My 605: Kuol Simon

What’s home unless you make it your own? My 605 takes you inside the lives, loves and little secrets of those who call South Dakota – area code 605 – home.

This week’s My 605 features Kuol Simon, director of philanthropy and community engagement for ACE Academy, a year-round mixed-age private school started last year, and the owner of pigeon ACE.

My home in the 605 is: Sioux Falls. P.S. In truth, my home is normally my office at ACE Academy or my truck transporting my kids!

The biggest reason I live in the 605 is: Because Sioux Falls is a great place to raise a family and kick-start your career in a community ripe with opportunity.

After home, I spend the most time: At ACE Academy! Either in the classroom, my office or at recess with the kids.

When I need to get away, you’ll find me: In Storm Lake, Iowa. My parents, siblings and extended family live there, and I always make sure that I allocate time to see them. The small-town vibe helps reset my busy mind, and the lake creates a calm mini-vacation for me. You can’t beat visiting old high school friends either. Your hometown is just refreshing!

The best meal I ever ate in the 605 was at: Morrie’s Steakhouse. Food presentation is just as essential to the success of a dish as its taste and flavor. The way the food looks on the plate is what tempts our eyes and makes you want to taste it. Morrie’s Steakhouse does that for me.

My go-to coffee shop is: Josiah’s! The atmosphere of a coffee shop is one of the first things we notice and has a great amount of influence on our overall experience. Some coffee shops feel more authentic and ultimately provide a better atmosphere and environmental culture. Josiah’s does all of these for me. I love the food, the people and employee engagement. It’s truly an experience!

My favorite place to grab an adult beverage in the 605 is: Bin 201 by far is the place for me. The atmosphere and cocktails are quite the experience. I’ve never had a bad drink at Bin 201.

When I need to experience the great outdoors, you’ll find me: At the Palisades. Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas have many amazing recreational parks and nature reserves that highlight the beauty of South Dakota. The Palisades is always a good time when weather permits.

The spot I’d recommend for a date is: Morrie’s Steakhouse. The atmosphere and customer experience is always amazing.

The best pizza in the 605 is: I LOVE PIZZA! Since I like to make my own pizza, PizzaRev is the spot!

When my friends and I get together, you’ll probably find us: At each other’s homes sharing memories and food. The best place we could be is in a airport line, traveling together.

The place you never can go wrong taking kids is: Galaxy Gaming, since I’m a PC gamer at heart! I love the gaming atmosphere and experience that Galaxy Gaming offers, such as laser tag and console tournaments events.

When I want to meet new people in the 605 I go: To YPN events or Chamber Mixer events! Online events such as Unmuted and 1MC (1 Million Cups) are my favorite.

My best memory in the 605 is: After being naturalized as a U.S. citizen in South Dakota, I was able to vote for the first time in 2020.

The one thing I’m least crazy about in the 605 is: The weather. Coming from the warmest part of the planet and even being here for 20-plus years, I still can’t get used to the unpredictable weather and winters.

And finally, life in pictures. Here are the top three photos that most sum up My 605: