Client Spotlight: South Robert Street Business Association
Evolve Workplace client South Robert Street Business Association (SRSBA) is a charitable gambling organization made up of local businesses and nonprofits. They run pulltabs and other games at local bars and restaurants, then give away the profits to all kinds of local causes, including nonprofits, schools, events, and more.
Started in 1922, the organization has more than 100 years of history in West St. Paul. SRSBA has called Evolve home since 2017.
We talked with SRSBA President Jim Probst about why they chose Evolve.
Probst lives in West St. Paul with his wife and chiweenie (a Chihuahua-dachshund mix).
Retired from the commercial sign business, Probst is active in the community. In addition to SRSBA, Probst is vice president of the local Kiwanis Club, advisor to the Key Club at Two Rivers High School, and president of the Bellows Orchard Home Owners Association.
Why Evolve?
SRSBA moved to Evolve because their former space was “a very small, cramped office area and was not really centrally located,” said Probst. Now they’re closer to their charitable gambling locations and have flexible office space.
Warehouse: State law requires charitable gambling organizations to store used games for three years, so SRSBA needed secure warehouse space, something they found easily at Evolve.
Meetings: Conference room space at Evolve is convenient for SRSBA’s monthly member meetings. They used to meet at a revolving rotation of local restaurants and spaces, but now they have a consistent location. There’s also room to gather their 35 employees in one spot. “That’s just great for us to have everybody sit down and we can get the same message out to everyone,” Probst said.
Flexible: When their office staff grew, they just moved next door to a larger office. “It was nice that we literally just moved one office over, so there was not a lot of carrying boxes and all that,” Probst said. “It made it so much more convenient.”
Connections: Rubbing elbows with neighbors at Evolve has increased their membership. Several Evolve clients have joined SRSBA, including Evolve Workplace itself.
Cost: “It was virtually the same price, but it gave us more versatility,” Probst said.
“We love it,” Probst said. “Compared to what we had before, it’s a world of difference.”
More on SRSBA
What don’t people know about SRSBA: Even though the name says “business association,” nonprofits are welcome. “Some of our best members are Dodge Nature Center, DARTS, and Neighbors, Inc.,” Probst said. “It’s important to invite those organizations because they’re vested members of this community.”
What are you most proud of: “For me, it’s the scholarship program that we work with at Two Rivers,” Probst said. SRSBA gives out $20,000 in scholarships every year and have done so for the past decade. “It’s a way of paying back our community and giving out scholarships is the best way you can do that.”
Big event: SRSBA’s biggest event is their Winter Fun Fest hosted each year with Dodge Nature Center. The February event draws more than 3,000 people for a free afternoon of winter activities.
What’s next for SRSBA: The next big event SRSBA is supporting is the second annual Knock Out Hunger Border Battle, a food packing event that pits West St. Paul against South St. Paul. After being hosted last year at Evolve, the event has grown and will be at Two Rivers High School this year. “We do it on Small Business Saturday,” Probst said. “I want people to realize that it’s small businesses that can give 30,000 meals last year, and hopefully 60,000 this year.”
SRSBA President Jim Probst and Gambling Manager Tim Nowak in their warehouse space.