Lunds Considers Downtown Minneapolis Store

Lund Food Holdings Inc. is considering opening a full-service grocery store in downtown Minneapolis.

Proposed in 2005, the project appears to be back on track and, though no plan y has yet been submitted to city officials, it could involve a much bigger downtown redevelopment than just a grocery store, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

“Our goal has always been to have two Lunds stores in the downtown area, one on each end, because there is great customer need,” Lund spokesman Aaron Sorenson told the Star Tribune. “We want to open a store downtown sooner rather than later.”

Lund has paid more than $8 million over the past 10 years to buy nearly the entire city block (all but two buildings) bounded by Hennepin Avenue, Harmon Place and 12th and 13th streets. Over the next month, the grocer plans to meet with the block’s residents, neighborhood associations and building managers to discuss its redevelopment plans, the Star Tribune reported.

Lund’s downtown store reportedly would resemble its University Avenue location, particularly in its emphasis on to-go prepared foods.

The 12th and Hennepin project has been on hold for years while Lund pursued other construction efforts, including its store on University Avenue SE.

Lund Food Holdings operates 10 Lunds and 11 Byerly’s grocery stores, all but one in them in the Twin Cities.