StartUp

Oil City News is proud to present the #StartUp series. Throughout the next few months, #StartUp will take readers on a behind-the-scenes journey into the process of starting a new business, telling the stories of local founders and their businesses. If you have an idea for Casper’s next great Start-Up, be sure to check out the 2019 Casper Start-Up Challenge, which will award three local businesses a share of $50,000 in seed money. Entries accepted through September 12th. Details at https://casperstartupchallenge.com/

Daylight after darkness comes for donut maker

Everybody loves donuts. Not eating them is hard. Making them is even harder, particularly if you’re a single mother of two young children hoping to open your own business. That... Read more »

06/07/19 6:05 AM

City preparing to sell former Source Gas lot

06/05/19 2:05 PM

After 26 years, Party America in Casper to close

06/04/19 2:52 PM

New ‘Thai Kitchen’ seeking restaurant liquor license

06/03/19 5:05 PM

Former home baker adds new twists to Gruner Brothers Brewery

05/29/19 2:41 PM

Backwards moves forward with new downtown tasting room

05/28/19 8:04 AM

Saloon at new ‘Clarion Inn at Platte River’ seeking liquor license

CASPER, Wyo. — The Clarion Inn at Platte River is the name of the new business going in at the old Parkway Plaza. Parkway Plaza Drive was renamed as West... Read more »

05/20/19 1:27 PM

Fashion Crossroads has been a downtown anchor for 45 years

CASPER, Wyo. — When Dawn Stevenson took over in 1974, Fashion Crossroads in downtown Casper was one of 840 franchise stores. It’s now the only one left in the country.... Read more »

05/03/19 3:08 PM

Tapped In: Mouthful Burgers moves to Gruner Brothers Brewing

CASPER, Wyo. — Mouthful owner Tyler Wood is poised to make the biggest change in his business since it opened in August, 2016. “We are super thrilled, we’ve gone from... Read more »

04/22/19 1:50 PM

Scarlow’s Gallery mixes art with caffeine

CASPER, Wyo. — In Italy, the cafe experience is something of a sacred tradition. In their culture it’s not uncommon to make multiple stops at cafes throughout the day, starting... Read more »

04/19/19 10:06 AM

Backwards Distilling gets new satellite liquor license

CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council approved Backwards Distilling Company’s application for a new Distillery Satellite liquor license during Council’s Tuesday, April 16 Council meeting. The license allows Backwards... Read more »

04/16/19 6:19 PM

Flag Development present Platte River Commons indoor athletics facility proposal

Flag Development, LLC. co-owner Brandon Daigle presented a proposal to build an indoor sports and athletics facility during the Wednesday, April 10 Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board meeting. The... Read more »

04/10/19 8:13 PM

County Commissioners approve Wyoming Downs horse-race wagering facility

The Natrona County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday, April 2 approving Wyoming Downs, LLC’s plans to open a new para-mutuel horse race wagering facility in the... Read more »

04/04/19 5:18 PM

Wyoming Downs plans new horse race wagering facility in former Applebee’s building

Wyoming Downs, LLC plans to open a new para-mutuel horse race wagering facility in the former Applebee’s building. Wyoming Downs General Manager Eric Nelson said they’re planning to open the... Read more »

04/01/19 1:31 PM

Gunwerks breaks ground in Cody

Gunwerks broke ground on its new facility in Cody, Wyoming on March 26. The building will reportedly house the manufacturing of Gunwerks’ long-range shooting systems, rifles, optics, rangefinders, and ammunition;... Read more »

03/27/19 2:18 PM

CAEDA explains importance of bringing ‘Opportunity Zone’ investments to Casper

The Casper Area Economic Development Alliance, Inc. wants to contract a consulting firm to help identify and attract investors to invest in Casper’s four economic “Opportunity Zones.” The “Opportunity Zones”... Read more »

03/26/19 4:10 PM

City selling former Fire Station No. 5 and former Beverly Street Ball Field parcel

The City of Casper announced on Friday, March 22 that it is selling the former Fire Station No. 5 and a former Beverly Street Ball Fields Parcel. “The City of... Read more »

03/22/19 1:45 PM

Shopko latest retail fatality, liquidating all stores

Shopko announced yesterday that it will end operations and close all of its stores nationwide. The retailer operates several stores in Wyoming, including Douglas, Green River, Greybull, Lander, Mountain View,... Read more »

03/19/19 8:52 AM

CAEDA requests $10,000 from City Council for ‘Opportunity Zone’ funding

The Casper Area Economic Development Alliance requested $10,000 from the City Council during Council’s Tuesday, March 12 work session. CAEDA is also seeking $10,000 from both Natrona County and the... Read more »

03/13/19 2:55 PM

Bourgeois Pig hopes to bring good coffee to the masses

Josh Tinnell knows what he wants and does not want in his new coffee shop. He wants good coffee, made properly with Wyoming-roasted beans. He wants music and eclectic decor... Read more »

03/12/19 6:43 AM

Ridley’s to close Casper CY store

Ridley’s Family Markets has announced it will close the Casper store on CY Avenue. In a statement released March 7, the Idaho-based company said it will wind down operations at... Read more »

03/07/19 9:02 PM

‘Horse Palace’ gets liquor license for its business in old ‘On the Border’ building

The “Horse Palace”, a new legal gaming business located along Wyoming Boulevard in the old On the Border building, received City Council’s approval for a Bar and Grill Liquor License.... Read more »

03/05/19 6:40 PM

‘Horse Palace’ to partially open Monday—awaiting Bar and Grill Liquor License [PHOTOS]

A new Casper legal gaming business plans to open its doors at 5 p.m. Monday, March. The business is called the Horse Palace and will offer electronic games based on... Read more »

03/04/19 4:40 PM

Casper JCPenney store not among closures

Legacy retailer JCPenney announced on Thursday that it will close 27 stores this year. According to Business Insider, the stores include “18 full-line department stores and nine home furniture stores.”... Read more »

03/01/19 1:53 PM

Developers disappointed in Council’s Plains Furniture decision—say downtown needs housing [DESIGN PHOTOS]

Spokesmen for the two Plains Furniture redevelopment proposals the City received say they’re disappointed with City Council’s expected decision to open another request for proposals to develop the properties. The... Read more »

02/28/19 12:08 PM

JC Burgers: Casper’s culinary time capsule still sizzling after 60 years

For over 60 years now, a tall sign with a blast of neon and sharp shapes has been making its distinctive statement on a quiet corner in central Casper. When... Read more »

02/12/19 4:17 PM

PowerUp Gaming Lounge brings communal video gaming to Casper (Photos and Story)

Chad Jones has been playing video games most of his life. “Since I was a kid, it was the main thing that brought us together,” recalls Jones. “We had a... Read more »

02/05/19 5:03 PM

Basement Shift transforms former storage space into hip co-work space

The building currently occupied by Stateline No. 7 Architects at 444 South Center has a lot of history. It was built in 1917 by the Chicago and Northern Railroad, back... Read more »

01/24/19 12:30 PM

Former VFW building to become center for fresh, locally produced food

Vendors and customers alike braved the brutal Casper winds to attend the first Winter Market of the season on Saturday. The market, organized by the Wyoming Food for Thought Project,... Read more »

01/21/19 3:46 PM

Casper’s Macy’s store to close in early 2019

Casper will be losing another prominent retailer in 2019. In an email to Oil City News, a spokesperson for Macy’s, Inc. confirmed rumors that Macy’s in Eastridge Mall has been... Read more »

12/31/18 4:31 PM

Stalkup’s RV Superstore to close

A familiar name in the recreational vehicle business is about to ride into the sunset. Stalkup’s RV Superstore is in the process of winding down operations, according to co-owner Ray... Read more »

12/29/18 8:39 AM

Okes Jewelers closes after nearly 70 years of business in Casper

The display cases are nearly empty in Okes Jewelers on Second and Wolcott Streets in downtown Casper. After several weeks of liquidation sales, it’s almost time for Mark Okes to... Read more »

12/27/18 2:12 PM

Casper’s Frosted Tops bakery ready for next sweet step

Tucked away on the east side of the sprawling Parkway Plaza Hotel is one of Casper’s sweetest secrets. It’s in that unassuming space, formally a pizza restaurant, where Kirstin Bott... Read more »

12/20/18 2:15 PM

Winners announced in Casper Start-Up Challenge

Some of Casper’s brightest entrepreneurs are waking up to a new future this morning. The annual UW Casper Start-Up Challenge held its pitch challenge last night at The Lyric, where... Read more »

11/16/18 10:34 AM

UW’s Casper Start-Up Challenge Pitch Day Thursday

The 2018 Pitch Day for the Casper Start-Up Challenge will be held on Thursday, November 15th at 4:00 pm at The Lyric in Casper.

11/14/18 9:06 PM

StartUp: Casper firefighter-turned-entrepreneur makes rugged outdoor gear

Story by Tom Mast, special to Oil City News A broken backpack far from the nearest road can make for a decidedly unhappy camper. Cameron Siplon, a Casper firefighter and... Read more »

11/02/18 1:03 PM

Sheridan-based Bighorn Design Studio buys 1890 Inc.

1890 Inc., Casper’s home-grown apparel and custom screen printing shop, has been sold to Sheridan-based Bighorn Design Studio. “It all has happened so fast,” said Bighorn Design Studio owner PJ... Read more »

10/30/18 3:40 PM

New Brew: Casper’s Gruner Brothers Brewery producing first batch

The unmistakable sweet smell of malt and barley floated through the shiny new brewhouse at Gruner Brothers Brewing on Thursday morning. Owners and crew carefully monitored panels, checked displays and... Read more »

10/19/18 1:08 PM

Start-Up Challenge: New invention gives oil or gas field workers automated control

Being able to monitor and optimize the use of additives in oil or gas wells from an office perhaps a hundred miles away is the objective of one finalist in... Read more »

10/17/18 12:07 PM

Barnwood Bros thrives, advances in Casper Start-Up Challenge

By Tom Mast, special to Oil City News Adam Jackson was already thinking about ways to grow his reclaimed wood business within two months of opening its doors. Now, he... Read more »

10/03/18 8:34 AM