Lerberg's Grocery in Ellendale

Lerberg’s Foods of Ellendale has been operating since 1901, when the city of Ellendale was founded. The business is the second oldest privately owned and operated grocery store in Minnesota.

 

Owner Ross Sletten reveals he works at the store every day; the Star Eagle found him near the back, stocking shelves. The fact he was handling frozen goods did nothing to deter the warmness of his handshake. Sletten, 63, owner since 2007, is of Norwegian descent and so is his wife, Michelle. They both grew up and graduated locally, and if that isn’t enough, their parents were locals too. He has three employees, Sally Waknitz, Nola Roberts and his brother Ron Sletten. “We were the first business on Ellendale’s main street, opened in 1901. We will be celebrating our 125th anniversary in June.”    

 

On one side of the store are slick, black coolers and freezers. Said Sletten, “We updated our coolers in 2020. The registers were updated a few years after I first bought the place. We try to stay up to date with current trends and dietary requirements, like gluten free products for example. If there’s something someone needs brought in special, all people need to do is ask.” As he spoke, he made his way to the back of the store where he indicated a stack of shelves lined with fresh produce, “We used to cut the meat here, but have moved that to the back room. All our meat is cut in house. We have fresh bakery added every day. I order a lot from Associated Wholesale Goods out of St. Cloud; they sell to me at fair and decent prices. Up in front we’ve got greeting cards, and we are still a full-service store. We bag and carry your groceries out to the car. We take good care of our customers.” He pointed up at the wall and added, “And there aren’t a lot of grocery stores with an authentic moose head up on the wall.” From above, the moose kept silent watch over the store.

 

According to Sletten, the anniversary celebration is likely to include special sales with significant savings; beyond that, planning is still underway. “I don’t know what we’ll all have yet, but we’re working on it.” As he walked and talked, the wood floor gave a “creaking” sound, another thing that can’t be found in those bigger grocery stores and chains. Said Sletten, “This floor was built in 1914, they added to the original because they expanded so fast.” Sletten said, “We’re open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. and on Sundays 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. I’m here pretty much every day, but I’ve been known to sneak out early on a Wednesday every now and then.”

 

The oldest privately owned grocery store is The Finland Cooperative General Store, otherwise known as B&B’s Fremont Store. Opened in the Winona area in 1856, two years before Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858, it predates Lerberg’s by 45 years.

Candidates for third are Marine General Store in Marine on St. Croix, and Brix Grocery & Meat in Minneapolis.