Fastenal is coming to Austin with a new store that probably will open by January.
District Manager Mark Hall says work should be starting for a 5,000-square-foot store on 17th St. N.W., across from Perkins Restaurant.
A sign marks the spot as the future home of a Fastenal store. Winona-based Fastenal, which started as fastener manufacturer, now has about 1,400 stores worldwide featuring fasteners, safety supplies, material-handling products like handcarts, and hand tools, power tools, cutting tools and accessories.
The store will open with three people on staff and more people will be added depending on sales.
"I expect this one will be up to four rather quickly," he said.
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Fastenal has stores in Albert Lea and Rochester. Hall says it was time to put one in Austin.
"The theory behind what we are doing is to get to closer to our customers to serve them better," he said. Hormel Foods, among other Austin customers, had previously been serviced out of the Albert Lea store.
"So we're transferring some sales from the Albert Lea store" (to the new Austin store), Hall said.
When Fastenal was limited to fasteners, Austin was not a market that could support a Fastenal operation. That has changed with the growth and popularity of the industrial supply stores.
"Now we can go in there and simply be profitable," he said.
And Austin is not alone in that. Hall estimated the international company is opening at least one store a week somewhere in the world these days.
BUDGET BACK IN BUSINESS: Budget Oil Inc. at 501 E. Oakland Ave. is again running at full capacity after being closed by the Sept. 15 flood.
Manager Chrissy Busker says the gas station portion of the business re-opened Wednesday. The self service car wash bays re-opened on Thursday.
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The automatic car wash began operating again on Oct. 1.
The business is owned by Mike Ankeny. Budget has five people on staff, including Busker, at that location.
THE BROTHERS GET COOKING: Die Bruders Steakhaus started sizzling and serving last week in a Dexter travel center last week.
The 7,000-square-foot steak house, lounge and banquet facility launched with a "soft opening" on Tuesday, says co-owner and executive chef Joe Graves
Graves created the eatery with his brothers, Pete and Chris Graves. The three brothers are German, hence the name. It translates as The Brothers Steakhouse.
The steakhouse is in the new Lake Geo Travel Plaza at 236 S. Main St., near Interstate 90.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and the lounge is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on the same days.
The steakhouse seats 120 with room for another 40 in the lounge. The banquet hall seats 250 to 300. It has 15 to 16 employees on staff.
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Beside the Graves brothers, Die Bruders has two of its other leadership spots filled as it starts off. Jasen Schab is the assistant manager and sous chef. Heather Feuchtenberger is the bar and catering manager.
Developer Jon Shaw of Adams owns the 15,000-square-foot commercial center. Shaw opened a gas station and convenience store with a deli in July.
The center still has space for at least one more business.
Kiger's Notebook appears on Mondays and Fridays in the Austin Post-Bulletin. Send questions or business news tips to jkiger@postbulletin.com or call 434-7340.
