A lot has changed in downtown Bismarck since First National Bank built its headquarters there in 1885.

Two things haven't: The First National building has always housed a bank, and customers still walk on the original marble floor.

There have been plenty of renovations on the building, located at 322 E. Main Ave., in the last 120 years. The most extensive came in 1954, when the building was rebuilt after a fire.

Fifty-one years later, the building is set for another facelift. BNC National Bank, which purchased the building from the city in 1995, will give its downtown headquarters a new look this summer, company spokeswoman Jan Nelson said.

The bank will renovate its exterior, at a cost of about $240,000. Nelson said the building will have a whole new look outside, but the marble floor and almost everything else inside will remain the same. Columns will be added outside, as well as a clock-tower feature and soft wall-lighting.

The project is scheduled for completion in mid-August.

Supercenter grows

Wal-Mart has officially received a building permit from the city for its planned location in north Bismarck.

According to specs on the city's permit log, the Wal-Mart Supercenter will be built at 1400 Skyline Blvd., north of 43rd Avenue. While that might be old news, there's a bit of new in the log.

The permit calls for construction of a 266,000-square-foot building for the retail giant. That's big even for Wal-Mart standards. Other supercenters - including the one the company will soon build in south Bismarck - are in the 206,000-square-foot range. That 60,000-square-foot difference is about the size of Bismarck's Arrowhead Plaza.

Construction on the north supercenter will cost about $12.9 million. The permit fee alone was almost $30,000, according to the city.

Strip mall to go up

Developer Mike Koch is putting up a strip mall on Mandan's Main Street.

Dirt work already has begun on the property, which is west of Gate City Bank. Koch said he hopes the 7,500-square-foot building will be finished by late September. He is currently working with three possible tenants.

The mall will have a western theme, Koch said, complete with a walking porch and tiered facade.

We'll keep you posted on the tenants.

Gas prices climb

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline has increased four cents since Memorial Day both nationwide and across North Dakota, according to AAA North Dakota. In both cases, the average price is about $2.13 a gallon.

The higher prices are the result of increased costs for crude oil, which has risen by more than $8 a barrel since mid-May to $55. On the commodities market, unleaded gasoline is up 12 cents during the same period.

Barnes retires

There will be more than one major change at Terry Barnes Auto Glass this summer.

In addition to moving from Mandan back to Bismarck, Terry Barnes Auto Glass soon will be without its namesake. Barnes will officially retire July 1, leaving the business to be run by his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Samantha.

Barnes, who ran for state insurance commissioner in 2004, said he is retiring because of health reasons. He said Nancy and Samantha Barnes have been running the glass shop for many years, and he has been doing the commercials and advertising only.

The shop has moved from the "Strip" in Mandan to 1030 S. 22nd St., Bismarck.

Bonanza remodel complete

The remodeling project that was announced at Mandan's Bonanza Steakhouse in April is complete.

The restaurant now features a "North Dakota decor," which owners Fred and Gary Buchwitz say is true to the heritage of the Bonanza brand. In addition to a new exterior look, the restaurant has installed new tables, chairs, booths, carpet and wall coverings.

The new food-bar area is set up to resemble an early 20th century country-style kitchen, and the dessert bar has been expanded.

(Reach Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tspilde@ndonline.com.)