The strip mall that houses Cost Cutters, Pro Nails, King Buffet and Calico Card & Gift on 18th Avenue is receiving a facade facelift to match it better with the improvements to Crossroads County Market and ShopKo, said Bill Scholfield, who is overseeing the project.

Scholfield is owner of Scholfield Group LLC, a real estate brokerage firm in Wausau. The owners of the property within the County Market area wanted to improve the aesthetics of the strip mall, especially because it's in plain sight along one of Wausau's busiest thoroughfares, Scholfield said.

"It's a gateway property to the city," he said. "We want it to have a much more contemporary appearance."

Work on the 16,000-square-foot property started in mid-October and should wrap up by Thanksgiving, Scholfield said. After this work is complete, the next step is to address the old Crossroads Cinema, which closed earlier this year.

Scholfield said the 10,000-square-foot theater likely will be replaced with a new building housing multiple retail tenants. He declined to elaborate, but added that he expects to make some announcements regarding the property this winter.

-- DJ Slater

What's up with Quirt Family Dentistry?

Construction has started on Main Street in Merrill for a new building that will house Quirt Family Dentistry.

Since starting his practice in Merrill two years ago, Ben Quirt's practice has outgrown the current building. In the meantime, Quirt bought practices from Dr. Mark Mehlos and Dr. C.E. Weith, gaining their patients and many other new patients.

"We've been bursting at the seams here," Quirt said. "We needed something a little bigger."

Patients often have to park on a side street near the current building, which is especially inconvenient during the winter, Quirt said.

Quirt said the building will have eight exam rooms with massaging chairs.

The 2,000-square foot building is just down the street from Quirt's current practice on Main Street. Quirt said he is looking to lease additional space in the building.

Quirt's father, Robert, and his brother, Tim, also have Quirt Family Dentistry locations in Wausau and Schofield.

--Megan Loiselle

What's Up with Game Time Lounge?

The arcade next to the Cedar Creek Mall Cinema in Rothschild is much larger now thanks to a couple of Schofield parents of teens.

Randall and Lori Connors said they realize how difficult it can be to find entertainment for the under-21 crowd. So in August, the Conners bought and expanded the arcade next to the movie theater in the Cedar Creek Mall and, in September, opened the Game Time Lounge on the other side of the theater.

"We just wanted to give people a place to come and hang out, wait for the movie to start or wait for their kids to come out of the movie," Randall said.

The couple serves snacks and sandwiches in the lounge, where people can watch the NFL package and other premium sports packages on big-screen TVs.

Game Time and the arcade are open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. The arcade also has a private room that can be reserved for parties or meetings.

For more information, call 298-2525.

--Amy Ryan