See Inside This Iconic Sioux Falls Spot That's up for Sale

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See Inside the Former 'Cherry Creek Grill' in Sioux Falls

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Flashback 1992: Inside Sioux Falls Old Washington High School

The modern marvel that is YouTube never ceases to amaze me. Sure, there's plenty of garbage there, but you can also find some gems.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

It was a great place to have a meal out without going all the way across town. Sioux Falls Eastside lost a long-time mainstay in 2022 when Cherry Creek Grill closed.

The question lingered, would Cherry Creek Grill reopen? When? Well, eastsiders got an answer this week when the owners confirmed that Cherry Creek Grill in Sioux Falls would not reopen.

READ MORE: Cherry Creek Grill, Beloved Sioux Falls Restaurant, Closes Its Doors For Good

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The building where Cherry Creek Grill in Sioux Falls lived was built in 1981.

For over four decades, the little spot on E 26th Street has seen the Eastside grow from the sleepy edge of town, into a busy and thriving part of town.

Now, that building is up for grabs...if you have a cool two and a half million dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

What's next? Another restaurant? Sports bar? Vape shop? It's got all the restaurant things still in place, so I'm guessing the next resident will be an eatery of some sort. Will one of Sioux Falls' fantastic food trucks take this opportunity to set down some roots?

The sky is the limit in Sioux Falls, the Eastside can't wait to see what comes next.