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The Coal Bin
The Coal Bin, Underwood's newest store, is a consignment store owned and operated by Joe and Joanne Fleischmann.  The Coal Bin's inventory, which features everything from antiques to just plain fun stuff, changes daily, and new customers are drawn from as far away as Bismarck.  Daily hours are from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.  Visit the Coal Bin, located right next to T Bone's Steakhouse in Underwood.

Underwood Featured in the News
Small Town Sees Growth

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Many rural towns in North Dakota have been steadily losing population for years. Some of them seem resigned to just become a blip on the map. But not Underwood.

A group of residents there decided to band together and are proving to the rest of the state what the power of community spirit can do.

In the 1970s, Underwood peaked with a population of about 1,400. Today, estimates put that number closer to 750. But about two years ago, many of those residents got together and decided to fight to keep their town alive.

Underwood used to call itself as one of the busiest towns on the Soo Line. Now, it sits just off Highway 83, halfway between Bismarck and Minot, and many businesses and people have followed that highway out.

"It kind of crept up on people," said Becky Bowen, Underwood economic developer. "They didn`t realize there was so much trade leakage and diminution in population."

Businesses on the town`s main street had been slowly closing, the same fate many small towns are having.

"What sets this community apart from some of the other communities is that two years ago they decided to do something about it. We`ve done a lot of studies and have been in planning stages for the last couple years," said Bowen.

Now, they`re starting to see results, including a new restaurant to replace one that had closed.

"We bought it April 15 and completely gutted the building. We started over," explained Scott Sackman of T-Bones Restaurant.

Sackman used to run T-Bones in Fessenden, but the building burned down almost two years ago. He was looking for a new location, when he found the opportunity in Underwood.

"There`s a lot of activity around here," said Sackman. "People have been extremely nice."

His restaurant employs 19 people, including a chef who moved to the town from Sioux Falls.

Another new business is the Underwood Inn, which opened in an abandoned mercantile building.

"I think they`re excited that Main Street is actually alive again, and there are vehicles all over," added Connie Pickar with Underwood Inn.

Pickar has lived in Underwood since the 1990s and says it`s nice to see the town turning around.

"There are new faces all the time in town," said Pickar. "New faces all the time."

And there`s space for more new faces to come.

A new home construction business opened in town and is building homes on lots that the city is selling for just $1.

Another restaurant reopened, along with a consignment shop and there are more projects in the works.

Residents in Underwood have also taken visible pride in their community by participating in several beautification projects: redoing the Veteran`s Park and putting up new signs for the town.

The next step is to open a business center that will serve four counties, and they`re trying to reopen the local theater.

Signs, Signs, Signs
A common complaint among Underwood business owners has been the lack of signage to draw motorists off of Highway 83. The UAEDC, with the help of community volunteers, has just completed the installation of two highway signs, as well as landscaping around entry planters. Plans are in the works to install lighting on both highway signs and the entry sign so that the "Lights are always on" in Underwood.

Autumn Color
Fall brings changing leaves and hunting season to Underwood. Area sportsmen and women are encouraged to spend the night here in one of our two inns, have a fantastic steak dinner at T-Bone's Steakhouse and Lounge, and wake to a yummy breakfast at D'Eggo's Diner. Ask about package deals at all businesses.

Harvest Fest 2010
Harvest Fest 2010 was a great time for all. We welcomed back all of our alumni and were happy to share our Harvest Fest activities with them. Among the many activities was the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Park.

T-Bone's Steakhouse and Lounge
Underwood's newest restaurant opened for business on August 1, 2010. Located  at 219 Lincoln Avenue, T-Bone's offers a variety of entrees and an inviting atmosphere to make your evening family dining experience well worth a trip to Underwood. Owners Scott and Dawn Sackman purchased the old BobKats Café in April, tore everything out of the inside, and started anew. The result is a refreshing mix of modern and country.
T-Bone's is open Monday-Saturday 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  442-3701.

Underwood Participates in Horizons Project
Underwood, as well as fourteen other North Dakota communities, recently celebrated the completion of its participation in the Northwest Area Foundation's Horizons Program. The 18-month long program consisted of three phases, starting with the Study Circle phase, during which time residents of Underwood came together to discuss the positive attributes of their city and identified certain action ideas. The second phase involved community participation in the LeadershipPlenty training, which helped identify natural leaders who will bring the action ideas to fruition. The third phase involved the development and implementation of Underwood’s Strategic Plan. In addition to technical assistance, Underwood received a $10,000 grant from the Northwest Area Foundation to assist in the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Underwood Inn Now Open
The Underwood Inn, Underwood's newest business, is now open for business. The business owners, Underwood Commercial Properties, Inc., invested over $200,000 in renovations to the historic building on Lincoln Avenue, to convert the former V&S Variety Store to an eight-room motel with all modern amenities. The building's renovation costs were financed through a combination of a grant from the City of Underwood's Sales and Use Tax Fund, a loan from the Revitalization Fund, owner equity, and personal financing.