A Family Legacy
Lunds & Byerlys is built on a rich legacy of family tradition, values and innovation. Come along on a historic story that traverses three generations and see how a corner grocery store turned into an iconic shopping destination.
The inside and storefront of Hove’s corner grocery store at Lake St. and Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis, circa 1922.
1920s: Humble Beginnings
Our reputation of providing superior customer service and high-quality products can be contributed to the standards set by Lund’s founder, Russell T. Lund.
With an evident work ethic, Lund began his grocery career in 1922 at Hove’s, a small corner grocery store located on the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Within three months, he became a full-time team member and a 10 percent partner in the cheese and cracker department.
1930s: Expanding Horizons
An entrepreneur by nature, Lund experimented with popped and packaged popcorn to sell in Hoves’ cracker department. In 1937, Lund moved to California and turned his experiment into a thriving popcorn business called the Red E Popt Popcorn Company, guaranteeing customer satisfaction with the promise to “cheerfully refund your money.”
In 1939, Lund partnered with his former employers and became a full-partner in the Hoves’ perishable department. In the spirit of innovation and growth that characterized this era, Lund used the profits from his popcorn business to open a new grocery store on Lake Street under the Hove name, which was one of the first self-service grocery stores in the area.
1940s: An Iconic Location
Three years after the opening of the Lake Street store, Lund opened the Edina store on 50th Street and France Avenue, which had a significant impact on the area’s growing commercial district. The idea of a vibrant, urban neighborhood center was gaining popularity during this time and the addition of the Lunds store definitely helped shape the fruition of this concept in Edina. The Lunds & Byerlys headquarters are still located at 50th and France.
Listen to Audio Clip
Listen to Russell Lund, Sr. talk about the opening of the Lake Street store.
1960s: Growth and Transformation
The ‘60s were an era of transition and expansion. February of 1964 marked the lease for the Hove’s stores. Shortly thereafter, all Hove’s grocery stores were renamed Lunds, kickstarting the evolution of Lunds from a corner store to a regional grocery cornerstone.
Lund opened two more store locations during this decade, Richfield in 1967 and Minnetonka in 1968. In 1969, the owner of a friendly competitor, Don Byerly, opened his first Byerly’s store in Golden Valley, an occurrence which wouldn’t prove its full significance until several decades later.
1970s: Beyond Minneapolis
By this time, both Lunds and Byerly’s were established and well-known grocery stores, renowned for their quality products and a service-oriented shopping experience.
With new store openings in St. Paul, Edina and St. Cloud, the 70s marked the expansion of Byerly’s beyond Minneapolis into new locations within the Twin Cities metro area and beyond.
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Take a trip down memory lane with this Lunds & Byerlys radio jingle from the 1970s.
1980s: Flourishing Legacy
With an ever-growing selection of quality products and a strong reputation for amazing customer service, Lunds and Byerly’s were not only prominent grocery stores throughout the Twin Cities in the ‘80s, but common household names.
The release of the Best of Byerly’s cookbook in 1985 was proof that the grocery chain was playing a pivotal role in the lives of its loyal shoppers. The decade was another successful period of expansion for both grocers with Byerly’s store openings in St. Louis Park, Ridgedale, Bloomington, Roseville and Burnsville and Lunds in Highland Park and Wayzata.
1990s: Joining Forces
In 1991, Russell T. Lund III (Tres) became president and CEO of Lunds and acquired Byerly’s Inc. in 1997, a merger that resulted in Lund Food Holdings, Inc.
The marriage of the two companies is considered an industry success story as both entities maintained separate identities under one parent umbrella while successfully combining their service-oriented philosophies. The two companies successfully blended everything from operations to training. By the end of the decade, there were 12 stores in the Twin Cities metro area with new Byerly’s store locations in Chanhassen, Bloomington, Eagan and Maple Grove.
2000s: New Ways to Shop
In a demonstration of the company’s inventiveness and dedication to offering the best shopping experience possible, Lunds and Byerly’s launched three new innovations during the early 2000s. Perhaps most notable was the launch of the new website in 2006, equipped with online shopping, grocery delivery and store pickup. The brand also introduced their new private label products as well as Real Food magazine, a quarterly publication filled with trend-forward recipes and in-depth articles written by Lunds and Byerly’s staff and national food experts.
In store news, Lund Food Holdings, Inc., opened new locations in Plymouth, Northeast Minneapolis (at Central and University) and St. Paul as well as acquired and rebranded three Rick’s Markets in the metro area (Navarre, 101 and Central Ave).
2010s: A New Name
In 2015, the separate “Lunds” and “Byerly’s” store brands were officially united under one name: Lunds & Byerlys. Bringing the two brands together was a natural next step in creating the ultimate shopping experience focused on quality, service and innovation.
One such innovation was the Lunds & Byerlys Kitchen, a first-of-its kind, 143-seat restaurant and bar that was located in The Promenade of downtown Wayzata. It offered chef-crafted, freshly prepared foods, available for dining in or takeout, plus groceries, specialty products and an impressive selection of wine and local craft beers.
This decade also saw the addition of new store locations in downtown Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul, Woodbury, Eden Prairie, Glen Lake, Prior Lake and White Bear Lake as well as a rebuilt Edina store.
Listen to Audio Clip
Hear how CEO Russell T. Lund III (Tres) defines success for the Lunds & Byerlys team.
2020s: The Story Continues
Today, Lund Food Holdings, Inc. continues to grow and innovate under the guidance of its CEO, Russell T. Lund III (Tres), grandson of founder Russell T. Lund. In 2021, Lunds & Byerlys opened a brand new store in the Nokomis neighborhood. 2022 marked the rebuilding of the Highland Park location, which reopened as Highland Bridge, and 2023 saw the opening of the Apple Valley store.
“We want to offer our customers sensational shopping experiences each time they visit any one of our stores,” says Tres Lund. “Lunds & Byerlys will continue its tradition of being dedicated to quality and service as well as innovation and growth.”