Runnings Fleet & Farm gets new home

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Runnings Fleet & Farm is alive and well in its new home, the former Randall Valu Center, 1615 N. State.

The move went fast. Work began to move the farm-and-home general store during the March 9-10 snowstorm when business slowed a bit. The store reopened Tuesday, March 12. Most of the moving was done by Saturday, March 16.

"By the weekend, we had lots of traffic. People wanted to see the store in our new location," Store Manager Jack Grausam said.

The new location has doubled the display space of the store's previous location at 1315 S. Broadway. The expansion enabled the store to put all stocked items on shelves.

"The new store is a big plus," Grausam said. "Our first goal was to show customers the large quantities of merchandise we now have on display."

The move entailed changing the former Randall's grocery store into a department store and removing lots of grocery store items.

Some of the work was contracted out, but Runnings employees including those from other Runnings stores did a good share of the work themselves, including the construction work and cleanup.

The move involved moving about 60 semi loads and trailer loads of product.

New automotive and implement tire lines have been added. The store's main lines are farm items. Other product lines were expanded, particularly lawn and garden, plumbing and electrical, automotive and clothing.

The Runnings store in New Ulm has 80 running feet of bulk bolts. It stocks everything its hardware vendor offers.

Grausam has been with Runnings in New Ulm since it opened for business in 1979 at 210 20th South St. The store moved to the former Hy-Vee Food Store building on South Broadway in 1995.

The store kept growing and growing, forcing the moves.

"We loved our former location," Grausam said. "It was a nice building. It was just too small for our operation."

Runnings owns 29 stores in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana.