Grocery store is still locally owned, operated

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The parents of Henning High School Class of 2023 were most likely in elementary school when Ben and Darene Oseien purchased one of three grocery stores in Henning in 1982. In fact, when they took over the grocery store in Henning electric vehicles were so far fetched they weren’t even in the movies, and business was still done with a handshake and a smile.

Fast forward 40 years and B&D Foods remains as the only local grocery store in Henning and the business is located across the street from where it was in 1982. A lot has changed over the years, but that hasn’t stopped the Oseien’s from providing fresh produce, meat and groceries for the greater Henning area.

“It doesn’t seem like 40 years,” said Darene. “It has been great.”

The Oseien’s moved to Henning in 1982 from Hibbing, Minn. Though they had not operated a grocery store in the past, Ben’s parents owned a convenience store in the Backus area and Darene’s parents had a meat market in Pine River. 

Ben’s mom lived with the family, and the Henning grocery store came with two upstairs apartments, which could give each family a bit of privacy. At the time, Henning had three grocery stores, a bakery and a locker plant. The family operated the grocery store in its previous location, which has since served as the home to the Salvation Army and a tattoo shop, until 2001. At that time the current B&D Foods location was opened and offered an expanded selection of food items, fresh meat, produce and items that customers had come to expect.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of B&D Foods, the grocery store will be offering give away items all week long.

B&D Foods is located at 525 Douglas Ave in downtown Henning and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.