Dans Supermarket Is It Being Sold Again

Dan'due south Supermarket is a chain of grocery stores in Bismarck-Mandan that was founded in 1949. At its elevation, Dan'southward owned and operated a full of 11 locations beyond Due north Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Today, the chain has consolidated operations to focus on its local roots.

Interestingly, Dan's is not named for a existent person. Instead, the name stems from an early marketing gimmick featuring a drawing grapheme named "Super Dan the Valu Man."

After nearly 7 decades of local ownership, SpartanNash acquired Dan's Supermarket in 2015, ending a long-time human relationship with distributor Supervalu.

The original Dan's at Arrowhead Plaza airtight in 2018 after more than sixty years. National retailer Family Dollar is expected to occupy the space in 2019.

Early History

Dan'due south has its roots dorsum to 1949, when Roy Rockstad & Eugene "Coach" Leary purchased the local Piggly Wiggly at 621 Broadway Avenue and converted it to Bismarck Supervalu.

Bismarck'south Piggly Wiggly had opened in 1931 at 502 E Broadway. Information technology was purchased by Willie West. Oliver in 1939, when it relocated. In 1949,Supervalu purchased the Piggly Wiggly locations in Bismarck, Dickinson, and Mandan earlier reselling the Bismarck shop to Rockstad and Leary. The nearby Mandan shop was sold to Emily Moos and William Joersz, who also retained the Supervalu proper noun (Bill's Supervalu).

Rockstad and Leary had been coworkers at National Tea Store, where Rockstad was market manager and Leary the shop's general manager. Prior to purchasing Bismarck'south Piggly Wiggly, Leary had operated his ain grocery store, Leary Grocery, for 3 months, upon selling the shop.

Mrs. Cleo Berger was its first customer. Henceforth, she becomes the ceremonial offset customer at each new store and remodel until Gateway Supervalu opened in 1981.

Expansion and Growth: "Dan'south"

Rockstad and Leary opened a second location at the newly christened Arrowhead Shopping Plaza in November 1953. Anchoring Bismarck'due south starting time shopping heart, the new location was chosen "Dan's" Supervalu to differentiate itself from its downtown location, which continued to operate meantime until 1970. The proper name "Dan's" reflected the visitor's marketing of the time, which featured "Super Dan the Valu Man."

Arrowhead Expansion

Arrowhead Dan'southward Supermarket interior in 2018, soon before closing

In 1960, the original "Dan'south" at Arrowhead Plaza relocated to its nowadays-day space when the mall expanded northward. Information technology was previously located in the space that later housed Ben Franklin until its 2007 closure.

Kirkwood Supervalu

In 1970, the company opened a south store between Bismarck Civic Center and Kirkwood Plaza, called Kirkwood Supervalu (relocated in 1995). The shop held its one thousand opening in September. Its original Broadway location closed the following yr.

The new Kirkwood shop was the urban center's commencement modern supermarket-manner grocer. It spanned 20,000 square feet and featured parcel pickup – a feature employed by Dan's until the early 2000s.

Its theme was described as "erstwhile England." Different areas of the shop boasted unique names. The courtesy counter was chosen "The King's Exchequer," produce was "Village Market Place," dairy was "Queen'due south Buttery," the floral department was "Sherwood Florist," its bakery was "The Crumpet Shop," and its meat department was "The Castle Larder." Its snack bar was given the proper name of "Male monarch Arthur'due south Round Table."

The store featured seven checkout lanes with full-service bagging. Customers could opt for parcel pickup service, where their groceries were placed in plastic totes to exist claimed by plastic numbered cards upon pickup from their vehicle.

24-Hour Operation

In 1971, the grocer expanded its performance to 24 hours a mean solar day at all of its stores. At the time, information technology included all locations. The simply exception, initially, was Sunday mornings due to Due north Dakota' Blue Law. Arrowhead was changed to midnight by the 1980s, simply all others remained 24 hours until very recently. Its location on South Washington ceased 24-60 minutes performance in 2017 for unconfirmed reasons. Its newest, Sunrise Town Heart, location is also not 24 hours (as of 2018).

Century and Gateway Supervalus

A north location, penned "Century Supervalu," opened in 1975, occupying the northern section of the Kmart edifice that was formerly home to Kmart Foods (operated by National Tea). Half dozen years afterward, the Kmart location was replaced with a 30,000-square foot freestanding store adjacent to Gateway Mall in May 1981. Gateway Supervalu was expanded to 49,000 square feet in 1989.

Arrowhead Remodel

The Dan's Supermarket at Arrowhead Plaza completed a $500,000 renovation in 1987, the most recent major face-elevator at that location (every bit of 2017).

"Dan's Supermarket"

Dan'due south Supermarket (South)

On July quaternary, 1995, at a cost of $v million, Dan's opened a new shop at 835 Due south Washington, replacing Kirkwood Supervalu.

It was the first store in Bismarck (second overall, after its Rapid City store) to officially brand with the "Supermarket" banner, as opposed to Supervalu, although its official corporate proper noun was "Dan's Super Marketplace" every bit early as the 1980s. Information technology was also the offset local location outside of Arrowhead to make as "Dan's."

Dan's purchased country for the store years earlier – in 1987. The project was originally intended to exist a articulation venture with ShopKo – and then owned past Supervalu – who dropped out after Dan's failed to commit to a construction date. Walmart's arrival in 1990 triggered a lengthy lawsuit due to a restrictive covenant agreement in identify from Dan's land deal. Read more than nigh this below…

Despite dropping from its name, Supervalu remained the store's main distributor.

The Due south Washington store was revolutionary for the market at the time, not only in size, but amenities. Spanning 65,000 square anxiety, it was the first local grocer built specifically to house a banking institution. Although, the beginning bank housed in a local grocer was claimed by then-Econofoods – by ane month – through a remodeling attempt to house a Depository financial institution Center Starting time branch (now American Bank Center).

The new store also featured a gift store, java shop, and bakery with a separate archway for fast and convenient shopping. For a brusque time, it too featured parcel pickup service, much like its Kirkwood and Gateway predecessors.

Mandan Store

Dan's opened its Mandan location opened in March 1999.

Land Street Shop Replaces Gateway

Dan's Supermarket (Northward)

In March 2003, Gateway Supervalu was replaced past the present-24-hour interval Land Street store, which was officially branded "Dan'due south Supermarket" to matches its siblings.

At 61,000 square feet, the new store was xi,000 foursquare feet larger than its predecessor, which itself had expanded over the years to 50,000 square anxiety from its original xxx,000 footprint. Compared to its previous location, the new shop had additional parking and meliorate lighting. Dedicated sections were also set bated for Capital Credit Wedlock and Gateway Pharmacy, who were later additions to the old store.

When it first opened, the checkouts were designed to resemble streets, with street pole-style lights. Its aisles were besides separated by a center drive aisle downward the center of the store. These features have since been changed.

Market Extension

In 1980, Dan's expanded its footprint beyond Bismarck for the start fourth dimension upon purchasing and converting King'south Supervalu in Dickinson. A second Dickinson location was added in 1982. Both locations were sold to Nash Finch in 2013, who transitioned them to the Family unit Fare banner.

Dan'south too previously operated a store in Steele and locations outside of North Dakota, including stores in South Dakota (Rapid City) and Wyoming (Cheyenne, Sheridan, and Gillette). The Cheyenne store, which opened in 1986 and was expanded in 1991, was sold to Buttrey's in 1996.

Recent History

Dans Supermarket at Sunrise Town Heart

Dan's remodeled its south shop in 2011.

2013 saw 3 major developments for Dan'south. In April, the visitor announced expansion plans to anchor a new mixed-use development chosen Sunrise Town Heart in northeast Bismarck (opened in Jan 2015). In Nov, Dan's sold its two Dickinson stores to SpartanNash Company. Then, in Dec, Dan's purchased and converted the Bismarck Fundamental Market store. The buy excluded Central Marketplace'south Mandan location – formerly Bills Supervalu, which shuttered soon later on.

SpartanNash Sale

In April 2015, SpartanNash announced plans to purchase Dan's Supermarket. While the locations go along to operate under the "Dan'due south" imprint, they are now serviced by SpartanNash; ending a nearly seventy-year human relationship with Supervalu.

The State Street Dan's was renovated in 2016. Changes included lengthening the aisles, which were previously separated by a heart drive aisle, and calculation a Caribou Java.

Arrowhead Closure

In early 2018, SpartanNash announced its intent non to renew its lease at Arrowhead Plaza when it expires October 1st, closing the long-fourth dimension grocery shop after 65 years. Arrowhead Dan's airtight on February 21, 2018 ahead of its lease expiration.

Walmart Friction

For roughly twenty years, Dan's Supermarket neighbored Walmart along South Washington Street. This close proximity of 2 competing enterprises sparked years of friction, including a legal battle.

Despite opening nearly five years after Wal-Mart, Dan'southward purchased its packet of land ii years prior to Wal-Mart – in 1987. Dan's had opted to wait until improvements were made to Washington Street, including completing the Chief Avenue underpass, before constructing a store.

The land purchase included a restrictive covenant understanding that banned any directly competitor from operating on neighboring parcels for 20 years (through 2007). When Walmart proceeded with opening a store, Dan's enforced the not-competitive clause.

Dan'south was, at first, victorious in their lawsuit against Walmart, merely the national retail chain won an entreatment in 1994 – one twelvemonth prior to Dan'southward opening – that allowed for the sale of limited grocery merchandise.

Frictions between the ii retailers connected when an effort to directly link the properties with a permanent driveway was initiated by Dan's prior to opening the new shop. Without a concrete barrier separating the backdrop, travelers before long created their own paths betwixt the stores, in an attempt to featherbed busy Washington Street. An agreement was ultimately fabricated in 1997, where Dan's footed the entire construction bill and fully dropped the covenant restriction in substitution for a permanent connector.

Dan'south Timeline

1949 – Roy Rockstad & Eugene "Motorcoach" Leary convert the former Piggly Wiggly to Bismarck Supervalu

1953 – Arrowhead Plaza location opens

1960 – Larger Arrowhead Plaza location opens

1970 – Kirkwood location opens

1971 – Original Broadway location shutters; 24-hour operations commences

1975 – Century location opens at Kmart; "Motorbus" Leary Retires

1980 – Dan'due south purchases and converts existing Dickinson grocery store

1981 – Gateway location replaces Century location

1982 – Second Dickinson location opens

1985 – Roy Rockstad retires; son Terrance takes reigns

1986 – Cheyenne, WY location opens

1987 – Dan's purchases land along South Washington Street, temporarily preempts construction. Dan's besides completes a $500,000 renovation of its Arrowhead location.

1991 – Cheyenne location expands

1993 – Rapid City location opens

1995 – Washington Street location replaces Kirkwood location; Gillette location opens

1996 – Cheyenne location sold to Buttrey's

1999 – Mandan location opens

1997 – Upper-case letter Credit Spousal relationship opens inside Dan's Gateway location; Iii additional Wyoming locations purchased (in Wright, Gillette, and Sheridan)

2003 – State Street location replaces Gateway location

2011 – Dan'due south remodels southward shop

2013 – Dan'due south purchases and converts Bismarck's Central Market

2015 – Sunrise Town Centre location opens; SpartanNash acquires company

2016 – Dan's remodels north store

2017 – Dan's on Due south Washington ceased 24-hour operation

2018 – Dan's Arrowhead closes February 21, 2018 after nearly 65 years

External Link:
www.dansupermarket.com

Location	Opening Year
Arrowhead Plaza	1953 (November)
South Bismarck (Kirkwood)	1970 (Replaced in 1995 – now Gold's Gym)
N Bismarck (Gateway)	1975 (Replaced in 2003 – now Hobby Lobby)
South Washington	1995 (June); Remodeled 2011
Mandan	1999
Land Street	2003 (March)
Northwest Bismarck (Central Market)	2013
Northeast Bismarck (Sunrise Boondocks Centre)	2015

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