Red Owl was a
regional grocery chain headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota.
Over the years, Bismarck has had four Red Owl locations, including one at
Northbrook Mall. Once the
area’s dominate grocer, Red Owl would eventually succumb to
immense competition from a growing list of local grocers,
most notably Dan’s Supervalu.
Red Owl first came to Bismarck in 1927, with a location on Main Avenue. One year later, Red Owl opened a second location on Broadway Avenue. Sometime in the 1930s, Red Owl closed its Main Avenue location upon expanding its Broadway location. In 1952, Red Owl opened a location at the intersection of Fourth Street and Avenue A. Red Owl would later relocate its Broadway Avenue location to a building near the intersection of Seventh Street. When Northbrook Mall opened in 1959, Red Owl was its anchor.
In 1987, the Red Owl corporate office seized control of the failing Bismarck franchise locations. Sean Schulke, who happened to be the son of Red Owl President C. Patrick Schulke, later purchased the Bismarck locations. Shortly after the purchase, both Bismarck locations underwent renovation, and a name change to Freshmart Foods, which was a test concept being initiated by Red Owl.
All remaining Bismarck Red Owl locations closed in 1989.
