Runnings moving to former Randall's

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Runnings Fleet & Farm will be taking over the recently closed Randall Valu Center on North Broadway Dec. 1 to prepare for relocating its South Broadway store.

New Ulm Runnings Manager Jack Grausam announced the transaction's closing between Runnings and Cash Wise, the building's current owner. Grausam, who has been the local store's manager for 20 years, said Runnings is scheduled to open at its new location next spring.

He noted Runnings would open a lawn and garden department in the same building which housed Randall's lawn and garden merchandise, across the parking lot from the main building.

"They ran a topnotch lawn and garden business from that building," Grausam said, "and we're really excited to have our lawn and garden products in that same building."

Runnings will have double the space of their old store in their new location, Grausam said. The firm's service shop will be located in the building known as the proposed laundromat which is attached to Randall's. A power equipment showroom is planned for the old deli area.

"Because we will have more space, we will be considering adding some new product lines, including sporting goods," Grausam said.

The new store also will have double the parking with over 200 parking stalls.

"Because a lot of our customers drive pickups and larger rigs, our stalls will be 2 feet wider than what you normally find in grocery store parking lots," Grausam explained.

Actually, it is not unusual for the local Runnings or the other 13 stores to be moving into a grocery store.

"We're now in what was then the Hy-Vee store, and several other Runnings stores are in grocery stores, as well," Grausam explained. "What's unusual is this will be the first store in town that we've moved into that had a roof."

When the firm first came to town, it was in the building on 20th South Street that now houses the River Bend Alternative Learning Center. At the time, Grausam said, "we doubled our size when we moved to the old Hy-Vee building, and now we're doubling again."

Being in the Randall building, Grausam added, will be especially exciting because "a lot of people in New Ulm still relate to this building, and we'd like to have our long-time customers to feel comfortable in the new store."

The store's goal is "enhance all of our product lines today with experience in all of our core lines," Grausam said. "We have an excellent pool of employees, and we have over 55,000 SKUs (inventory units)."

Grausam expects to expand the new store's staff by five to 10 additional full- and part-time people.

One unresolved issue is whether Runnings will have polka music on Saturday mornings like the old Randall's store did.

"I can't say that we will," Grausam laughed, "but you never know."