83 Express under new ownership
BY ALYSSA MEIER
Editor
One multi-purpose Washburn destination has a new face behind it after owners handed over keys to the gas station and connected flower and coffee shop last week.
Long-time owners of the 83 Express Shell gas station and Java Rose Floral & Cappuccino Dick and Carla Bickert recently completed the paperwork officially selling the joint businesses to Brett Narloch of Bismarck.
The Bickerts and Narloch, who is a partner in the Sweet Crude Truck Stop in Grassy Butte, closed on the sale Friday afternoon after working together for the past several months.
“This is my first day here, so I’m still figuring out what key opens what door,” Narloch said Monday. Narloch currently lives in Bismarck with his wife and two kids.
Narloch said he was on the hunt for another store to buy last fall when he stumbled upon a listing for the Washburn location. He said he had driven by the business “a hundred times” and felt it would be a good fit.
“I’m from a small town, so this is how I grew up and it’s all very familiar,” said Narloch, who is originally from Minto, ND.
