Cub Foods Opens First State-of-the-Art "Green" Grocery Store

STILLWATER, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cub Foods announces the grand opening of a one-of-a-kind store, which upon approval, will become one of the nation’s first new grocery stores to successfully achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. Cub Foods Phalen, located at 1177 Clarence Street, at the intersection of Clarence Street and Maryland Avenue, is located in the heart of St. Paul’s Phalen neighborhood.

“The store that Cub Foods is opening on Saint Paul’s East Side shows that smart investments can be good for neighborhoods, good for the environment and good for a company’s bottom line”

Cub Foods has also received an award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GreenChill Partnership at Gold-Level Certification. The award is given for outstanding use of environmentally friendly refrigeration technology.

Cub customers will experience a unique shopping environment from the moment they step inside. The new 62,900 square-foot store will feature:

44 skylights that will illuminate 75 percent of regularly occupied spaces using a solar powered GPS system that tracks and redirects sunlight as needed.
The first commercial parking lot in Minnesota to be illuminated using only LED lights that need to be replaced every 40 years and provide 50 percent energy savings.
Half of the waste from buildings torn down on the construction site has been reused in the construction of the new building or recycled.
35 percent savings in lighting costs compared to typical Cub stores.
A maintenance-free floor that eliminates the need for chemicals during the cleaning process.
A landscape irrigation system that uses 50 percent less water than typical systems.
75 percent of the building construction waste will not end up in landfills. Instead, it will be recycled and turned into other useful materials.

“The innovations Cub Foods brings to the St. Paul Phalen community with its new LEED store are exceptional. The commitment Cub is making to the long-term well-being of the environment, their customers and employees truly exemplifies what our hometown grocers are all about,” said Jamie Pfuhl, president of the Minnesota Grocers Association. “We are incredibly proud of their ground-breaking efforts.”

“The store that Cub Foods is opening on Saint Paul’s East Side shows that smart investments can be good for neighborhoods, good for the environment and good for a company’s bottom line,” said Mayor Chris Coleman. “Environmental stewardship, living-wage jobs and urban revitalization are not mutually exclusive goals. Cub Foods sets a high standard for other businesses to follow, and they make a welcomed addition to the Phalen community.”

“Cub Foods is eager to open a store in a community that was previously underserved,” said Mark Halvorson, store director, Phalen Cub Foods. “Cub takes pride in giving back to the community and now we’re giving back to the environment. It’s the right thing for Cub to do.”

The store will continue to offer Cub shoppers a convenient shopping experience. The fresh deli and meat counters will offer a broader selection of fresh seafood. The store will also feature an expanded global department offering foods from around the world. Other amenities include a pharmacy with a drive-thru window and a full-service TCF Bank.

The Phalen Cub Foods store has created approximately 135 new part-time and full-time jobs for the neighborhood. The grocery store will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

To commemorate the store opening, Cub Foods will make donations to local Phalen community groups, including the Hmong American Association and Prosperity Campaign.

Several exciting activities and special appearances are planned at the Phalen store during grand opening week, including two MINI Cooper car giveaways in celebration of Cub’s 40^th Anniversary.

Cub Foods provides consumers with the freshest produce, widest selection and greatest value available today. In addition to innovative natural, ethnic and certified organic food sections, Cub stores offer shoppers added conveniences, such as in-store pharmacy and banking. Cub Foods was established in 1968 as one of the nation’s first discount grocery stores. The organization was purchased in 1980 by SUPERVALU and currently operates 57 stores in the Twin Cities.

Facts about the Phalen Cub Foods Store

Store was integral part of St. Paul’s East Side redevelopment project
Project integrated with neighboring Phalen Village residential complex
The first “green” grocery store to seek LEED certification in Minnesota
Pursuing LEED GOLD level certification; will be one of first GOLD certified grocery stores in the nation
Meeting strict USGBC Green Building Rating System guidelines:

			--		44 skylights with GPS to track the sun and maximize natural light
			--		75 percent of the building construction waste will not end up in landfills; instead, it will be recycled and turned into other useful materials
			--		First LED lit parking lot in state of Minnesota; replacement not needed for 40 years
			--		50 percent of the waste from buildings torn down on the construction site has been reused in the construction of the new building or recycled
			--		35 percent savings in lighting costs compared to typical Cub stores
			--		A maintenance-free floor that eliminates the need for chemicals during the cleaning process
			--		A landscape irrigation system that uses 50 percent less water than typical systems