Good Grocer — Minneapolis, MN

Good Grocer is a volunteer-powered, full-service Minneapolis grocery store in a mixed-use development at 27th and Nicollet—a stretch best known as Eat Street. The new store opened in January 2021, two years after the market was forced to close its Lake Street location due to the I-35W expansion project.

The new location has allowed Good Grocer founder and CEO Kurt Vickman to reimagine his unique concept: a for-profit business that keeps prices down by relying on volunteer staff. Volunteers receive a 20 percent store discount when they work at least 2.5 hours every four weeks.

PlanForce provided store design consulting for this unique retail grocery concept. We helped develop the store layout, including the sizes of each department and the progression throughout the store. This planning and schematic design work helped emphasize the “Good to Go” ready-to-eat meal section.

At 8,500-square-feet, the new grocery store is more than twice the size of its original location. It features an expanded selection of organic produce, fresh cheese, meat, and seafood along with conventional groceries — more than 10,000 products in all, with a focus on natural goods.

PlanForce also worked with Vickman to design a series of vignettes throughout the store. These are “pop-up” style spaces that can be leased out to third-party vendors, such as a coffee shop, pizza parlor, or similar concepts. The goal is to rent the spaces out to entrepreneurs that are working to get their businesses up-and-running.

PlanForce was a god-send to the project.

Kurt Vickman, CEO, Good Grocer