Juba’s changes to Coborn’s

There’s been near round-the-clock activity at the now former Juba’s Super Valu early this week following sale of the business to Coborn’s.

The privately owned chain be-came owner of the business Sunday and immediately began a fullscale redoing. The parking lot was filled with cars and vans of workers from several trades.

Keith Nettik, manager of Juba’s, is now the manager of Coborn’s. He said the store was near gutted. Some cases were painted and some replaced. The office area is being remodeled, a new dcor package is being installed. Other improvements include new checking lanes and registers and bakery and deli equipment.

The store closed Saturday evening. Tom Juba, son of Juba’s founder L.P. “Buck” Juba was then at the store Sunday to clear out company records, some merchan-dise and other items.

Work in the store then began and restocking is to be completed late today (Wednesday) so the store can reopen Thursday morning. A ribboncutting ceremony is planned at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Nettik said Coborn’s owner Dan Coborn and his son Chris, president of the company, plan to be on hand.

Virtually all former employees have been rehired by the new company and additional other employees have been hired as well. Employee orientation and training have been conducted during the past few weeks.

Coborn’s is based in St. Cloud and is one of the nation’s largest privately owned grocery chains. It has over 80 groceries, as well as convenience stores, some Holiday stores and liquor stores. There are 5,600 employees in six states of the Upper Midwest.

The company has said it would like to build a larger new store here in perhaps a couple of years. “We should have remodeled and expanded, but just couldn’t do it,” Juba said.

He now operates the Juba’s store in Blue Earth. Buck Juba be-gan in Pipestone in 1946. In 1952 he opened a new store in the building now housing Snyder Drug. In 1978 he built and moved to the present store downtown.

Written by: Chuck Draper