Fargo entrepreneurs Matt and Lindsey Lee announced the purchase of two historic downtown properties at 109 and 113 Broadway North. The $1.5 million acquisition includes the former Swanson Health Products storefront and the adjacent Douglass Building, which currently houses Moonrise Café.
New home for Stabo Scandinavian Imports
In January, the Lees will relocate Stabo Scandinavian Imports from its current 900‑square‑foot space at 406 Broadway North to the larger 1,350‑square‑foot former Swanson location. The move will allow the store to display roughly 1,800 products, nearly double its current inventory, and to create a dedicated area for younger shoppers.
“We wanted to be closer to the Broadway Square, where many downtown events happen, and we needed a bigger space,” Matt Lee said. “The historic architecture and large display windows fit Stabo’s brand perfectly.”
Lindsey Lee, who bought Stabo in July, noted that employees and customers have responded positively to the upcoming relocation. “People are happy we’re not moving far, and they’re excited about the expanded selection,” she added.
Moonrise Café and future tenants stay
The Douglass Building will remain home to Moonrise Café, a popular eatery and coffee shop. The Lees plan to revitalize the second‑floor space, previously occupied by The Spirit Room, with activities such as dance or Tai Chi classes and a massage business.
Another tenant will occupy the south end of the former Swanson building, though the Lees have not yet disclosed the identity. They expect the new tenant to be a fresh addition to downtown Fargo.
Entrepreneurial background
Matt and Lindsey Lee, high‑school sweethearts from Lisbon, N.D., have a track record of downtown ventures. While in college, they grew a basement‑based health‑and‑beauty business, Corner Drugstore, into an e‑commerce site that they sold in 2018. They later opened a Goin’ Postal franchise at 19 Eighth St. S., adding iCare Electronic Repair, which they recently sold to longtime employee Mark Schlossman.
Matt has also expanded into real‑estate, purchasing several rental properties in the SoMA district. The couple retained the Goin’ Postal location and continue to manage it alongside Stabo.
Preserving traditional service
Stabo will maintain its classic catalog and phone‑order system, sending out about 20,000 mail‑order catalogs nationwide each year. “Our website matches that, but you can also call and speak with a real person,” Matt explained, emphasizing the store’s commitment to old‑fashioned customer service.
The Lees are also upgrading Stabo’s e‑commerce platform while preserving the tactile catalog experience that many customers cherish.
Future development plans
Beyond the main floor, the Lees are considering converting the third floor of the Hancock Building into artist studios. The space was gutted for office use before the pandemic, and the couple hopes to complete renovations within six to nine months.
Although an elevator was explored to improve accessibility, the logistical and financial challenges of installing one in the 1903‑era building have delayed the project.
The Hancock and Douglass buildings, designed by architects George and Walter Hancock after the great fire of 1893, have housed a variety of businesses over the decades, from hair salons to fur shops. Their revitalization under the Lees’ ownership adds another chapter to downtown Fargo’s storied commercial history.
Original reporting: InForum (Fargo section) — read the source article.
