Mike Bockorny
Building a Thriving, Connected, and Welcoming Business Environment
Mike Bockorny
Walk through downtown Aberdeen on a summer Saturday, and you will see Mike Bockorny’s vision in motion; families filling Malchow Plaza and shoppers carrying fresh finds from the Farmers Market. That lively, connected energy is no accident. It is the result of years of persistence, grit, and a belief that Aberdeen could thrive if someone was willing to roll up their sleeves and make it happen.
Mike was born and raised in Huron, South Dakota, but Aberdeen became home after he graduated from Northern State University with a degree in Business Management. His early career took him into retail management, but he soon realized his true passion: helping other people succeed. That passion led him to the Northern State University Foundation, where he worked to advance the University and supporting campus initiatives and students. It was also the passion that eventually pulled him into the CEO position at the Aberdeen Development Corporation (ADC).
As CEO of the ADC, Mike combined two things he loved most: strengthening his community and driving business growth. He took on the arduous work of recruiting new businesses, retaining existing ones, and helping them grow. It was not glamorous, development yields more setbacks than successes, but Mike never flinched. Over his more than a decade as CEO of the ADC, he and his team assisted over 1,000 businesses. Each project meant jobs created, families supported, and momentum gained.
Mike also holds a deep passion for downtowns, believing they are the beating heart of a community. One of his proudest accomplishments was the development of Malchow Plaza. Following a tragic fire, what had once been a bustling cornerstone of downtown was gone, and questions were abound as to what would happen to downtown. Mike had a vision for this space and what emerged and stands there today is Malchow Plaza. The Plaza is now a vibrant hub, hosting everything from the Farmers Market to concerts and community gatherings. “It’s pretty amazing to drive through downtown these days,” Mike says. “To see people strolling, shopping, attending events that is what we have worked so hard for. It feels alive now.”
But perhaps nothing embodies Mike’s dedication to Aberdeen more than Novel Ideas, the independent bookstore he launched with his wife, Kristi. The idea was Kristi’s, and the name came from a family brainstorming session with their children. Before opening the store, Mike and Kristi took a road trip inspired by a blog that highlighted six New England states. Starting in Boston, they visited charming Main Street bookstores that sparked their imagination and confirmed their belief that a business like Novel Ideas would work in Aberdeen.
Mike and his wife Kristi Bockorny
Located—of course—downtown, Novel Ideas is more than just a bookstore. It is a curated, cozy destination filled with over 6,000 novels, nostalgic candies, vintage board games, and classic treats from the past. It is a space where people can gather, discover new books, slow down, and connect—something rare in today’s fast-paced, digital world. But Mike is not slowing down. Beyond Novel Ideas and his ownership stake in other downtown properties; such as, The Alonzo Ward Hotel and Plaza and the Sears Lofts Mike’s passion for economic development has taken him to a statewide role in helping to shape the future of South Dakota.
Today, he serves as CEO of the Economic Development Professionals Association of South Dakota. In this role, he mentors young professionals, advocates for pro-growth legislation, and lobbies year-round in Pierre to ensure South Dakota communities have the tools they need to succeed.
Whether he’s welcoming a new business, reimagining downtown, or handing a child their first favorite book, Mike is still focused on the same goal: building a thriving, connected, and welcoming business environment. And as Aberdeen residents stroll through a lively Malchow Plaza or in the aisles of downtown businesses or restaurants, they see that vision come to life.
