Sponsored By

Cub Foods to rebuild two Minneapolis stores damaged in protests

Chain plans temporary stores, free bus service, free grocery pickup to aid residents

Russell Redman

June 26, 2020

4 Min Read
Cub-Stillwater-front-of-store1.jpg
Cub Foods has a retail network of 52 wholly or majority-owned stores and 27 franchised or minority-owned stores in Minnesota, primarily in the Twin Cities market.Cub Foods

Cub Foods plans to rebuild two Minneapolis stores that were closed after being damaged during the protests that erupted in the city and nationwide over the death of George Floyd.

Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub said Friday that it will reconstruct the Broadway Avenue and Lake Street stores in Minneapolis with franchise partner Jerry’s Foods, which owns both locations. Shut in late May, the stores are currently being cleaned and prepared for construction. A company spokesman said the retailer is targeting a reopening of the Broadway store in October and the Lake Street store by the end of the year. 

Meanwhile, Cub is setting up temporary, 13,000-square-foot community stores at each site in response to food insecurity issues in both neighborhoods. Plans call for the temporary stores to open July 8 at Lake Street and later in July at the Broadway location.

Cub said the community stores will carry staple items from all supermarket departments, including fresh produce, meat, dairy and best-selling grocery products. Everyday prices will be the same as at a conventional Cub store. Pharmacy customer needs also will be supported, and the stores also will sell popular over-the-counter medicines, the retailer added.

“Cub is actively involved in our communities and it is our responsibility to roll up our sleeves and find solutions to help meet the needs of our neighbors, family and friends while our Broadway and Lake Street stores are under construction,” Cub Foods CEO Mike Stigers said in a statement. “We know that even though these two stores are closed, life events, activities, and special occasions continue to take place and the community needs its neighborhood grocer to be there providing access to essential food and grocery items. We’re proud to offer a variety of options for customers to shop with Cub.”

Related:Cub Foods, Shoppers stores to be spun off from UNFI

Cub_Foods-free_bus_service-Minneapolis.jpg

Cub will provide shoppers with free coach bus service from its Broadway and Lake Street stores in Minneapolis to other Cub supermarkets in the area.

Those options also include transportation and online grocery service. Cub said it will provide shoppers with free coach bus service from its Broadway and Lake Street stores to other Cub supermarkets in the area. Customers picked up from the Broadway location will be driven to the CUB Crystal store at 5301 36th Avenue N, whole those picked up from the Cub Lake Street location will be brought to the Cub Quarry store at 1540 New Brighton Blvd.

The bus service starts June 26 and operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with pickups from the Broadway and Lake Street stores starting on the hour and drop-offs occurring on the half-hour. To promote social distancing, each bus will be limited to 20 riders and won’t make stops between stores.

Related:Grocery retailers feel impact as nationwide protests escalate

In addition, Cub said it will provide free online grocery pickup service at the Broadway and Lake Street stores for orders placed cub-community-pickup.com. Customers also can continue to order groceries online and have them delivered to their home or office. The retailer noted that shoppers placing orders online for pickup or delivery can choose from a full selection of products.

“The work we’re doing to support these areas couldn’t be accomplished without the support of the entire Jerry’s Foods team, who are the franchise owners of the Cub Broadway and Lake Street stores,” Stigers commented. “Their dedication to the local community is paramount in helping bring these community stores to life.”

The George Floyd killing by a Minneapolis police officer was caught on video and touched off demonstrations and riots in cities and communities around the country, resulting in widespread closings of and damage to retail stores and other businesses.

Cub said it also plans to host community input sessions to give local residents an opportunity to share ideas and suggestions for the new Lake Street and Broadway stores. More information and scheduling for the sessions and the reopening of the stores will be forthcoming, the retailer said.

“As Minnesota’s hometown grocer, Cub has been an integral part of this state’s landscape for over 50 years,” Stigers added, “and we are fully committed to these communities, reopening our stores and being a part of these great neighborhoods once again.”

Part of United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), Cub Foods has a retail network of 52 wholly or majority-owned stores and 27 franchised or minority-owned stores in Minnesota, primarily in the Twin Cities market, and Illinois (one store).

Earlier this month, UNFI announced plans to split its Cub and Shoppers supermarket businesses from the company into their own operating unit. The move came after UNFI decided to hold off on the pending sale of the stores amid the coronavirus pandemic. The sale of the stores isn’t slated to resume for 24 months, the company said.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like