JAMESTOWN (AP) - Mike Marcil moved back to his native North Dakota from California hoping to make a difference - and some money.

The real estate developer, who calls himself a "serial entrepreneur," has been buying properties in western North Dakota, and recently, much of a downtown city block in Jamestown.

The Marcil Group, his private equity company, currently holds 23 investments in several states, including properties in Beulah, Gackle, Glen Ullin, Hazen, New Salem and Zap. He recently bought all but three businesses along Jamestown's First Avenue Northwest.

"We're crazy," Marcil said about investing in small communities. "It's like nobody does this."

Marcil grew up in Fargo and graduated from the University of North Dakota. For the decade years, Marcil and his wife, Tricia Bothum, lived near San Francisco.

"But I missed North Dakota, as crazy as that sounds," Marcil said. "Living in California, I didn't feel that I was connected to a community, like I was here in North Dakota."

The couple and their 3-year-old daughter moved back to Fargo in April.

"We can make investments here in North Dakota that will make a big difference," Marcil said.

Business became so busy so quickly in North Dakota, he had to hire staff to manage the investments.

"Now we're up to 70 employees in less than a year," he said.

The Marcil Group has invested in properties that already have successful businesses on site.

In Jamestown, Marcil plans to continue Lil's and the Brass Rail with the same staff and menus that have drawn regular customers for years.

"We want to serve the same market but with newer facilities," Marcil said.

He even convinced Lil Dixon to put off retirement a little longer.

"The good news is, hopefully, she's going to stick around for a long time as a consultant," he said.

"I'm going to stay on with them for a while," Dixon said.

Dixon has been making pizzas for 45 years. She moved into the corner location on First Avenue North in 1968, added the Continental Room in 1977 and the Continental Lounge in 1979.

Although local residents are sometimes afraid to risk investing in their own small towns, Marcil has found those investments can pay off. He said many people prefer to live in their home communities but they want 21st century living spaces. Marcil has found people quickly fill apartments in North Dakota towns once they are modernized.

He also believes families - like his own - will move from crowded areas to less populated states, like North Dakota.

"We're getting this reverse migration of people looking for good communities," he said.