Fresh off a sold-out Coffee & Cocoa Crawl that brought 1,000+ people downtown (with 40% visiting from outside the metro!), Rocky shares how events like these are fueling local businesses, boosting tourism, and reshaping perceptions of the city core. With a 91% satisfaction rating and tens of thousands spent at local shops, the numbers tell a powerful story: downtown is an economic engine—and people are taking notice.
We’re joined by Penny from Herbs & Spices, a modern-day apothecary bringing organic teas, herbs, and holistic wellness to 26 Roberts Street. From chamomile and catnip for stress relief to custom tea blends and community-building ambitions, Penny shares how her shop is carving out a unique space in Fargo’s retail scene—and why hundreds of crawl-goers walked in wide-eyed and inspired.
Then, mayoral candidate and longtime City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn steps into the studio for a candid, beyond-the-headlines conversation about Fargo’s future. With major leadership turnover ahead, Piepkorn discusses downtown crime, police presence, small business challenges, rising rents, addiction treatment, economic development incentives, and the big civic projects on the horizon—including the diversion, water supply, convention center plans, and what NDSU athletics could mean for the city’s national profile.
It’s a wide-ranging, honest look at where Fargo stands—and where it’s headed next.