It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas … at 102.7-FM.

Yes, there's a new radio station in the Rapid City market, and for now, anyway, its format could best be described as Adult Department Store in November. From what I've heard when I tuned in, it's running wall-to-wall Christmas music.

I'm guessing - hoping - the format will change once the station gets up and running.

The station is KXZM, licensed in Box Elder. It's owned by Connoisseur Media, a Connecticut company that operates about 20 radio stations around the country, including the Billings, Mont., and Omaha markets.

Last week I talked to Cam Maxwell, who works for Connoisseur in Billings. He confirmed that the new Rapid City station is indeed Connoisseur's newest radio venture.

He said the station has no office, no staff, no name, no declared format and no target date for playing something other than Christmas music.

But the station does have a license, a transmitter atop M Hill in Rapid City - and a very large collection of holiday music.

There are sites on the Internet that name names, name formats and declare that the station will be named Planet 102.7.

But Maxwell insisted that nobody is aboard, and the station will not have the Planet name - which belongs to one of the Billings stations.

"There's been a lot of rumors floating around about what the station's going to be, but that's what they are, just rumors," Maxwell said.

By the way, if you're looking for a job, you can reach him at 406-248-7777.

Breakfast Nook, Mike's apparently closed

A couple of people called to tell me that the Breakfast Nook, the well-established restaurant at 720 N. La Crosse St., appears to be closed. I drove by there last week, and although all the chairs and tables are inside, the place looked dark. According to the sign in the window, Dan Martin at RE/MAX Realtors is listing the business for sale or lease.

That surprised me. The Breakfast Nook has been around for years, and it had a pretty loyal following. I know the business changed hands last fall, but I haven't heard of any problems.

By the way, it also appears that Mike's Barbecue on East North Street is closed as well. That doesn't surprise me as much. The barbecue business in Rapid City, for some reason, is downright brutal.

A number of barbecue places - including Art's Southern Style Barbecue, HoTexas Bar-B-Q, Black Hills Barbecue, Texas State Line and Adventures in Barbecue - have come and gone from the Rapid City market in recent years.

Patriot Estates

is in Box Elder

I recently wrote a story about the growth in housing in Box Elder. Last month, Box Elder had more building permits than either Rapid City or Pennington County.

In the story, I listed some of the new subdivisions in Box Elder. I probably should have also mentioned Patriot Estates, north of Douglas Middle School. It has 65 lots and seven homes.

Dennis Boomsma, one of the partners in Patriot Estates, said the subdivision has 65 lots and seven homes. And there's room for more expansion beyond that.

And finally …

As some of you might have heard, I'm moving on from the Rapid City Journal. I've taken a job with TDG Communications, an advertising and public relations firm in Deadwood.

They're a great group of folks, and I'm really looking forward to learning a new craft. I start with TDG on April 14. My last day here is April 11.

But it's also going to be tough to leave the Journal. I've been here a long, long time - too long, some would say - and I feel like I've developed a great relationship with readers.

That's especially true of the readers of Talking Business. I'm going to miss the phone calls, tips, questions, e-mails and coffee shop conversations I've had with you. Thanks for letting me tell you more than I know.

The truth is, I don't write this column. You do. I just take notes, chase down the details and try to get the phone numbers right.

But Talking Business isn't going anywhere. The Journal's going to keep reporting the business news, tidbits, gossip and other goodies. (By the way, if you have something, you can call 394-8402 or write to rcybusiness@rapidcityjournal.com.)

Talking Business appears Monday's in the Black Hills Business Journal. To submit an item or ask a question, call 394-8402, or send an e-mail to rcybusiness@rapidcityjournal.com.