Coborn's Locations Locator Map and Directory

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History Behind Coborn's Inc.

Determined, hard working, proud and visionary; those are the words that best characterize the owners and employees of Coborn's Incorporated.

The legacy of Coborn's began in 1921 when Chester Coborn opened a single produce market on Broadway Avenue in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Eventually, dry goods and other merchandise were added to the store's offerings, as Chester tried to meet the needs of his customers. In 1936, the company took another big step when it added a meat market to the store.

As time passed, the store continued to evolve, adding shopping carts and checkout lanes in the 1940s. In 1952, the store adopted the "cash and carry" concept that is prevalent in today's marketplace.

Currently the company operates over 20 conventional Coborn's grocery stores and superstores in the upper Midwest.

In 1970, Coborn's opened their first liquor store. A natural complement to the food stores, today there is a liquor store either within or located close to most of the Coborn's and Cash Wise locations.

A true pioneer in the grocery industry, Coborn's, Inc. was the first grocery retailer in the state of Minnesota, in 1972, to utilize scanning at its front-end checkouts.

Recognizing the potential for what, at the time, was termed a warehouse or discount grocery store, Coborn's opened its first Cash Wise Foods store in Willmar, Minnesota in 1979. While the Cash Wise stores traditionally do not provide bagging services, they are priced well below conventional grocery stores, making them very attractive to a large number of consumers. Coborn's currently operates nine Cash Wise Foods stores throughout the upper Midwest.

Seeking to fill yet another niche, Coborn's opened its first convenience store in 1986. The Little Dukes Convenience Stores are named in honor of Duke Coborn, father and grandfather of the present owners. The stores, located in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, pride themselves on cleanliness, friendly service and competitive gas prices. 24 hour "pay at the pump" is now available at most locations.

With the recent introduction of the "Limited Assortment" store format (Save-A-Lot Foods), Coborn's, Inc. is poised to compete in today's ever-changing marketplace. Stores in Freeport, Illinois and Dubuque, Iowa, continue to show very positive trends, and the company remains bullish on future S-A-L locations.

Coborn's prides itself on being a good corporate citizen in all communities in which they do business. Educational grants, financial and product donations, along with employee volunteerism, are corporate trademarks.