A business in Downtown Williston is getting bigger and better. The owner of Cooks on Main is adding space, staff and cooking classes to better service her customers.

“It’s something the community wants,” said Angela Skogen, owner of Cooks on Main. “People want an authentic shopping or cooking experience that you can’t get online.”

Skogen, a native of Williston, has purchased the building located next to Cooks on Main on Main Street in downtown Williston. The site is undergoing a major renovation which will provide a commercial kitchen, catering space and room for special events and cooking classes. The expansion will more than triple Skogen’s current classroom space.

“We have room for six to eight (students) in our current classroom and they (classes) are always selling out. Now we will have room for up to 27 people, all hands on,” said Skogen.

Williston Economic Development and the Small Business Development Center helped Skogen apply for and secure funding from the Flex PACE Interest Buy-down Program. Under the program, the Williston STAR Fund and Bank of North Dakota help buy down the interest on Skogen’s loan. The Flex PACE encourages investment in commercial and industrial properties.

“It has been fun to watch Angela and Cooks on Main grow into the successful business it is today,” said Shawn Wenko, Williston Economic Development executive director. “This is a great example of the intention of the STAR Fund. It provides that needed piece of initial assistance to increase the chances of success for new and/or expanding businesses.”

Skogen is also adding a culinary expert to manage the kitchen side of her business. She has named Allyson Helde culinary director. Helde, who most recently was the chef at the Bistro at TrainND Northwest, will oversee the catering and cooking classes at Cooks on Main.

“In my time there at the Bistro I met great people and had wonderful customers. The experience was a great stepping stone,” said Helde.

The Williston native got her start in the restaurant business at the former Pierce’s Steakhouse. She attended Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas and worked at Las Vegas restaurants, hotels and casinos including the Wynn and Hard Rock Hotel.

Construction on the Cooks on Main commercial kitchen is expected to wrap up in early fall with a grand opening date in mid-October.