Local News
Gibbon growing grocery
Related Photos
-
The closing of Gibbon Grocery in 2007 marked the first time the 800-population Sibley County town had ever been without a food market. Sonja Reeves
-
Jerome Norlund pours chocolate milk for granddaughter Jessica Willegal at a recent fundraiser for the reopening of Gibbon’s grocery store. Community members have pledged about $70,000 toward reopening the business as a co-op venture. Sonja Reeves
-
JoAnn Opitz and Harlon Delong made donations at a recent fundraiser for the Gibbon Grocery Store Project. Sonja Reeves
Discussion
Add a comment on this storyTools
Economy has hurt efforts to raise $200,000
GIBBON — Residents in the small town of Gibbon have pledged nearly $70,000 since they began rallying last summer to reopen the community’s only grocery store.
Several dozen residents started a co-op effort in hopes of raising the funds required to get a full-service market up and running.
The Sibley County Economic Development office is lending assistance, and Director Tim Dolan said the hope is to raise $200,000 in pledges, the amount required in order to secure bank financing for the remainder of the project cost estimated at $400,000.
The 800-population town had never been without a grocer until September 2007, when the store closed due to inexperienced management.
The project calls for a co-op board of directors, which would hire a store manager.
In 2008 a survey sent to 2,000 Gibbon-area residents showed that of the 357 respondents, 84 percent said they would buy groceries in Gibbon, with the average respondent willing to invest $100 to become a co-op member.
A group of Gibbon residents traveled to Houston in southeast Minnesota to observe operations at an 8-year-old co-op grocery there.
The nearest grocery stores to Gibbon are in Winthrop and Fairfax, both about seven miles away.
Co-op co-organizer Berny Berger said lack of a grocery store has been a large concern for the town’s elderly.
“There are a lot of seniors in our community who don’t drive much,” said Berger, adding that the new grocery, like its predecessor, will offer delivery service.
Project backers initially hoped to have a store in operation by this summer, and Berger said the effort has been a bonding force for residents.
“The community needed something to rally around, and this is becoming that issue.”
A recent community fundraiser dinner and talent show netted $1,700.
Project co-organizer Pat Reinhart said economic downturns have hampered fundraising efforts, and the goal of opening a store this summer is no longer realistic.
“But we’re just going to keep plugging away,” he said, adding that a grocery store has a positive synergistic effect on other businesses in town and the lack of one has hurt the town’s overall commerce.
- Local News
-
-
Repeated snow days add up to scheduling headache
The problems go beyond classes to community recreation and education.
-
Cabbie say he was robbed at gunpoint
Robber got into cab as if he were a customer
-
Mankato snow emergency
MANKATO — A snow emergency goes into effect noon today (Feb. 9).
-
Winter weather watch, road conditions
MnDOT's up to the minute Road conditions map.
See the National Weather Service continually updated Weather forecast
- School closing announcements
-
Life Remembered: Claire Faust a builder of connections
Claire Faust was also a dedicated Kiwanian.
-
Mankato utility reform approved
The Mankato City Council approved changed Monday on how water utility bills are paid.
-
Weird News: Economy is going to pot
-
Public safety finalist ousted from previous job
Todd Miller, one of the four finalists to be Mankato's public safety director, had a controversial tenure in Terrell, Texas.
-
Mississippi River water quality meetings set
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is holding public meetings on a water quality standard proposed for the south metro Mississippi River.
- More Local News Headlines
-
