Photo by Jim Tate Jordan Tollakson, left, is the owner of Jim’s Clothing and Sporting Goods in Dawson, having purchased the business from Jim Prestholdt, right.

Sometimes it’s best to stick with what people know.

Take, for instance, Jim’s Clothing and Sporting Goods in Dawson. Four years ago Jordan Tollakson purchased the business from its founder, Jim Prestholdt.

At the time of the sale — on Jan. 1, 2022 — Tollakson had one other store, then called Outlaw Graphix, located in Montevideo. A third store was opened in Watertown’s S.D., in 2024, and that one and the Montevideo store were rebranded as Fast Threads. But Jim’s had been a community staple for years, and people in the region knew its name.

“So it just made sense to keep it,” said Tollakson.

Prestholdt still works full-time for the business he started in 1976, when he was a college junior. It continues steady growth under Tollakson, who has increased its online business.

“He’s really good at that,” said Prestholdt. “I was more old school, I did things on paper, hand-written. Jordan got us up to speed technologically.”

The store started across the street from its current location on 6th Street in Dawson. There were some run-down buildings there and the city approached Prestholdt and a woman’s shop owner, Ruby Anderson, about building there. The structure was built in 1981, with half of it housing Jim’s, and the other half, Fashion Villa. Jim’s would later buy the women’s shop — which was then called Geyermans. That allowed the store to expand its retail presence.

Tollakson started his business career as a college sophomore in 2014, when he opened Outlaw Graphix in Montevideo. He was attending South Dakota State at the time.

“Because of school, it was more of a hobby business at that point,” he said with a chuckle.

Outlaw Graphix and Jim’s Clothing and Sporting Goods merged businesses in 2022. Outlaw Graphix and a new store in Watertown were rebranded as Fast Threads in 2024.

Today over half their business originates online, and orders are both large, and small.

“We handle them all, ” said Tollakson.

Screen printing and embroidery have been centralized in the Montevideo location now, said Tollakson.

Jim’s Clothing and Sporting Goods offers a full complement of services, including casual clothing, screen printing, embroidery, digital printing, promotional products, signs and awards. It also handles sports equipment and school and recreational uniforms, as well as corporate clothing.

There’s a few similar stores in the region — “everyone has their own things they do a little differently,” said Tollakson — and their biggest competition is probably online, he said. “That’s where we feel we have the advantage. We can turn orders around super fast, and customer service is very good.”

Prestholdt said that “when there’s an order that’s ready, I deliver it personally.”

Tollakson’s three stores employ 18 individuals — 4 in Dawson, 2 in Watertown and 12 in Montevideo. Dawson is just 15 miles from Montevideo.

The Dawson and Watertown stores offer sales, service and retail, while the Montevideo store offers sales, service and production.

Jim’s gets approached by many schools, groups and organizations during the year for support of fundraisers, benefits, memorials, etc.

“We support them all,” said Tollakson. “A lot of these hit extremely close to home, and we donate every penny raised. We try and give more than we take.”

“Our business fluctuates with the economy,” said Tollakson. “It’s ebb and flow, and over the years we’ve been fortunate. The community has been very supportive of Jim’s over the years and we are happy to give back, in return,” said Tollakson.