DULUTH — Another year has passed, and as businesses in the Northland made waves in 2025, they also made headlines.
Whether they were new restaurant openings, entrepreneurial dreams becoming reality or tourism trends — the News Tribune had them covered.
Here’s a recap of the five most-read articles from the business beat in 2025.
5. Bass Pro Shops opens in Hermantown
Wyatt Buckner / Duluth Media Group file photo
The long-awaited opening of
Bass Pro Shops
took place in May, much to the excitement of outdoor enthusiasts across the region. The Hermantown store employs 130 people and marks the company’s fifth retail location in Minnesota.
The new 70,000-square-foot store at 4275 Haines Road is located in the former
Camping World
site. Its grand indoor displays feature big-game taxidermy, murals and a 10,000-gallon aquarium home to a variety of fish native to Lake Superior and surrounding bodies of water.
4. Twin Ports Interchange starts to wrap up
Jed Carlson / Duluth Media Group file photo
An October ribbon-cutting ceremony marked an important milestone for people across the Twin Ports as the $435 million “can of worms” interchange project neared the finish line.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz visited to join in the celebration, along with U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert, representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and many others from across the community.
“Tell everyone, ‘Stop using the Piedmont frontage road as if it were the Piedmont I-35/535 connection.’ You don’t need to do it anymore,” Reintert said with excitement.
3. Young entrepreneur to open car wash in Duluth
Contributed / Greystone Construction
Twenty-year-old Tanner Stokes piqued the curiosity of readers with his upcoming business venture. Tanner’s Express Car Wash is anticipated to open this month on Haines Road.
The experience Stokes gained from established mentors helped guide him along his entrepreneurial journey. Starting with a small lemonade stand at 8 years old, bigger dreams are now coming to life for the Esko native, who happens to be the son of Downtown Duluth’s Executive Director Kristi Stokes.
2. Duluth hit with slow summer tourism
Brielle Bredsten / Duluth Media Group file photo
Hospitality industry leaders spoke to the decline in attractions, food/beverage and lodging industries during
Visit Duluth’s summer tourism update
on Aug. 13.
Though Duluth fared well in comparison to statewide and national trends, the overall tourism economy took a blow in part from the loss of Canadian travelers, and because the smoke from wildfires deterred outdoor activities.
1. MnDOT gives update on Twin Ports Interchange, Blatnik Bridge projects
Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group file photo
An
update on two major transportation projects
in the region drove the curiosity of the News Tribune’s readership.
In September, the Minnesota Department of Transportation provided insight on the potential impacts to the local business community during the future closure of the
Blatnik Bridge
, and brought readers up to speed on the
Twin Ports Interchange Project
.
The interchange recently reopened for the first time since 2021 after poor ground stability, contamination and the discovery of cultural resources, including
human remains
, led to delays.
