A community staple since 1901

Lerberg’s Foods has remained a fixed constant in the community of Ellendale since 1901, when the city was founded. Not only is it the oldest grocery store in Steele County, it is also the second oldest continuously operating grocery store in the state.

 

“You don’t see many stores with the old wooden floors or the moose hanging on the wall anymore,” said Ross Sletten, the current owner. “But it’s fun because we’re so close to the interstate. People will get off because they’re curious about Ellendale. When they stop in, they’ll say that they grew up with a store just like this in their town.”

 

Andrew Lerberg, Andy Lerberg’s grandfather, put Lerberg’s Foods in the location it is now because of the railroad that ran through there back then. It was in three generations, including Andy - Andrew’s grandson - and his wife Mary owned the grocery store until Sletten took over in 2007.

 

Although he’s not descended from the line of Lerbergs, Sletten came to feel like part of the family after getting a job there in November of 1976 while still in high school. After Sletten graduated, he attended college in Mankato, where he earned a degree in sales, marketing and management. Although he worked at a few other grocery stores, he said, Lerberg’s always felt like home.

 

“I called Andy up on a whim one day. ‘Hey, if you’re looking for somebody, I’d be interested,’” Sletten said, adding he was aware that someday Lerberg would want to sell the business.

Fortunately for Sletten, circumstances aligned in his favor. Andy and Mary raised two daughters, but neither showed interest in taking over the grocery business.

 

“It’s nice to see businesses still on Main Street here, working,” Sletten commented. “You go to a lot of the smaller towns and there just isn’t anything there anymore.”

 

Sletten credits his loyal local customers for keeping the grocery store in operation. Even though most residents drive to Owatonna or Albert Lea for work, a good share of them stop in Lerberg’s before they go home. Their loyalty, and the sense of community it brings, are much of the reason Sletten claims he enjoys coming to work every day.

 

“I take care of them the best I can,” he says.

 

The loyalty goes both ways, it seems. If, for instance, a customer’s child has a dairy allergy, Sletten says he makes sure to keep an alternative on hand, for example, almond milk.

 

Sletten says when he first began at the store, merchandise was delivered by a warehouse called Nash Finch in Edina. Over time, he switched to supplier Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) in St. Cloud; the company is structured as a cooperative and he’s joined it. AWG also helps with Lerberg’s website.

 

“Joining a cooperative has helped me be competitive and offer many of the same products all the big box stores offer,” Sletten said.

 

The only things he doesn’t have are fresh bakery or deli items, but he does carry fresh meat and produce, as well as an impressive gift card selection. He has some floral items, too.

 

“We do the best we can with the space we have,” Sletten observed.   

 

During the Covid lockdown, Lerberg’s Foods followed all the applicable regulations. Sletten recalls the largest hurdle he faced was keeping needed products in stock. At that time, people emptied stores of toilet paper, paper products, and disinfectant wipes. Because of that, Sletten says he learned how to find a variety of sources.   

 

Sletten realizes he is reaching a time to find someone who will want to take over the business. His kids worked at Lerberg’s Foods while they were in high school, but none have shown interest in becoming the new owner.

 

“They went on to pursue other things and they’re doing what they want to do,” Sletten said. “And that’s great.”

 

He remains confident regarding the store’s future.

 

“AWG has a department that will come in and find somebody if I don’t have anyone in place,” Sletten said. “I talked with Andy Lerberg who owned the store before I did and he wants to see the store continue. So do I.”