Cub Foods opens 30th liquor store

Cub Foods has opened its 30th wine, beer and liquor store in Minnesota. 

Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub said Friday that the 8,600-square-foot Wine & Spirits store, located in Maple Grove, houses a sit-and-sip bar, a “build your own six-pack” beer wall and more than 1,400 wines, including many “luxury” varieties. Customers also will find a curated selection of beer, seltzer, whiskey and bourbon, with over 30 doors of chilled products.

“Maple Grove Wine & Spirits will be the destination for customers looking for an everyday wine, beer or cocktail for pairing, but also if they are looking to discover a special treasure hunt item,” according to Darren Caudill, senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and sales at Cub Foods. “Our well-trained staff is looking forward to helping customers create the ultimate experience.”

Other selections at the new store, situated at 13335 Grove Drive North in Maple Grocer, include red wine, white wine, dessert wine, sparkling wine, champagne, rose, craft beer, cider, hard seltzers and mixers. Shoppers can get full-case discounts, and My Cub Rewards members can receive weekly exclusive deals, free pickup and $1.99 off delivery. In-store and online, Cub also can provide “perfect pairing” recommendations with entrees, cheeses, fruit and vegetables, and desserts.

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In support of the new Wine & Spirits location, Cub is holding a series of tasting events at the store through Feb. 27, featuring beer, wine, spirits, cocktails and seltzers and such brands as Trinchero, Maker’s Mark, Keeper’s Heart, Lift Bridge and Josh Cellars. Special sale prices also will be offered through the rest of February.

Minneapolis-based Kraus-Anderson managed the construction of the new Wine & Spirits store, designed by SEH Architects, Cub said. The store’s exterior features cultured stone piers at all elevations, Nichiha fiber-cement siding panels, clear-story windows and a galvanized tube steel trellis system along the front of the building. Store operating hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. 

Cub’s 30 beer, wine and spirits stores include the Wine & Spirits and Cub Liquor banners. Overall, the chain — part of distributor United Natural Foods Inc. — has a retail network of 80 supermarkets, primarily in the Twin Cities market, with one Illinois store. Cub opened its first Wine & Spirits store in its hometown of Stillwater in late 2015.