Ross Sletten stands proudly in front of just a sampling of the new refrigeration units at Lerberg's Foods in Ellendale. (Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud)
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Ross Sletten of Lerberg's Foods has been making renovations to the historic Ellendale grocery store. The biggest change so far has been the installation of a long row of new refrigeration units for produce, meats, dairy, and frozen foods.
“Our other cases were starting to show their age,” said Sletten concerning what led to the change, “and they were open cases, and so they took a lot of energy to run.” The new refrigeration units, which are closed cases with glass doors, are far more efficient.
“We started doing this the week of Christmas,” said Sletten, “and we finished it the week of New Year's. It was about a two-week project.” The refrigerators were up and running by Dec. 29.
The new refrigeration units give the store a lot more space for increased variety. “People are really happy,” said Sletten. “In the past, given the space that we had, we were only able to carry maybe one variety of yogurt, for example. Now, we've probably got five or six varieties. We were able to expand our pizza. Before we only had one area for pizza, and now we've got two full doors of pizza.”
Sletten was able to purchase the Merik, Inc. refrigeration units through American Wholesale Grocers (AWG). “AWG is a co-op, and I belong to the co-op,” said Sletten. “As a co-op, we can go out as a big corporation, and say, 'This is what we're looking for,' and they get us the best price that's out there on things like this when somebody wants to redo their store.”
What did the refrigeration units cost? “A lot,” said Sletten. “In the long run, we needed to do it, and it was time. I've been planning this for about the last four years.” Sletten decided it was time to take the plunge. “A lot of businesses suffered because of Covid. We really were very busy ever since Covid started. People didn't go to the big cities; they stayed home, and we have a lot of loyal customers, and so I was able to do this.”
Lerberg's Foods has been on the same corner in Ellendale since 1901. According to Sletten, the first store, started by Andrew Lerberg, was a wooden structure at the current location, and in 1914, the current structure was built.
“I started working for the Lerberg family in November of 1976,” said Sletten. “After I graduated from high school here in Ellendale, I went to school for sales marketing and management.” Armed with his new degree, Sletten went to work for other grocery stores, but eventually came full circle back to Lerberg's.
Sletten, who purchased the store in 2007, decided to keep the original name. He said, “It's been Lerberg's since day one. It's still the oldest business on Main Street, and I just didn't have the heart to change it.”
There are some other changes awaiting Lerberg's. Sletten is still waiting for some shelving to arrive that will help to organize everything from produce to potato chips at the back of the store. The lighting along the ceiling is soon to be replaced by all LED's. “It's going to give it a nicer look, too,” said Sletten.
Per Sletten, the customer base for Lerberg's isn't limited to Ellendale residents. “We see people from Albert Lea, Owatonna, Blooming, New Richland.
“We're just happy to have a lot of loyal customers that want to keep coming back, that enjoy the full service and everything we have to offer,” Sletten continued. “I just invite anybody that hasn't seen it to come on over and check us out, and see what we have to offer.”