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BAGLEY 鈥� This month marked a new chapter for the former Kubiak鈥檚 Family Foods building, located at 46 Spenser Ave. SW in Bagley.

Long operating under this name, Wadena-based Mason Brothers Wholesale Grocery purchased the business from Keith Kubiak in December 2021 but kept the namesake intact.

Following a business transaction on Feb. 28, however, Kubiak鈥檚 would reopen as Galen鈥檚 Fresh Food Market once March 3 rolled around.

Such a transition underscores owner Greg Leintz鈥檚 love of his work.

鈥淚 have always enjoyed the business and the variety of work that you get to do being in business,鈥� Leintz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 enjoyable from a number of standpoints.鈥�

Opening in 1986, Leintz鈥檚 father, Galen, acquired the then-Clearwater Super Value store, which rebranded into Galen鈥檚 Super Value located at 19 Main Ave. S in downtown Bagley. Through some variations over the years, this initial location would later become known as Galen鈥檚 Fresh Food Market.

Growing up in the grocery business, Leintz would work alongside his father through years of expansions and renovations. In line with Galen鈥檚 retirement in 2002, Leintz purchased the store from Galen and continued to note increased sales and business.

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One major development came in 2018 when Galen鈥檚 purchased Hardware Hank.

鈥淚t was a family-owned business for over a hundred years, and the building itself was almost at the end of its useful life,鈥� Leintz said, 鈥渟o we tore that building down and expanded the store to 10,000 square feet and added a parking lot for the first time in our history.鈥�

With the acquisition of Kubiak鈥檚, a majority of Galen鈥檚 grocery operations will shift over to its new location. The downtown location 鈥� to be renamed 鈥淕alen鈥檚 Do It Best Home and Hardware鈥� 鈥� will be renovated and primarily feature hardware though some convenience food items will still be sold.

The new location will feature an expanded selection of fresh-cut meat, exclusively USDA-choice Angus-grade beef as well as pork and chicken. Expanded offerings will also be available in the deli and its fresh produce department is expected to double in size.

鈥淲e鈥檙e a full-service store, so we offer 100% staffed check lanes with carry-out help if needed,鈥� Leintz added.

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Grand reopenings are planned for the new and downtown locations in May and late summer, respectively.

Though Leintz has settled down in northern Minnesota where he grew up, it took a job in Denver to remind him of where he belongs.

鈥淚 worked for a company that built a new Cub Foods and I had the opportunity to go out there and help them get that store up and running,鈥� Leintz recalled. 鈥淭hat was a valuable experience and I enjoyed Denver, but as they say, there鈥檚 no place like home.鈥�

Leintz and his wife, Marsha, have been married for 39 years and have three kids. Exemplifying the concept of a family affair, Leintz鈥檚 son, Aaron, manages Galen鈥檚 new location.

As the second generation to own Galen鈥檚, Leintz pointed to the multi-generational nature of his work as well as that of his employees.

鈥淎fter 38 years, we have second-generation employees. The parents may have worked as stockers or cashiers when they were in high school and now their kids work for us,鈥� he mentioned. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had hundreds of great employees who have helped us get to where we are today.鈥�

With succinct goals for the future, Leintz aims to continue his father鈥檚 legacy as he observes his love of interacting with customers, working with product and designing store layouts to ensure an exceptional customer experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 our goal to be the best grocery store that鈥檚 ever been in Bagley,鈥� Leintz left off, 鈥渁nd serve our customers the best way we know how.鈥�

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