Business & Tech

Heidi's Market Closes its Doors in Albertville; Liquor Store Remains Open

The Albertville business struggled during traffic changes and exit closures for the I-94 road project.

Another Albertville business closed its doors Friday in the struggle to stay alive during the year of construction on Interstate 94.

Heidi's Market closed its convenience store, deli and gas station — the traffic changes and reroutes significantly hurt business over the summer, said owner Rob Nelson.

"We struggled all summer and weren't able to recover from that," he said.

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Bags were placed over gas pumps after closing time Friday night. Merchandise remains on the shelves inside the locked building.

The adjacent liquor store, , remains open.

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Emotions were fresh Monday morning about the recent closing. Nelson and his wife Heidi owned the gas station since 1998.

"We didn't quite make it through the construction," he said. "We just lost the traffic and didn't have the volume of sales we had in the past."

Nelson feels frustrated and upset about the closing. He and his wife have lived in the area since they purchased the business.

"I enjoyed it," Nelson said as he fought tears. "We had a lot of good people who came in all the time. It was a nice thing."

Heidi's Market was a place for many in the community to get morning coffee and lunch in the afternoon. The store had daily specials, on Wednesdays for seniors and seasonally.The deli featured a taco bar and rotating food options.

He added he appreciates all the local support he's had over the years.

"We've been very fortunate — very lucky," Nelson said.

Members of the community felt the same way — Nathan Ulen of Albertville, a frequent customer, said the staff was always friendly. He stopped in for gas and other odds and ends he needed throughout the years.

"As a frequent customer of Heidi's, I am saddened by them closing," Ulen said. "I would drive out of my way to go there solely to support a local business. I would much rather help out a local then give my business to a larger corporation."

Construction Changes
The I-94 construction project, called the I-94 Westbound Collector-Distributor Road Project, was completed in November, and created an exit ramp for travelers destined for County Road 19, in addition to County Road 37.

During the construction, at times, the exit to County Road 37 in Albertville was completely closed.

As a result of the traffic changes, Sunoco gas station, located at that exit, also closed seemingly overnight at the end of November. With the closing came rumors that Kwik Trip would purchase the gas station.


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