instore - June 2017 - 31

cover story

A central bakery facility was added in 1991 that could supply their
stores with fresh bakery products at a great value. In 1993, the
Kowalskis built a franchised Cub Foods store in White Bear Township
that would assure purchasing power throughout all their stores. But
Jim and Mary Anne knew they could never differentiate themselves
in the grocery aisle. In distinguishing themselves, Kowalski's was
becoming the store where shoppers found the unusual or new product.
In August 2000, the Kowalskis' vision for what a grocery store could be
was unveiled in Woodbury. It was the first Kowalski's Market built from
the ground up. Designed to look like a European village, it featured a
glass-walled bakery oven, three restaurant concepts, a department storequality gift shop, an educational and meeting area, a full service JUUT
Salonspa, and a Natural Path department offering organic and natural
foods and homeopathic remedies. People waited in line to see it. Grocery
industry people came from all over the world to see it. It was heralded as
the next level in grocery stores around the world.
In April 2002, Jim and Mary Anne bought a small chain in the
Minneapolis area known as GJ's Supervalu, from lifelong friends John

and Carol Vranicar. Once again, what was now becoming Kowalski's
signature European market theme was executed in the remodeling of
these stores. Each of the stores opened to rave reviews from excited
customers. On February 23, 2004, Kowalski's Markets expanded to the
Minneapolis suburbs with the acquisition of Driskill's New Market in
Eden Prairie. Remodeling was completed in November of 2004. In June
of 2005, the Kowalskis opened a market in Stillwater/Oak Park Heights.
In November 2008, Jim and Mary Anne built from the ground up a
store in Eagan on Diffley Road.
In July 2015, Mary Anne Kowalski along with daughter Kris KowalskiChristiansen opened their first store together in historic downtown
Excelsior. The store is located a few blocks off Lake Minnetonka on
Water Street in the old Mason Motors building. On November 10, 2016,
Kowalski's opened the 11th store in the city of Shoreview, modeled
after the Excelsior store and the recently renovated Grand Ave. store.
The building was an old Rainbow Foods. It now also houses the central
facility which includes the central bakery, commissary kitchen, meat
production facility and the transportation facility. At present, there are
now 11 Kowalski's Markets in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Forget New York style thin crust and Chicago style deep dish.

Introducing JennyLee Savory style !

We'd like to throw our hat into the ring and show pizza lovers a different
style. Jenny Lee California Tomato Basil Style. Welcome to the new
pizza crust obsession.
Ingredients:
- 4 Slices of Jenny Lee California Tomato Basil Bread
- Your favorite pizza sauce
- Fresh mozzarella cheese
- Pizza toppings of your choice
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread a spoonful of sauce over bread slices.
- Slice fresh mozzarella and place on top of sauce.
- Pile on your favorite pizza toppings.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Merchandise in your
bakery and serve
in your deli !
scott@5generationbakers.com
5generationbakers.com 412-444-8200
■

Recipe by Cody Baxter

instore * JUNE 2017 * 31

http://www.5generationbakers.com

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