client stories

Client Story A Beloved Bookstore’s Bold New Chapter BankCherokee helped turn a dream into ownership for the next generation of Wild Rumpus. How it Came to Be In the heart of Minneapolis’ Linden Hills neighborhood, Wild Rumpus has enchanted readers of all ages since 1992. With its cozy atmosphere, quirky animals, and expertly curated shelves,…

Client Story Four Decades of Partnership, Built on Trust From their first loan in 1981 to today, BankCherokee has been proud to support Swor & Gatto’s client-first approach. How it Came to Be Swor & Gatto has been a cornerstone of the St. Paul legal community since 1981, and BankCherokee has been by their side…

Client Story Supporting Foam Industries Through a Growth Spurt With help from BankCherokee, this family-run packaging business expanded their space, acquired a new company, and unlocked a whole new chapter of growth. How it Came to Be When Christine Nelson, CEO of Foam Industries, wanted to grow her Rogers, Minnesota-based packaging business, she turned to…

Client Story Helping Dr. Lexi Lippe Bring Her Vision to Life For Dr. Lexi Lippe, building and growing her dream prosthodontist practice meant finding a banking partner who believed in her vision—and had her back every step of the way. How it Came to Be When Dr. Lexi Lippe set out to build her own…

If you’re not familiar with Wild Rumpus Bookstore, it is a 30-year-old children’s bookstore and so much more! Let the Wild Rumpus start! | Wild Rumpus Wild Rumpus is a magical place for children to discover new books, see the animals and enjoy a special story or two. They have received many awards and recognition…

Brianne of Timber & Tulip has been designing high end custom wood furniture since 2016. Photos courtesy of Timber & Tulip Brianne has been designing and building high end custom wood furniture since 2016 and in mid-2023 she was looking for financing to help open her first brick and mortar retail location. Brianne and BankCherokee…

Congratulations to Lauren Gaffney and Alina Hornfeldt, the proud new owners for Mastel’s Health Foods! When one door shuts, another one opens. BankCherokee recently had the opportunity to help two employees of the local food store Mastel’s Health Foods purchase the store from the founder, John Mastel. General manager Lauren Gaffney and marketing manager Alina…

In one community, nestled near the bluffs in St. Paul’s West Side, Boca Chica is more than a restaurant. It’s a shining example of the American dream.

BankCherokee Partners With My Founder Story to Support Women Small Business Owners “Isn’t this exciting?” Chris Olsen asked a cluster of entrepreneurs commiserating in the corner. They were in the conference room at the nonprofit women’s business development center where Olsen taught marketing when she wasn’t working in her consulting business. “It’s like we’re on…

Dancing Bear Chocolate Finds Its Groove in 2021 For years, Joe Skifter and Steven Howard talked about combining their superpowers as a celebrated pastry chef and a business operations guru to open a chocolate shop. In 2017, while working full-time jobs as a general manager and an executive chef—both at respected Minnesota organizations—they took the…

St. Anthony: Aggressive Hydraulics, started by laid-off factory workers 20 years ago, is expanding again Aggressive Hydraulics, an East Bethel-based maker of parts for trucks and other equipment, is expanding again. The company was born of the inventiveness of seven employee-owners, five of whom lost their factory jobs in 2000 to an industry consolidator. Today,…