Rainbow closing Nov. 9

Community interest high regarding future of site

by Tesha M. Christensen

Rainbow Foods at 2919 26th Av. S. in Minneapolis will be closing its doors on Nov. 9, 2014.

The news of the closure comes just four months after the store was purchased by Jerry’s Enterprises as part of a 27-store deal that reshaped the Twin Cities grocery scene. The Rainbow at 1660 S. Robert St. in West St. Paul will also be shut down.

Both of these Rainbows are located next to Cub stores also owned by Jerry’s. The two stores employ about 25 full-time workers and 60 part-time employees.

Jerry’s, located in Edina, operates about 40 stores in Minnesota and Florida.

According to Ed Anderson, the manager of the Minneapolis Cub store at 2850 26th Ave. S., the Rainbow was underperforming while the Cub store was doing well.

“The decision was made to remodel the Cub Foods and serve the area better,” said Anderson.

The produce department and deli have both been remodeled this fall. Work on the frozen food and dairy section began in mid-October,  and will be followed by the bakery. The interior work should be done by the end of January 2015. Then this spring, the outside will be redone to look more contemporary.

Jerry’s has owned the Cub store for over 20 years. It leases both the Cub and Rainbow property.

According to Anderson, Cub is adding more natural, organic and gluten-free items, in response to customer requests.

“We’re growing with the neighborhood,” said Anderson.

NEIGHBORHOOD INTEREST IN SITE

“There has been a lot of interest in the neighborhood about the future of this site,” observed Longfellow Community Council Executive Director Melanie Majors. “We have mainly heard from residents through E-democracy where people have been discussing their own ideas for how it should be redeveloped. LCC is tracking this.”

Residents have suggested many uses for the space online at both E-Democracy and Hoodstarter, including: bouncy castle playland for kids birthday parties, drop-in day care, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Lunds, community farm co-op, Pump It Up, indoor mini-golf, bike track, expanded Harriet Brewery, space for Midtown Farmers Market, Planet Fitness, LA Fitness and an indoor community pool.

Majors added, “The LCC Neighborhood Development Committee (NDC) has also briefly discussed ideas of redevelopment for the site. We have not heard from any businesses about interest in relocating there.”

Lake Street Council Executive Director Allison Sharkey  said, “We look forward to working with the community and all of the players to help find the best new use for the site.”

This story was published in the November 2014 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.