Downtown Minneapolis will soon have a full-service grocery store and a Lunds Wines & Spirits
Edina, Minn. (May 31, 2012) — Lund Food Holdings, Inc. will celebrate with the downtown Minneapolis community as it opens a new Lunds on June 14 on the corner of 12th Street and Hennepin Avenue. With much anticipation, the doors will officially open to a full-service grocery store in downtown Minneapolis.

The grand opening ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 14. The grocery store and a new Lunds Wines & Spirits, located in an adjacent building, will open at 10 a.m.

This new 20,000-square-foot Lunds will bring convenience, expertise and quality to the residents and work force of downtown Minneapolis. The store will feature an impressive selection of foods produced locally and sourced from around the world, including dry-aged beef, sustainable seafood and an impressive selection of prepared foods. Additional amenities will include a Caribou Coffee and floral arrangements from Bachman’s.

Lunds Hennepin Avenue will also feature USDA-certified organic produce, as well as a wide variety of locally grown produce. This new store will proudly display a banner announcing the company’s Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year award from the state’s Department of Agriculture. Lunds recently received this award because of its commitment to partner with and promote Minnesota growers.

The grocery store is housed in a building constructed in 1912 by the Reno Motor Company. It’s one of the earliest automotive buildings that still exist along Hennepin Avenue. Floor to ceiling windows once showcased shiny new vehicles. Today, similar windows will show off delicious food offerings.

“We know many of those in downtown Minneapolis have been waiting a long time for the opportunity to shop at a full-service grocery store without having to leave the area. That wait will soon be over,” said Tres Lund, chairman and CEO of Lund Food Holdings, Inc. “Whether you live, work, or play in the downtown area, we hope you’ll take time to visit us.”

As part of an effort to reduce the store’s environmental impact, Downtown Minneapolis Avenue is creating an on-site rain garden, using recycled materials in the construction process and installing more energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration systems. Also, two of the approximately 80 free parking stalls on-site will feature electric car charging stations for plug-in-hybrid vehicles. As a result of these efforts, Lunds is in the process of applying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

Lunds Wines & Spirits will feature a representation of new- and old-world wine producing countries, including Argentina, New Zealand and Italy, to name just a few. The wines and spirits shop will also include a tasting bar, walk-in cold beer vault and a micro brews room filled with rows and rows of craft beers, many from right here in Minnesota.

The wines and spirits shop, previously known as the Sturr-Bullard Motor Company building, was originally built in 1914 and served as a showroom for Nash and Ford vehicles. Large carved oak panels, once admired while showcasing new Ford Model Ts, will continue to adorn the ceiling of this wines and spirits shop due to extensive restoration and preservation efforts.

“There’s a rich history to these buildings, and we’re looking forward to preserving their retail heritage while providing today’s urban residents and workers with a shopping experience that’s second to none,” said Brian Kopp, general manager of Downtown Minneapolis Avenue.

The grand opening celebration will continue after June 14 with complimentary samples, food demonstrations, giveaways and special appearances.

The grocery store will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The wines and spirits shop will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lunds Food Holdings, Inc. also plans to open two additional Lunds within the next three years. The first store will be part of The Promenade of Wayzata, a new five-block multi-use development being built on the site of the former Wayzata Bay Center in lower Wayzata. This 17,000-square-foot-store will complement the existing Wayzata store by providing residents with food services not offered at the current Wayzata store because of space limitations. This Lunds is expected to open by spring of 2014.

The second Lunds will open in the future Penfield development at 10th and Minnesota Streets in downtown St. Paul. It will be part of a new multi-level housing development, with Lunds on the ground level. Lunds is currently in the process of creating a design plan and timeline for this future store.

About Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
Extraordinary food, exceptional service and passionate expertise are the cornerstones of Lunds & Byerlys. Lund Food Holdings, Inc. operates 10 Lunds and 11 Byerly’s grocery stores in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. All 21 stores feature certified organic produce, signature Lunds & Byerlys products, dry-aged beef and more.