On the Road: Small town store provides big service

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 24, 2003

Stopping in at Brenda's Rose Creek Market is a step into the past. Brenda Landherr has been the proprietor of Brenda's for 15 years. Small town grocery stores like Brenda's are becoming rarer and rarer.

Landherr bought her business from Don Lenz, who had called the store Lenz's Market. Landherr worked for Lenz two years before purchasing the business.

"I was really excited when I bought the business 15 years ago. I can't believe I have been here 15 years. I love owning my own business and being my own boss," Landherr said.

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Brenda's Market has only two grocery aisles but it is packed neatly with food and household essentials. Landherr has done improvements on the building. She had a rubber roof put on, new siding on the front of the building, a new ceiling in the interior, painted the walls and is preparing to lay a new floor when she has the other improvements paid off. She purchased the refrigerator coolers from the Lyle grocery store so now she has more refrigerator space.

The hours for Brenda's are accommodating to the residents of Rose Creek. Monday through Friday it is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Landherr delivers groceries to those that cannot get out to shop and she takes special orders for customers. Three high school girls help Landherr run her business. They are Heidi Williams, Erin Landherr and Michelle Landherr. Rose Mandt of Rose Creek has helped out at the store for years.

Brenda's is a stopping place for the youth of Rose Creek. On this particular day the school children are on Easter break and they ride their bikes to the store to purchase chips, candy and pop. Justin and Chris McNichol, 10-year-old twin brothers, were spending money they made because they knew the Ten Commandments in religion class.

"We like coming to Brenda's as it is real close to our house," Chris said.

Landherr had a smile and asked the boys about their family and then they sped off on their bikes with their goodies.

"I enjoy seeing the same people every day. It is quite fun seeing the kids grow up and bring their own kids in. I love small towns and all the businesses get along in Rose Creek. I get breakfast once a week at the Last Chance Restaurant. Rose Creek is growing. We have new developments of lots and new homes were moved in," Landherr said.

When she has her weekends off, Landherr and her husband Chris go boating on the Mississippi. They have two children Jill Sathre, who lives in Faribault and is going to college to be a pharmacist and Adam who is a senior at Southland.

"Having a business in a small town is a service to the community and the people of the town have to do some shopping here. I am lucky with my loyal customers," Landherr said.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com