Sierra Opens at Westridge Center, Expanding Bemidji's Outdoor Retail Options

Customers braved 20-degree temperatures to be first through the doors when Sierra opened its 20,000-square-foot store at Westridge Shopping Center at 8 a.m. Saturday, capping a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included a $10,000 donation to the Bemidji Community Food Shelf.

Store Manager Aaron Bullie opened the ceremony alongside Bemidji Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors before presenting the check to Food Shelf Executive Director Jennifer Aakre. "At Sierra, community matters, and today we're honored to give back," Bullie said.

The store fills one of four retail spaces carved out of the former Marketplace Foods footprint, which went dark on Aug. 21, 2024, leaving a roughly 18-month commercial void at one of Bemidji's primary shopping nodes. Maurices claimed an adjacent space in November 2025 after relocating from the Paul Bunyan Mall; Bath & Body Works and Ulta Beauty are both expected to follow later this year, with Ulta landing next to Sally Beauty.

Sierra, which TJX Companies launched as Sierra Trading Post in Reno in 1986, sells outdoor apparel, footwear, camping supplies and household goods at off-price points, the same discount model that drives sister brands TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, both of which also operate out of Westridge.

Minnesota/North Dakota District Manager Catherine Misko framed the Bemidji location as part of a deliberate push beyond the Twin Cities, pointing to a recent Rochester opening and potential expansion to Duluth. "We look forward to contributing to the growth and prosperity of Bemidji," Misko said.

Gift card vouchers were hidden around the store for opening-day shoppers to find and redeem for in-store credit.