By Chad Koenen

Publisher

There was perhaps no topic more popular on street corners or through small talk last year than the new convenience store and car wash in town. From the demolition of the former Denny’s Food N’ Sport to the construction of a new state-of-the-art building in its place, dozens of people were already in the new convenience store shortly after it opened in late November.  ¶  After all, with large windows, an open air feel and bright lights on the two canopies above the gas tanks, it would take tunnel vision to not notice the new convenience store located on Inman St. in Henning.  ¶  The new North Star Gas and Grocery held a soft opening at the end of November and has been busy putting the finishing touches on the offerings and facility over the past few weeks.

The store offers an extensive selection of hot and cold food items, grab and go meals, refreshments, a smoothie machine and plenty of seating options inside. Food can be ordered ahead for dine in or take out.

The store also features a large liquor store and bottle shop, as well as a new car wash. 

“We want it to be a one-stop shop,” said C-Store District Manager Angie Halverson. 

The new name is a throwback to the former North Star gas station that operated in Henning for a number of years. Halverson said many of the older customers still referred to the previous convenience store as North Star. In fact, a sign that sits on the back wall of the new convenience store was found on a farm near the airport and restored prior to opening in November.

“We wanted to call it North Star because that’s what a lot of the locals know it as,” she said. 

The new convenience store also offers a variety of services like propane tank refills. There are also more comfortable features at the new convenience store that are not commonly seen in small towns, like a baby changing station in the bathrooms and the opportunity to purchase stamps throughout the day. 

Halverson said it was important for the convenience store to support local businesses as much as possible. For example, they have a variety of local alcohol vendors, as well as have products from Miltona Meats and Dave Uhren Farms. Some of the work on the construction of the convenience store was completed by local businesses and contractors as well.  

The store is owned by Rahn’s Oil and Propane, which operates 13 convenience stores throughout central and west central Minnesota. This is the first store the business has built from the ground up. 

The North Star convenience store is also part of a loyalty program within the Rahn’s Oil and Propane company, which offers rewards and discounts for frequent patrons. 

Halverson went on to say the store is also hoping to offer some different items than at BigFoot Gas, Grocery and Deli in Vining, which is also owned by Rahn’s Oil and Propane, to give customers a unique reason to visit each store.

In addition to the Hot Stuff brand items, which includes everything from chicken strips, pizza and bread sticks, the new store will offer made-to-order sub sandwiches as well. 

Down the road the convenience store will offer paninis, as well as live bait. 

Since opening in late November, Halverson said the community has really embraced and supported the new store. 

“The community has really embraced the new store and we are excited to be here,” said Halverson. “We are really excited to be a part of the community too.”

The new convenience store is open seven days a week. The winter hours of the store are Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.