What's New in Sioux Falls: A No. 1 Job Market, NoJo's Bagels, and Winter Wonderland

Here is what is new around the Sioux Falls area this week: the metro just tied for the lowest unemployment rate in the entire country at 1.7 percent, a locally owned bagel shop called NoJo's Bagels is on its way to south Sioux Falls, Veterans Day events are set for November 11, Mayor Christine Erickson's listening series turns to the economy on November 12, and Winter Wonderland at The Falls kicks off its 23rd season on November 20. I'm Jennifer Krosch, a Realtor with eXp Realty, and I keep this local beat because the job numbers, the storefronts, and the calendar are how you can actually see where a city is headed.

The Sioux Falls metro just tied for the lowest unemployment in the country

The headline economic news this week is a good one. In the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report for September 2026, released October 28, the Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro posted a not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 1.7 percent, tying Bismarck, North Dakota, and Rapid City, South Dakota for the lowest rate of any metro in the nation. SiouxFalls.Business reported November 2 that the metro had regained the No. 1 spot it briefly lost in August, when the rate climbed to 2.2 percent after four straight months under 2 percent. Cleveland, which had held the top spot in August at 1.8 percent, ticked up to 1.9 percent in September.

By the numbers, 1.7 percent works out to roughly 2,920 unemployed people in the metro, which covers Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook, and Turner counties in South Dakota plus Rock County, Minnesota, according to the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation.

City finance director Shawn Pritchett told SiouxFalls.Business that sales-tax collections are ahead of budget, with manufacturing and wholesale trade of durable goods up significantly, while consumer categories like grocery and department stores have been flat. Put simply: the parts of the economy that pay mortgages and build homes are humming, even as shoppers stay careful with everyday spending. For anyone buying or selling here, a top-ranked job market is the quiet foundation under the housing market, and it is a big part of why people keep moving to the area.

NoJo's Bagels is coming to south Sioux Falls

One of the more fun stories on the local food beat: a new, locally owned bagel shop is on its way to south Sioux Falls. NoJo's Bagels is being opened by Jordan Schoenfelder and Nolan Wiese, and the name is a blend of their first names, No-lan and Jo-rdan. The shop is under construction in the retail center that includes 22Ten Kitchen Cocktails, near the northwest corner of 69th Street and Western Avenue.

The plan is New York-style bagels, with about 10 varieties daily plus rotating specials, along with breakfast options, soups, bagel sandwiches, and premium coffee. As of the latest public reports, the owners had not set a firm opening date: they were waiting on equipment parts before finishing recipe testing and starting to hire. When it opens, it gives that 69th and Western corridor another everyday stop, which matters for anyone touring homes in the neighborhoods around it.

Veterans Day in Sioux Falls: three ways to honor and support

Wednesday, November 11 is Veterans Day, and there are several ways to mark it around town. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Military & Veterans Affairs Committee hosts the annual Veterans Day Program from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance. It is the region's flagship ceremony, and a fitting stop for families who want their kids to see the community honoring its veterans.

For active families, Sanford Sports hosts the Veterans Day Flag Football Tournament from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sanford Fieldhouse, a one-day tournament for kids in grades 1 through 8. And if you want to support a good cause while you grab a bite, The Barrel House at 4701 E. 54th St. is donating 10 percent of sales on Monday, November 9 to support Wreaths Across America at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, a drive organized through Midwest Honor Flight.

The mayor's listening series turns to the economy

Mayor Christine Erickson's Sioux Falls Listens series continues Thursday, November 12 with a session focused on economic development at Levitt at the Falls. It is part of her first 100 days in office, and it follows earlier listening sessions with the community and the business community. The economic development session is the one to put on the calendar if you care about jobs, growth, and what comes next for the metro, and it lands right after a week in which the city's jobless rate made national headlines.

Winter Wonderland returns to Falls Park on November 20

The holiday season officially kicks off Friday, November 20, when Winter Wonderland at The Falls returns for its 23rd consecutive year. Opening night starts at 5 p.m. with the lighting of The Falls at Falls Park, followed at 6 p.m. by the lighting of the city's large holiday tree in its new home at Jacobson Plaza, capped with fireworks. From that night through January 3, 2027, the park lights up nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight, and it is free to visit.

This is the first season with the city's Christmas tree in its new home. Jacobson Plaza Phase 2 opened this fall just north of Falls Park, and the tree, formerly at the Washington Pavilion, now anchors the plaza for Winter Wonderland. A free holiday light display in the city's signature park is one of the reasons people who move here tell me they never miss a Sioux Falls winter.

Raising Cane's opens November 17

One more date for the calendar: Raising Cane's, the Louisiana-based chicken finger chain, opens South Dakota's first location on Tuesday, November 17 at 4004 W. 41st St., across from The Empire Mall. The project is expected to bring about 165 jobs to the area. Between Veterans Day, the mayor's economic listening session, and the Winter Wonderland kickoff, the next two weeks give you plenty of reasons to get out and see what's new.

What this means for buyers and sellers

Here is the realtor's take. A metro that ties for the lowest unemployment in the country is a metro where people can afford the move they are planning, and that shows up in steady demand for homes. A new neighborhood bagel shop and a free holiday light display are the everyday amenities that make a community feel like home, and they give relocating buyers real, current answers when they ask what life here is like. For sellers, the story around your neighborhood is getting stronger every month: a top-ranked job market, new local businesses, and a packed holiday calendar are all things you can point to when you tell buyers why this area works.

If you would like to talk about what any of these changes mean for your search or your home's value, I would love to walk it through with you.

FAQ: What's New in Sioux Falls