Neighborhood leaders commend Cub's CEO for putting the community first.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Cub grocery store on Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis was in shambles at its lowest point.
The shelves had been emptied by thieves.The air was filled with smoke from arson fires.Garbage and sprinkler water were used to mop the floors.
Yet, during one of the darkest moments in Mike Stigers' professional career, he experienced déjà vu.Stigers worked with another grocery company in 1992.
The CEO states, "I was district manager in Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots."
Now, some 30 years after the riots in Los Angeles and a year after the recurrence in Minneapolis, Stigers stands in a newly reopened Cub store, ready to build a new model for an urban grocer.
Stigers adds that under the old method of conducting business, everyone was simply too busy performing their work. "When you believe that everything is OK, you discover that it is not,"
Therefore, Stigers began to consider community feedback.Consequently, a number of modifications are being implemented for the first time at a Twin Cities supermarket.
The most groundbreaking is a new method to loss control, or shoplifting, as it is commonly known.
Stigers and Trahern Pollard, the founder and CEO of the community organization We Push for Peace, have developed a friendship and business partnership over the past year.
The organization's uniformed employees now greet consumers as they enter the store.When shoplifting is suspected, We Push for Peace handles the situation, not the cops.
Pollard explains,"In the past, supermarket stores would contact the police when someone stole a bag of potato chips." That is unnecessary.
Instead, Pollard's personnel investigate the theft's origin. Was the thief-to-be hungry? If this is the case, We Push for Peace will provide resources or a meal.
Cub's altruism is not limitless.
Pollard stated that his employees ensure the accused understands "that will not be accepted under any circumstances."
According to Stigers, police are still called when necessary, although most of the time this is unnecessary.
"It simply reduces tension," explains the CEO of Cub. "The community is truly caring for the community."
Stigers said that crime and police calls to the store have decreased since the loss prevention shift in August of last year. Perhaps most significantly, Cub has expanded its association with We Push for Peace to its Minneapolis and St. Paul Uptown, Minnehaha, Midway, and Phalen stores.
Pollard states, "I believe this concept can be implemented across the country."
Stigers also utilized the knowledge of Lisa Clemons and Donna Anderson of the non-profit organization A Mother's Love.
"They did not make any decisions, including the building's name, without community input and our suggestions," adds Anderson.
Stigers posed the question to a group of community leaders regarding the incorporation of Broadway Avenue into the name. "And they all looked at one other and said, 'We are the Northside, Mike,'" So, it's like, 'Okay, Northside Cubs it is,'" Stigers adds.
Stigers was also persuaded by Clemons and Anderson of the necessity for room for after-school tutoring, career training, moms' activities, and senior gatherings.
Cub thus created an in-store community space and commissioned Northside artist Sean Phillips to paint murals on its walls.
"In my 58 years, I've never seen a business, much less a grocery store, be so invested in the neighborhood," adds Anderson.
Clemons nodded in agreement and stated, "They fulfilled every commitment."
The first commitment made by Stiger was to keep the store open. Prior to the theft, the Northside Cub was owned by Jerry's Enterprises, the same franchisee who controlled the severely damaged Lake Street Cub.
Jerry's maintained and reconstructed the Lake Street location, whilst Cub corporate took over management of the Northside property.
Stigers states, "There was never an idea that we would forsake the areas."
In the days following the looting, Cub made its parking lot available to neighborhood organizations who offered food. Then, Cub provided a coach bus for free transportation to one of its other locations.
Now, murals painted by local artists adorn the bright and airy renovated store.
As she unpacked her shopping cart, Diane Upton mentioned both the renovation and the representatives of We Push for Peace who greet her at the door.
She stated, "They did a terrific job, but they need to keep it up."
Stigers is certain the new approach not only makes the community stronger, but also makes good commercial sense.
Since the CEO examined the devastation a year ago, the store has made great strides.
"It is time for all of us to examine what occurred and ask, 'Okay, what have we learned from this, and how can we improve?'" Stigers stated. "So that this never occurs again."
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