Defunct Beaver Bay store in court with city

Talk about it

The city of Beaver Bay and Barry Braun, owner of the former North Shore Mercantile and Bearpaw Brewhaus in the Beaver Bay Community Center, are embroiled in a lease disagreement that reached district court in Two Harbors.

According to court documents Braun owes the city about $6,000 after entering into a commercial lease agreement at the center in 2008. In the report it says the defendant breached the agreement through non-payment of rent and utility bills.

Beaver Bay Mayor Mark Russell said business started to go south and he ended up defaulting on his lease. He said a communication breakdown between the two sides led to court proceedings.

On its Web site www.northshore mercantile.com, the store touts “hand crafted items from the North Shore of Lake Superior.” Two items were listed for sale on the site, photo cards and a crocheted beanie hat.

Braun drew up designs for T-shirts, sweatshirts and caps for the original store. His own North Shore photographs were matted and framed and served as décor and also as merchandise. Free wireless internet service had been set up and computers were available for those who didn’t have their own. Bearpaw Brewhaus coffee was served.

Braun, formerly of St. Cloud, had a web design and marketing business he brought with him. He obtained the space in the storefront between Wits’ End Corner County Store and Bakery and the Lemon Wolf Café. Since there was room left over, he and his wife, Jenny, decided to open a retail store.

Braun is the president of X.CELERATED motorsports marketing and multimedia. According to its Facebook page, the group was founded in 2004 and is a marketing and multimedia firm based in Minnesota that focuses on high performance design, web applications, marketing analytics multimedia, web broadcasting, and advanced internet technologies.

Hodge Podge Gifts & Crafts has replaced Braun’s store.

A judge’s ruling it is expected in the next few weeks.

Braun said he had no comment on the case.

Tags: two harbors, news, beaver bay, court, business, fccnetwork