This month and next, Blueprint South Dakota will continue spotlighting the entries in the 2025 Design Awards competition. AIA South Dakota members again proved their creativity and problem-solving skills with beautifully functional work, on display in communities across South Dakota and beyond. Each installment in this series introduces readers to a different project, in the design team’s own words. As part of every entry form, AIA SD asked submitters to provide a “long description” that addressed the design intent and its progression. We invited submitters to go beyond the stats to show the value the project added for their client or community. In turn, they detailed the problems the project solved, told how their process made the most of hidden opportunities, and described the ways the design supports the client or community through form and function.
Myrtle’s Fur Vault & Bar
The basics
The story
“My grandfather, Parker, and grandmother, Myrtle, married in 1930,” says property owner Stacy Newcomb, who calls Myrtle’s and her next-door Parker’s Bistro “an expression of their era.”
“For me the restaurants are a physical symbol of the times they lived through, growing up during WWI, the Prohibition, The Great Depression, and then WWII,” Newcomb says. “The first restaurant, Parker’s, was an attractive small building in dire need of repair. Formerly the Ballard building, Parker’s marks the beginning of the ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Sioux Falls. Myrtle’s, nearly a decade later, begins the next chapter in revitalization, renovation, and honoring my grandparents. Parker and Myrtle are getting another run. They are looking on, laughing and crying with me through these renovations.”
The project inhabits the Frye building, which was constructed in 1934. From 1934 to 1978, the space was home to a dry cleaner and mending shop. According to Newcomb, the building served as an optometrist office in the 50 years preceding the renovation. All original finishes were removed or covered, and the fur storage vault was sealed up and forgotten.
When the time came to renovate the building into Myrtle’s Fur Vault & Bar, the exterior was repaired and refurbished, retaining the original white stucco appearance as seen in 1934. A new striped awning was added to match that seen in historic photos. Restoring the simple exterior was an intentional move that fosters a greater sense of surprise at the richness and warmth of the interior space within.
In the words of the owner, “Historic photos reflected a simple white stucco box, so we cleaned it up and let it be simple. People come in and are surprised at the expansive feel of the space, instead of being small and squatty, which is the impression at the entrance.”
Prior to renovation, the space had been outfitted with a multitude of partitions, wall and floor coverings, and drop ceilings. No trace of the historic charm was left uncovered. During the renovation, we discovered original brick and wood framing, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the historic construction. The interior developed over time as we stripped layers of material back to the original shell and ceiling framing. Having found beauty in the madness, we decided to showcase these elements rather than cover them back up behind new finishes. Traces of paint, adhesive, and wall coverings are left exposed throughout the space, lending historic charm and clues of past inhabitants for diners to ponder.
The original steel windows were a feature that drew the owner to this building early on. Located on the east and north sides of the building, the historic windows at Myrtle’s let in ample ambient light whereas most other buildings on the block have much less natural light. The space also hosts an original skylight that had been closed decades prior. The owner has intentions of reopening the skylight in the future and letting a pool of light spill into the bar area. The fur vault on the lower level has not yet been renovated, but one of the next steps in the legacy of Myrtle’s and Parker’s is to convert the fur vault to a private event space for dining parties.
Considerable efforts were made to revive the building and its character while bringing the space up to modern standards of comfort. The addition of ductwork, sprinklers, conduit, and lighting had to be carefully planned and inserted in a way that was noticeable but not distracting or obtrusive. It was also a challenge to balance repair and replacement of historic elements in a way that preserves or complements the look and feel of the space.
Following the completion of the project, Myrtle’s Fur Vault & Bar has joined Parker’s Bistro as another beloved keystone of downtown Sioux Falls. The pair contributes to the beauty of the built environment and serves the community as attractive and welcoming dining establishments in the heart of the city.
More projects in the series
Click to view a video of all 22 entries in the 2025 AIA South Dakota Design Awards.
