Biz Buzz: New Super One Foods opens in Crosby – Brainerd Dispatch

CROSBY — Nearly a year after making the announcement of a major investment in a new modern grocery store in Crosby, Super One Foods is now open.

The new Super One Foods grocery store in Crosby offers a state-of-the-art facility and, in partnership with Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, the location is also bringing health care opportunities even closer to everyday life.

While small clinics are a common addition to grocery stores, the CRMC addition is a full clinic with a wellness center and pharmacy. The new site is 22418 State Highway 6, Suite 100, in Crosby, less than a mile east of Super One Foods’ earlier store. The new store and clinic are near the intersection of Highway 210 and County Highway 31.

Grocery checkout lanes

Grocery checkout lanes at the new Super One Foods in Crosby include self-checkout options.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

The construction is a further sign of Super One’s commitment to a revitalized Crosby, which has experienced a host of business growth related to a surge in consumer interest for outdoor recreation. Super One Foods purchased the 20,000-square-foot Paulson’s SuperValu Inc. store in 2014. The new store is more than 38,000 square feet and is next to Super One Liquor, with about 8,000 square feet of space.

“The expanded store increases holding power for the products in highest demand and provide

more space for new items,” Super One Foods reported, noting the new Crosby liquor store is similar in size to the one in Baxter.

Clinic and pharmacy sign and entrance in the new grocery store.

In addition to the new Super One Foods grocery store, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center is expanding to the new grocery store site on Highway 6 with a clinic, wellness center, and pharmacy.<br/>

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

The CRMC clinic is designed to serve both adults and children with non-emergency medical needs and increase ease of access to medical services with extended hours of operation.

CRMC listed treatment as including “ailments such as upper respiratory infection, strep, ear complaints, mild asthma, flu, and urinary tract infection as well as minor injuries such as cuts, burns and sprains. Immunizations and sports physicals will also be available. Care will be provided by a family physician and other health care providers. Patients will be able to schedule an appointment in advance or simply walk-in for care.”

Artistic rendering of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center clinic

Artistic rendering of new Cuyuna Regional Medical Center clinic next to the new Super One Foods in Crosby. <br/>

Contributed / CRMC

Amy Hart, CEO at CRMC, said the health care organization decided in 2021 they wanted to provide another access point for primary care services and a walk-in clinic with expanded hours for the clinic and pharmacy. The new clinic will provide that, especially during the summer months, Hart said. Patients wouldn’t have to travel to Brainerd or Aitkin to get prescriptions filled. Hart stated the clinic, which is expected to have a staff of 15-20 people, is expected to open this month. Plans called for three providers at the clinic with lab and services.

Amy Hart

Amy Hart

Hart said this opportunity offered a chance for a new partnership and expanded access for health care services. The clinic provides another option for early detection, helping people seek treatment earlier before they need to seek help from an emergency room visit or be hospitalized. Hart said it is also an opportunity to think of health care more as wellness than sickness. To that end, the educational component is expected to include evening classes based on wellness.

Artistic rendering of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center clinic at Super One Foods in Crosby.

Artistic rendering of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center clinic at Super One Foods in Crosby.<br/>

Contributed / CRMC

A dietitian will be able to talk to patients, such as those recently diagnosed with diabetes, who are looking to make healthier choices and lose weight — and all right next to their shopping experience. Hart said it’s about meeting people where they normally spend time. They can attend a class, take a grocery list and go shopping and make alternative choices, and perhaps prevent a full-fledged diagnosis of diabetes, for example.

The clinic has eight exam rooms, a procedure room and will look like a traditional clinic. It has a separate entrance as well as being connected inside the grocery store. The education area will have a separate entrance so it can be used even if the clinic is closed.

“It is just so convenient,” Hart said.

During the pandemic, Hart said people can be reluctant to go to the clinic or hospital. This new clinic may be able to reach those hesitant to go elsewhere and provide a telehealth connection as well. Hart said the new clinic will also be an asset when it comes to reaching a segment of the community in the area on weekends.

“We are just really excited about the opportunity,” Hart said.

When the joint venture was announced in 2021, Kelly Chase, CRMC’s executive director of primary care, stated: “We are extremely excited to partner with Super One in opening this new clinic. Our goal is to deliver high quality health care that is a simpler, more accessible experience for both residents and visitors to the area.”

CRMC reported one family medicine physician, a pharmacist and other clinicians will be located at the 10,000 square foot space, which will include multiple exam rooms, a procedure room, and a laboratory for outpatient clinic care and a waiting room. The clinic will also include a dietitian and health education center offering classes, seminars, and support groups. The pharmacy will have a drive-thru service.

“A pharmacist will also be available to answer medication questions,” CRMC stated. “The registered dietitian will provide nutritional counseling for a variety of health conditions.”

“Customers can shop for all of their health and wellness needs under roof — whether that includes dietary needs such as fresh produce and gluten-free items, or over the counter products and prescribed medications,” Chase stated. “And, prescriptions can be filled while customers shop for their groceries.”

Fresh flowers are part of a view of tidy aisles at the grocery store.

Super One Foods opened its new grocery store and liquor store in Crosby on May 8, 2022.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

In June of 2021, Miner’s Inc., which is the parent company of Super One Foods, announced it was building a new grocery store in Crosby.

Artist rendering of new Super One Foods grocery store

Artist rendering of new Super One Foods grocery store in Crosby. <br/>

Contributed / Super One Foods

“Miner’s is committed to invest in the Cuyuna Lakes area and bring a better shopping experience to its residents and seasonal customers. The new store location will be much larger with expanded departments and offerings throughout the store. In addition, the new store site will provide new spacious and convenient parking along with offering a new liquor store and the services delivered by our new local health care partner, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center. We’re thrilled and excited to provide a brand new, one-stop shopping experience,” said Patrick Miner, vice president of Miner’s Inc. in a news release announcing the project in 2021.

A row of refrigerated display cases at New Super One Foods Grocery Store

A row of refrigerated display cases line the frozen foods section at New Super One Foods grocery store in Crosby.<br/>

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

The bakery and fresh produce section

The new Super One Foods store in Crosby highlights its bakery and fresh foods sections.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

“We’re thrilled to create a fresh, new, expanded environment for our talented Crosby Super One team to work in,” Miner previously stated. “They already do a tremendous job of catering to the needs of our customers and this will assist them in serving them even better into the future.”

Miner said the family-owned grocery business actively worked with the city of Crosby to meet community needs and the city committed to extending public services to the development expanding the city’s tax base. Rice Lake Construction of Deerwood was the general contractor.

New Super One Foods grocery store

People shop through the meat and seafood section at the new Super One Foods grocery store May 12, 2022, in Crosby.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Super One Foods operates about 31 grocery stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, has 10 liquor stores and a 200,000-square-foot distribution center along with its own trucking division. As of last year, the company, which is headquartered in Hermantown near Duluth, employed more than 2,900.

CRMC has provided health care to the region for more than 50 years. Last year, CRMC listed more than 1,050 physicians, nurses, health care professionals and support staff working at the Crosby hospital, Care Center, Surgery Center, physician clinic and senior living community, along with CRMC outpatient clinics in Baxter, Breezy Point and Longville.

RENEE RICHARDSON, Brainerd Dispatch managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or

renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com

. Follow on Twitter at

www.twitter.com/DispatchBizBuzz

.