN 55720

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Moose Lodge 1274. The Moose Lodge is located in downtown Cloquet at 702 Cloquet Avenue is the Cloquet Moose Lodge 1274.  They have been located here since the 1970’s, prior to that they were located in the West End.  The building which can host an occupancy of 136 people is actually the historic fire department and the floors slightly slant towards the street – as illustrated by the pool table inside. 

Membership of Moose Lodge 1274 is vibrant and growing with over 400 men and women.  Membership is by invitation.  Most new members are empty nesters looking to give back to their community and to build community.  These folks often volunteer in the kitchen and work on Lodge events such as their golf tournament at Big Lake Golf Course and Cloquet Mini Golf event.

In Cloquet we saw firsthand that Moose Lodge 1274 members are people who like to help one another and have a good time.  Ever miss small-town American and wonder where it’s gone to?  GET HERE.  They are hosting Friday night bingo, Wednesday card night, a Tuesday night member cash drawing, a Monday night meat raffle, and participate in citywide pool and dart leagues.  They are rooted in community service with international purpose.  The Cloquet Moose Lodge has food and a bar that helps generate funding to maintain the building and taxes.  The only two paid positions are the bartender and gaming staff.  Last year along, gaming proceeds raised at the Cloquet Moose Lodge 1274 brought in $59,000 in donations for local community organizations – such as area robotics teams, and support for schools projects.  Members can rent the building for showers, funeral luncheons, and other space needs.  Its currently $40/year to become a member plus the initial $20 application fee.

“We care for each other like a family,” said Cloquet Moose Lodge 1274 Administrator Patti Haus member since the age of 21 whose father has Pilgrim Moose Lodge status, meaning he’s been a member for over 50 years. “I’m on an International Moose Lodge Board, I know people in every state,” said Haus.

Have you ever wondered what is the Moose Lodge all about? In short, they are a fraternal organization that serves children and seniors in need.  The Moose is an international organization with membership in Canada and England.  If you are a Moose Lodge member, you can visit any Moose Lodge across the country or internationally.  Funding they raise supports many activities but we want to note Mooseheart located west of Chicago, a facility for children without parents with a private school and activity center on a 1,000 acre campus referred to as a Child City and home for children and teens in need from infancy through high school.  There is also Moosehaven for seniors located in Orange Park, Florida a retirement community for Moose members with over 15 years of membership.

Loyal Order of Moose – Cloquet Moose Lodge 1274

702 Cloquet Avenue Cloquet, MN 55720

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Adolphson Real Estate. Locally owned with office locations in Cloquet and Hermantown, Adolphson Real Estate was established in 1991 by Les Adolphson to serve the Twin Ports region, Northeast Minnesota, and Northwest Wisconsin. Adolphson has 32 licensed and experienced sales associates to assist with residential and commercial real estate transactions in a personal and professional way. Several associates are dual-licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Adolphson staff are engaged and active members of the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce, the Duluth Area Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce.

Adolphson's Mission Statement: The foremost objective at Adolphson Real Estate is to uphold our reputable high integrity by providing thorough and professional service to our primary interest, the client. Buying your first home can be a confusing process. It doesn’t have to be when you work with a professional realtor and do your homework. Adolphson Realtors can take you through each step of the process to ensure you find the right home for your lifestyle and budget. “We specialize in serving our clients, our business has grown by business referrals and repeat clients. We help educate our buyers and sellers and guide them in building wealth,” said Associate Gerald Gorbet.

“It’s a family atmosphere and a cohesive office with a sense of loyalty, we cover showings and the office for one another because we understand that life happens. Ultimately, Les is the broker and we represent him and are proud to work here,” said Associate Julie Antonutti.

“A trend that we have seen is the growth in FSBO (for sale by owner) listings, one thing to keep in mind for sellers is that agents offer ten times the network exposure for your property. We priced ourselves in match making and helping people build their dreams,” said Associate Cheryl Beck.

Adolphson Real Estate offers:·

A FREE market analysis.·

A personalized marketing plan for the sale of your home.·

Can show you any of the properties listed in the multiple listing area.·

Buyer Representation.·

Can answer your new buyer questions.·

Can REFER you to reputable real estate brokers outside our area.·

Have specialists in commercial real estate, land, lake property and residential sales!

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Cloquet Public Schools.

With over 400 full and part-time staff supporting over 2,500 students, Cloquet Public Schools (ISD 94) is an unhidden gem that provides an excellent option with supportive staff and a comprehensive range of programs and activities. Cloquet Public Schools has lots of opportunities in which you feel part of the community. “We have the most comprehensive programming offered in Carlton County; it’s comparable to offerings in the Twin Cities metro school districts but in a small town,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael Cary. Because of its strong reputation, Cloquet Public Schools attract students outside the ISD 94 boundaries. Both elementary schools are award-winning, Washington (Elementary Principals Association) and Churchill (Nation Blue Ribbon Schools Program), and Cloquet Middle School’s Tom Brenner was named Principal of the Year for the State of Minnesota.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Cary shared, “When I was interviewing for this position, I asked around, and everyone had such great things to say about the Cloquet Public Schools; I interviewed, and the rest is history.” Dr. Cary said that Cloquet Public Schools has been able to attract and retain good staff and families by offering a reasonable compensation package and high quality of life. Inclusion is also a key element of Cloquet Public Schools as they provide American Education in elementary and several levels of Ojibwe language in high school. Cloquet Public Schools provides additional educational support and is intentional across their curriculum to integrate and actively reflect upon Native American history. Their graduation ceremonies incorporate cultural traditions, including beaded sashes and eagle feathers.

Cloquet Public Schools offers small class sizes for elementary students and older students and provides a range of courses, including electives and courses for college credit. Cloquet Public Schools has invested significantly in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and partnered with the Trades to successfully poise students for the workforce. The CTE Department promotes automotive, woodworking, metals, and their creative Lumberjack Design and Fabrication Lab productions. These investments, such as the 3D print machine and CNC machine, were made by leveraging a regional cooperative schools equipment grant and then financially adjusting existing debt payoff and bonding for renovations within the Cloquet High School at no added expense to the taxpayers.

Cloquet Public Schools offers students a wide range of extracurricular activities in sports and the arts. Notably, the Cloquet Public Schools is constructing a new outdoor physical activity complex that will:

• add turf for football, soccer, and lacrosse programs
• add four additional tennis courts supporting physical education classes and enabling the school to host future tournaments, better circulate competitive teams; and
• rehaul the track

The construction of this project will be done with no additional input of taxpayer money beyond existing state aid, as the school district will use some ARPA funding received during the pandemic and has a private sponsorship for a substantial portion of the project.If you're new to the region or considering school systems, Cloquet Public Schools provides an excellent option with supportive staff and a comprehensive range of programs and activities. The school system is nicely sized to provide a small town feel with the amenities and courses of a larger district.

Cloquet Public Schools

302 14th Street Cloquet, MN 55720

(218) 879-6721

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Hup Family Dentistry.

Hup Family Dentistry is located at 1419 Cloquet Avenue and was purchased by Rebecca Hup in April 2021 (from Gunelson Dental). She has six employees and is actively taking new patients from as far away as Ely, McGregor, and Mountain Iron. She lived near Salem, SD, and practiced in Laverne, MN, for ten years before moving north.

When she was growing up, Rebecca had severe allergies; at the time, sugary medications were prescribed as the solution. The result was that at an early age, she had to have all her teeth pulled and found herself under the care of a pediatric dentist. Her experience led her to admire her dentist, and she wanted to be just like him; he was so inspirational that he led over 30 patients to become dentists. he was born in a small town and likes caring for people; she doesn’t want to sell patients something they don’t need or want. With the provider shortage in the area, her goal is to provide quality basic dental care for her customers, which she is passionate about. Rebecca is a talented businesswoman with goals, “I have a five-year plan and a ten-year plan for Hup Family Dentistry,” she said. Her current focus has been reinvestment into dental equipment and power chairs, which has been significant. Hup Family Dentistry provides preventative and restorative dental care, offers crowns, bridges, and dentures, and provides teeth whitening services and children’s dental care. She shared that they offer Sure Smile, restore, implants, laser, and provide same-day crowns. Check them out today!