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Can you believe it?.. we're halfway through 2008. And as far as business news, a lot has happened in the past six months. In this weeks edition of Around Town, Brad Feldman recaps some of the biggest business stories of the year. {Open} So far its been a year of big announcements. Little Caesars announced it would be opening a new store in Bismarck. The restaurant opened to a large crowd of people in June. CVS Pharmacy announced plans of building a new pharmacy on the corner of US Highway 83 and Calgary Avenue. Two of the biggest announcements came within a week of each other. First, Olive Garden officially announced it will build a restaurant in the capital city. The Italian chain restaurant will be going near the Home Depot and is scheduled to open later this year. The following week, the announcement came that the Bismarck Home Depot would be closing its doors. {Transition} Several new businesses have opened in the first six months. Gold's Gym, a second Coldstone Creamery, Creative Clay Barry's Bikes, Hooters and Candlewood Suites. A party moved from Front Avenue to South 7th Street. Party America moved into a larger location in the Kirkwood Ace building. The space this party supply store didn't last long on the market. Announcement came quick that another party supply store, Party World, will be moving into the empty space in the Upfront Plaza. {Transition} Several stores also called it quits in the first six months of 2008. One of the biggest has to be Prairie Peddler. After years of business in the Kirrkwood Mall, the coffee shops owners said it was time to brew their final cup. So far, Bismarck-Mandan has seen a lot happen this year. As we head into the fourth of July holiday, it is safe to say you can expect more fireworks to happen from now until 2009. Taking You Around Town, I'm Brad Feldman. For more information on the business news of the first six months of 2008... you can check out the Around Town blog at kxnet.com/aroundtown.