Krohmer Plumbing seeking to transform Mitchell Shopko building into new office

Mar. 27—MITCHELL — One of Mitchell's largest vacant buildings could soon become the new home to Krohmer Plumbing.

The city Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved Krohmer Plumbing's plan to move its entire Mitchell office and showroom to the former Shopko building.

"I'm glad somebody is using the building," Commission member Kevin Genzlinger said.

The longtime Mitchell plumbing business pursuing to relocate from the west edge of Mitchell and into the Shopko building revealed a major change of plans at the commercial building.

In 2022, a South Dakota Native American tribe purchased the Shopko building for $1.6 million. The Flandreau-based Santee Sioux tribe bought the large commercial property to turn into a medical marijuana production facility. Since the tribe took ownership over a year ago, there were no signs of construction work taking place at the property.

According to City Planner Mark Jenniges, the owners of Krohmer Plumbing are in the process of purchasing the building from the tribe.

If the move materializes as planned, Krohmer Plumbing would move out of its 401 S. Ohlman St. office and into the 71,846-square-foot building on the north side of Mitchell.

The building housed a Shopko for several decades until the company closed the Mitchell location in 2019 after filing for bankruptcy. Mitchell was among all of South Dakota's Shopko stores to close in 2019.

Frank Krohmer, owner of Krohmer Plumbing, said a fence will be installed along a portion of the parking lot facing the north side of the building. Plans show the entrance of the business will remain on the west side.

Krohmer Plumbing has been a staple in the Mitchell community since 1984. Over the past several decades, the family owned business has expanded its footprint throughout the state. In addition to its Mitchell office, Krohmer Plumbing has offices in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.