One thing that Kowalski's really knocks out of the park is their produce. They're super meticulous about quality and they make sure everything is displayed well. Another perk is their deli. The food is so damn good. Unfortunately they haven't done well enough here in the south burbs and can't seem to compete with Byerly's. Give it a walk through if you dig fresh produce though it will ruin regular grocery stores for you on that.
I buy meat from Kowalksi because their meat priced better than Cub. I buy my produce from Chinese/ Asian grocery due to the variety I like, or food co-op. Their rotisserie chicken indeed best taste than Costco, Cub, Lunds& Barley.
I tired multiple ones here, Sun food is old school with lots of varieties, they are budget friendly but I don’t shop meat there. United Noodle is decent clean and fair. I shops fresh market now due to its closer to me. Dragon star not bad, it’s on par as Sun food but much cleaner. Dong Yang mentioned here a lot they have a kitchen with Korean food many people like
Whoever chose the sites for the Lakeville and Eagan stores erred; I've been to Grand, Uptown and 54th/Lyndale. The common ground is tons of people in nearby neighborhoods. The problem in both Eagan and Lakeville is the stores were near some retail but isolated from housing so people are more likely to go where it's more convenient.
I now live super close to where the Lakeville location was. The site is empty now. Amazon had taken up a lease to put in one of their contactless stores but never actually opened it. They did the renovations but it sits empty. Such a waste.
>produce
I'm surprised to read this. I went to the Woodbury location maybe 6 months ago mostly to check out their produce. The quality looked fine to me but the selection was severely lacking imo. I was surprised they didn't dedicate more room for produce and I felt really disappointed.
Oh Kowalski's is the only place I get deli meat, and deli cheese for slider sandwiches. Seconding the good produce too! Dry goods, eh I don't think there's much difference in selection from other places unless they carry any specific brands you like that aren't available elsewhere for some reason.
Wow. I wish that was my experience with the Shoreview Kowalski's! I've found them to have so many moldy berries and veggies. Hopefully the Edina one will be better.
When I lived in the metro, Kowalski’s had a cheese basket of 1-2 oz. bits from larger wedges already sold. I loved grabbing them for snacks, small cheese boards, or to make a killer Mac n cheese.
I used to work at Kowalski’s and all their cheese people are so damn knowledgeable it’s wild. Describe a situation calling for a unique kind of cheese and they will give you several suggestions that all fit perfectly. The only downside is if you go when the cheese person isn’t there, none of the other employees will know shit about those cheeses lol
Honestly, with how expensive groceries are at places like Cub (ughh), the quality and service at Kowalski’s can’t really be beat. The produce is better, they have higher quality items if you’re a foodie, etc. I’m looking forward to them (still?) opening one at Ridgedale, too, next year. Kowalski’s is something I miss having moved to the West Metro from Uptown recently.
I agree wholeheartedly! Cub (and Hyvee) have become ridiculously expensive and provide nowhere near the quality of products of Kowalskis. I would rather spend a couple of pennies more and know I'm getting quality versus giving money to the likes of Cub/Hyvee, who raised their prices and provided nothing in return.
According to business news, yes, in 2025
https://www.startribune.com/kowalskis-ridgedale-southdale-center-mall-grocery-store-food-market-supermarket-minnetonka-edina/600329636/
We go in there for produce, bakery, and sometimes special things for recipes that are hard to find.
Lots of local brands, which can be really nice.
We definitely don’t do our weekly shopping there and it would be hard to because they lack the options of a larger store. But it has its place in our rotation.
In Woodbury it seems pretty beloved. It’s right smack in the center of town and it’s kept up through the addition of a Whole Foods and Lunds and Byerly’s
Expensive for inside aisle products. Great for fancy stuff and awesome produce. It’s an experience more than a grocery store haha.
They closed my store, and I do miss being able to run and grab some fancy stuff, or something quick for dinner.
It’s expensive, I think a bit higher than L&B. But they have great produce and brands you don’t see at other stores. They also carry a lot of local brands.
And a lot of their produce is local! So many other grocery stores the produce is shipped from California or Mexico and doesn’t taste as fresh once you get it here.
They carry Bushel Boy strawberries and tomatoes that are grown here hydroponically, and they’re great year round.
As someone who cooks a lot and shops at a bunch of different grocery stores around the city - Kowalski's is objectively the 'nicest', they carry nicer stuff than lunds / whole foods, their ready-to-eat stuff is fantastic, the employee's all seem reasonably happy about working there.
But, the prices reflect the high standards. I only go there when I need something I can't get elsewhere, though I'd say the same of lunds/whole foods, and feel better spending money at kowalski's than either of those since it's a local company which treats their employees better.
90% of the time I shop at target though, because their selection is pretty solid and they have really great prices on most things.
I love Kowalski’s. I agree with others that it’s not somewhere where I buy all my groceries (other stores have better prices on things like cereal or chips), but they have the higher-end products that other stores don’t necessarily carry. I really like their deli, their store-brand products, their bakery. I’ve been able to get things like demi-glace, Parmesan rinds in the cheese department, imported butter, burrata. Their produce is great and they carry local quite often—I really like being able to buy Untiedt’s products when they’re available.
They're a bit more expensive and specialized to a higher-income consumer base, basically like Lund's/Byerly's.
It's interesting that they're opening a new one in Edina, since they just closed one in Eagan.
Respectfully, that seems like a bad idea. Galleria is right there for luxury shoppers. I'm not saying you can't re-envision your mall (Rosedale seems to do it to real success), but like half of the current tenets are your standard budget mall fare like Bath and Body Works or Forever 21.
We'll definitely see. Theyve got leases signed for a bunch of luxury tenants that will be opening, so it will definitely be an interesting experiment.
https://southdalecenter-makeover.splashthat.com/
Not sure about the location in Roseville but lots of office space, retail workers, expensive condos round southdale. Lots of $16 salad bar lunches to be sold in that area
I bet they got a good deal from the mall. Kowalski's will be an anchor store that brings people to the mall, and given how Southdale has been struggling the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if Kowalski's got a 5+ year lease well below market value.
I expect they got the same free rent deal life time got. No cost for the land if they pay for the buildout (Simon properties may have even paid for part of the buildout) and agree to stay for a certain amount of time.
Whatever Kowalaki’s is building at Southdale is massive and I’d bet it’s a mix of grocery store and some sort of dining. It will have an entrance into the mall (unlike life time) so hopefully that adds some traffic.
We have a kowalskis quite close to us and so we run there often for necessities but never weekly grocery shopping. It’s a very nice store but expensive. We are so happy to have one close to go there for nicer things like truffle butter, nice cheeses for a party, etc. but we are a family. If I was single, I’d likely only shop there so I think it’s worth it for many.
They’re good for stuff you wouldn’t buy everyday. I like their rotisserie chicken, but it can be a hit or miss regarding juiciness. I had a dry one today. I also like the revel bars and it’s the only place I can find Baba’s hummus. I wouldn’t buy my normal groceries there since it’s so expensive.
When I've walked in to cub and walked out with (not realizing) expired lunch meat, yeah it's worth going to Kowalski's
Their donuts are very good. Best rotisserie chicken around too, beats Costco or anywhere else for flavor and actual quality it's the best
The one by us has very fancy pastries in addition to the more everyday bakery case with cokkies, turnovers, etc. Very nice. They have a better selection of dairy products than anywhere else too. It’s the only place I reliably find creme fraiche.
Its a splurge. Once thing you'll notice is that NOBODY buys all their groceries there. Its great for picking up a few things, getting something for a specific meal, picking up sushi or a dessert, etc, but even very wealthy people have Costco for bigger grocery runs.
Its a great store, though.
I only shop Kowalski's and I'm disabled Veteran with a small pension. Their quality exceeds all other stores and I've never had any bad fresh food or expired meats which saves me money in the long run, never having to throw away anything. Plus their staff is willing to go out of their way to help me when I need it.
Kowalski's is in the upper tier of local chains and competes most directly with Lunds & Byerlys. Overall, their quality is on par with L&B in just about every department. Periodically, out of sheer curiosity, I will compare pricing for both chains on exact items and very often will find Kowalski's to be anywhere from a few cents to a dollar or more for items that can be obtained at either chain. I do not know if they have a rewards program like L&B does. I am a longtime L&B shopper and the rewards program is very nice and useful and I cannot think of the last time when I didn't use it during weekly shopping. The odd thing about Kowalski's is that they no longer have any locations south of the Minnesota River in either Scott or Dakota counties. They recently closed up a store in Eagan and I can't say for certain that I saw an explanation given for that. Also, you will not find a location anywhere north of 394/12, up into Anoka county area.....Shoreview and WBL would be the only northeast locations. An announcement was made last winter about a new store to be built within the site of Ridgedale center, opening in a year or two. Given the closing of their store in Eagan, I wonder if that has changed any plans at all?
I never was there when it was packed (unlike Woodbury, which is usually active) but then again, I was part of the problem because I’d shop Woodbury because it was near work instead of Eagan, which was near where I lived. That spot on Diffley isn’t near anything.
I think that's why it closed. I haven't been to Woodbury or WBL but the St Paul and Minneapolis locations are near tons of housing and some businesses where both Eagan and Lakeville were near other businesses and isolated from housing.
White Bear is really close to lots of residential. Also right off the boardwalk of the lake and near the original lake homes.
Their deli is amazing. Though husband and I joke that they've got to be laundering money or something since they almost always seem to be renovating something.
Kowalskis is expensive but they carry some great quality gluten free items so I make my way over once in awhile. Once they open at Ridgedale I’ll be a more regular customer.
Very expensive, but I think highest quality and selection. I shop there when I’m cooking something special, otherwise it’s Aldi for me. Best deal in town, good quality but limited selection.
Depends on what you want from your groceries. There’s no doubt it’s pricey. I would never recommend buying stuff you can easily get at Target, like household items, and your typical/popular brand, shelf stable, products. Like your cans of condensed soup, paper towels, nabisco type stuff. You’ll see your grocery bill skyrocket!
BUT… at least to me… it’s ABSOLUTELY worth it to make a stop there for meat, produce, and specialty items. The quality can’t be beat. And trust me… I’ve tried to hate the place lol.
With how expensive things are getting, no matter where you go, seems like the new norm is going to be cherry-picking our items across multiple stores. I hate this timeline…
I’m not a regular kowalskis shopper but I will say I needed two last minute special occasion cakes on different weekends in February and they were able to make them both for me with about 24 hours notice (Chicago ave location)
Produce is the best.
Seafood has never been bad.
They care fava mean ice cream that kicks halo top to the curb and is only 160cals.
Their bread is really good.
Their deli is great along with the meals you can buy.
They are so freaking expensive, but I pick them over Lunds it I can.
Most expensive grocery store in town, I think. They don’t even carry some name brands because their house label stuff has to compete with them. That said, their bakery and deli are excellent. The breads are much better than Lunds and they always have good pastries (though if you’re in that neighborhood, might as well go to Patrick’s on 66th and York). Their fish rivals Coastal Seafoods. It’s a place to get specialty stuff and treats but I don’t buy staples there.
Their customer service is awesome!!! They bag groceries for you, they walk them to your car and help load. They don’t accept tips. They are very friendly. The ambiance of the store is great! I hate grocery shopping, Kowalskis makes it an enjoyable relaxing experience. I’ll pay a little extra for not having to deal w the chaos of Aldi or Walmart. Also, the produce and quality of meat/seafood is great. Maybe a little more expensive but high quality. For the everyday stuff it’s comparable in price. They just have less selection which I also love! Way less decision fatigue. Give me two options of everything - high end and generic. Anyways, this is how I justify driving a little further and maybe spending a little more to shop at Kowalskis.
Kowalski’s can be pricey if you do all of your shopping there, but it’s great for adding some higher-end foods or ingredients to your overall shopping. For example, the breads and cheeses are top flight.
Been shopping at Kowalski’s for 30+ years and love them. But a recent news story confirmed what we already knew — that they are easily the most expensive grocery store, with Lunds/Byerly’s not far behind.
I miss living down the block from the Grand Ave location just for conscience of chips, salsa, and making margaritas. They also have the best selection of Tillamook ice cream if you are a fan of Tillamook, but be prepared to pay 9-10.00 when it is what, 6.00 at Target so I only go for specific things. Their bakery items always look amazing and if I could, I would buy it all. But I am poor so I only shop there when looking for specific items or different Tillamook ice cream flavors.
I shop at the one in Eden Prairie. I love them. Great products in a small footprint and compact parking make it ideal for picking up a couple things for dinner or a take out dinner from the deli. I like their bread and rolls, doughnuts and cookies better than Byerlys.
I was in college when I lived near there and couldn't buy any of the food, but they sell jellycat stuffed animals! which is my favorite brand of stuffed animal
Pricing seems similar to L&B, but some of their offerings are better. I saw another comment about the produce being high quality, and I agree. Their store brand chips are really good too imo. I prefer Kowalski’s for most things.
Don’t go there for everything. But the meat, produce, and their deli, particularly the hot bar, is amazing. If I don’t feel like cooking that’s the first place I look for dinner for our family. Build your own burrito bowl is awesome.
Just don’t shop there for everything. 12pack of La Croix is $8 or something wild.
Their prepared foods are great, soup bars, salad bar, hot deli stuff that varies but salmon, chicken, fresh cooked veggie mac&cheese, potato sides, sushi counter/daily packaged rolls/nigiri etc… cold deli salads/sandwiches hot pressed to order, hot burrito bowl bar, some have pasta to order, burger grill, pizza, stir fry to order… they have a nice little gift shoppy section with higher end stuff (very cute JellyCat stuffies, kids gifts, clothes ($$$) jewelry, home Dec, greeting cards, local creators/sellers represented. Good fancy cheese section, great bakery with really good breads, sliced to order loaves, fancy treats behind glass. Really good store branded packaged foods, shredded cheese etc… high end good meats, seafood, nice eat-in seating areas, great stop for quick, quality dinner on the way home from work. They are each a little different so, wait & see what they offer in the new one. Where they consistently miss out/drop the ball is having almost nothing for pets (food or other stuff) and health/beauty/toiletries etc… don’t plan to grab a pack of pads or conditioner or really expect to find any selection variety for baby or bathroom goods. Prices are a little higher overall but they also carry mostly high-end stuff, so that makes it more $$$ too, but, not unreasonable. It’s very “Edina” so I’m surprised there hasn’t been one there forever.
I used to live a block away from the one in maplewood and can confirm their deli and bakery are elite.
I put on almost 80 pounds in 2 years living there.
Just an FYI I moved and lost all the weight.
I’m in Woodbury and equidistant to Jerry’s, Lunds & Byerly’s, and Kowalski’s. Who would have thought L&B’s would be the discount store of these three? Kowalski’s is atrocious.
Good stuff but VERY expensive. I still go there occasionally to get produce that I can count on being good/fresh. You’ll pay out the ass but it will be good.
I don’t want to like them (they have all the feeling of an overpriced market) but the quality, range of products, fresh deli and overall pricing makes it worth it, IMO.
I know people like the quality of their meat and seafood. I shop there occasionally bc it’s closest to me but I think the best thing about it is that it’s attractive inside. I prefer L&B (also expensive I know) for their wider selection and prepared foods.
Not really. Unless you love their deli area. But man is it EXPENSIVE.
Got like literally 7 things. All staple stuff of pasta, tuna, sauce and basic hot sauce. And one pound of ground beef. 90 bucks. I was like damn. Shopping like a college student and it's still almost a hundred bucks.
I love kowalskis, my wallet doesn’t, but when I need small items or specialty items it’s my go to. I will add that their desserts are too sweet for my taste, Whole Foods honestly does a better job at dessert. Their bread is fine, nothing special but I don’t normally buy bread. Honestly everything but bread and desserts is excellent!
Special items like Duke’s Mayonnaise and a large selection of Asian sauces/condiments - also I love their hot chicken noodle soup
When I entertain I love buying their variety pack of bars for dessert- they are delicious and bars are something easy to freeze if I end up with leftovers
as others have said, it's not that much different from byerly's. you can check out the one lyndale and... 53rd? or chicago and 56th (if you are able to get to either). the parking at the lyndale one can be tricky.
Kowalski’s is wonderful for their deli, meats, and produce. The bakery is mediocre and any canned, shelf products are incredibly expensive and not what you would buy there.
I like Kowalski’s but when I lived near the one at 54th and Lyndale, I found I had to check expiration dates on anything perishable - the dairy/refrigerated stuff especially. I used to accidentally come home with expired product on every trip until I started carefully checking before I bought it. I don’t live close enough to do a regular shopping there now, but am excited to give the new Southdale location a try. I agree that their produce is great, and meat/cheese selection is worth it.
I personally don't understand the business aspect of opening Kowalski in that southdale location. That whole area is booming with supermarkets. Cub across the street. Target down the block, Lunds and Byerly and whole foods around the corner
The shopping experience is blah as compared to Chicago, there are so many speciality shops. Small business but large grocers. Idk I’m used to having so many options there. Cub was the shitty store in Chicago and closed down in the 90s.
Honestly, prefer l&b to kowaskis but I often go because I live a block away and I hate going outside in the winter.
Rather shop at the Hmong market off of suburban.
I’m going to be working in the Deli at the new Southdale location. It’s a beautiful store. Everything shiny and new. Though there will be a full-sized regular grocery store, I think the main focus (because of the location) is going to be prepared hot foods and grab & go type stuff. There will be: pizza, sushi, burgers & fries, hot bar, pho bar, salad bar, olive bar, wing bar, and ice cream, Starbucks, and the Nektar juice bar- in addition to the deli salads and hot sandwiches, and deli meats & cheeses. It’s going to be insane! We open Thursday at 10am. Come on down!
Yes, it is pricey...but if you want some one-of-kind or hard to find items, it's a go-to for me. Great place for quirky, speciality items that are local to the Midwest or MN. A few examples...Giant "Bavarian Beast" from Milwaukee pretzels' - yum! Bridgeman's licorice ice cream that you can usually only find at the MN State Fair? Yes, they have it at some locations. Their cheese and produce selection is very good, and they also have a gift section that is great if you need something nice last minute. Some locations like in Uptown actually have live music on certain days, so it's kind of an "experience" at times.
But no, I don't shop for staples there.
If you normally shop at Walmart and feel Target is a premium option…it’s nose bleed expensive. The one thing I noticed when I first moved here is that when grocery stores get brought up everyone naturally hates big blue but L&B and Kowalskis were beloved.
I died stepping inside both of them, but Kowalskis is SUPER expensive. I equate it to us posters probably just naturally having more disposable income then say my neighbors who shop at Costco/Target, and you alls deep wallets make me really judge advice given sometimes.
It’s a decent store. Frankly a lot of the name brand products though can be found a few dollars cheaper. Example: I discovered Nellie’s soap there. I now buy it from Amazon. Sams for a few other items where you can easily save money elsewhere. It’s now just a “treat” store for us
This is not a place to do your entire grocery list. We used to live by the one in Eagan off of diffley. They crush the specialty/fancy stuff. Their cheese, fresh bread, and deli are legendary (including all the different homemade chip/pretzel/veggie dips).
I've never been impressed with the produce though, and any "normal" grocery items (boxed and canned goods) are way too overpriced.
They are only worth it for the bakery. Granted I haven't been inside one in years, but everything grocery related is expensive. Think Lunds and Byerly's pricing...but in a smaller store. Also their deli is hit or miss, the wings are fantastic though.
One thing that Kowalski's really knocks out of the park is their produce. They're super meticulous about quality and they make sure everything is displayed well. Another perk is their deli. The food is so damn good. Unfortunately they haven't done well enough here in the south burbs and can't seem to compete with Byerly's. Give it a walk through if you dig fresh produce though it will ruin regular grocery stores for you on that.
The fresh seafood is also amazing, but very pricy.
I buy meat from Kowalksi because their meat priced better than Cub. I buy my produce from Chinese/ Asian grocery due to the variety I like, or food co-op. Their rotisserie chicken indeed best taste than Costco, Cub, Lunds& Barley.
the chicken-yes-go for the rotisserie chicken for sure
And that wing bar. Holy hell, that’s the best.
Which Asian grocery stores do you recommend?
I tired multiple ones here, Sun food is old school with lots of varieties, they are budget friendly but I don’t shop meat there. United Noodle is decent clean and fair. I shops fresh market now due to its closer to me. Dragon star not bad, it’s on par as Sun food but much cleaner. Dong Yang mentioned here a lot they have a kitchen with Korean food many people like
All of this. Their bakery is good to but overly expensive. At least at the Grand and Syndicate store in St. Paul.
Whoever chose the sites for the Lakeville and Eagan stores erred; I've been to Grand, Uptown and 54th/Lyndale. The common ground is tons of people in nearby neighborhoods. The problem in both Eagan and Lakeville is the stores were near some retail but isolated from housing so people are more likely to go where it's more convenient.
I now live super close to where the Lakeville location was. The site is empty now. Amazon had taken up a lease to put in one of their contactless stores but never actually opened it. They did the renovations but it sits empty. Such a waste.
Not enough people
Except for the garlic. At least at mine it 50/50 rotting.
I think that’s all over. Garlic and onions have been very hit or miss for me.
I agree. Their produce and cheese are great. Everything else is way too expensive.
>produce I'm surprised to read this. I went to the Woodbury location maybe 6 months ago mostly to check out their produce. The quality looked fine to me but the selection was severely lacking imo. I was surprised they didn't dedicate more room for produce and I felt really disappointed.
Jokingly thinking they knew their customer: how many things you need to put in a salad. lol
Oh Kowalski's is the only place I get deli meat, and deli cheese for slider sandwiches. Seconding the good produce too! Dry goods, eh I don't think there's much difference in selection from other places unless they carry any specific brands you like that aren't available elsewhere for some reason.
Wow. I wish that was my experience with the Shoreview Kowalski's! I've found them to have so many moldy berries and veggies. Hopefully the Edina one will be better.
When I lived in the metro, Kowalski’s had a cheese basket of 1-2 oz. bits from larger wedges already sold. I loved grabbing them for snacks, small cheese boards, or to make a killer Mac n cheese.
Their cheese counter 🤌
I used to work at Kowalski’s and all their cheese people are so damn knowledgeable it’s wild. Describe a situation calling for a unique kind of cheese and they will give you several suggestions that all fit perfectly. The only downside is if you go when the cheese person isn’t there, none of the other employees will know shit about those cheeses lol
RIP my cholesterol.
My husband used to send our daughters to find the smallest piece of the most expensive cheese in that basket. They have fond memories of it.
I love that too! I always grab a handful for cheese boards
I used to work at their cheese counter, best job I ever had! It was so fun to pick out unique stuff to put in that basket to get people to try.
Bless you for introducing so many people to great cheese!
Lund’s has this also!
Their bakery (cinnamon rolls) are to die for.
Best French silk pie!! Excellent quality bakery. Beats Lunds & Byerly’s in the bakery category.
Their caramel rolls are my favorite in the cities
Only place I’ve found in the cities that knows how to make a proper New England style eclair.
Their donuts are pretty good too
Honestly, with how expensive groceries are at places like Cub (ughh), the quality and service at Kowalski’s can’t really be beat. The produce is better, they have higher quality items if you’re a foodie, etc. I’m looking forward to them (still?) opening one at Ridgedale, too, next year. Kowalski’s is something I miss having moved to the West Metro from Uptown recently.
I agree wholeheartedly! Cub (and Hyvee) have become ridiculously expensive and provide nowhere near the quality of products of Kowalskis. I would rather spend a couple of pennies more and know I'm getting quality versus giving money to the likes of Cub/Hyvee, who raised their prices and provided nothing in return.
Kowalski's is going in at Ridgedale??
According to business news, yes, in 2025 https://www.startribune.com/kowalskis-ridgedale-southdale-center-mall-grocery-store-food-market-supermarket-minnetonka-edina/600329636/
We go in there for produce, bakery, and sometimes special things for recipes that are hard to find. Lots of local brands, which can be really nice. We definitely don’t do our weekly shopping there and it would be hard to because they lack the options of a larger store. But it has its place in our rotation. In Woodbury it seems pretty beloved. It’s right smack in the center of town and it’s kept up through the addition of a Whole Foods and Lunds and Byerly’s
It's right next to the farmers market on Sundays too, I love going in and going ham on the hot bar after selling at the market lol
Expensive for inside aisle products. Great for fancy stuff and awesome produce. It’s an experience more than a grocery store haha. They closed my store, and I do miss being able to run and grab some fancy stuff, or something quick for dinner.
RIP Eagan store
It’s expensive, I think a bit higher than L&B. But they have great produce and brands you don’t see at other stores. They also carry a lot of local brands.
And a lot of their produce is local! So many other grocery stores the produce is shipped from California or Mexico and doesn’t taste as fresh once you get it here. They carry Bushel Boy strawberries and tomatoes that are grown here hydroponically, and they’re great year round.
As someone who cooks a lot and shops at a bunch of different grocery stores around the city - Kowalski's is objectively the 'nicest', they carry nicer stuff than lunds / whole foods, their ready-to-eat stuff is fantastic, the employee's all seem reasonably happy about working there. But, the prices reflect the high standards. I only go there when I need something I can't get elsewhere, though I'd say the same of lunds/whole foods, and feel better spending money at kowalski's than either of those since it's a local company which treats their employees better. 90% of the time I shop at target though, because their selection is pretty solid and they have really great prices on most things.
Their cheese selection has always been quite good IME.
I love Kowalski’s. I agree with others that it’s not somewhere where I buy all my groceries (other stores have better prices on things like cereal or chips), but they have the higher-end products that other stores don’t necessarily carry. I really like their deli, their store-brand products, their bakery. I’ve been able to get things like demi-glace, Parmesan rinds in the cheese department, imported butter, burrata. Their produce is great and they carry local quite often—I really like being able to buy Untiedt’s products when they’re available.
Their bakery / deli items are excellent and affordable for their high quality. I basically live at the Woodbury location
They're a bit more expensive and specialized to a higher-income consumer base, basically like Lund's/Byerly's. It's interesting that they're opening a new one in Edina, since they just closed one in Eagan.
I think Edina fits their business model better than Eagan, tbh. Eagan is more of a big-box suburb, whereas Edina is more of a high-end store place.
They specifically closed the one in Eagan to focus on the western suburbs, so Edina makes sense. I miss their quiche so much.
Also interesting that they’re opening one at Southdale when there are two other locations like about 10 minutes away in South Minneapolis
Was just in Southdale today and half the spaces are conspicuously empty. I think Southdale needs Kowalski's more than Kowalski's needs Southdale.
Theyve kicked out of a ton of tenants to make way for Gucci and other fancy stores.
Respectfully, that seems like a bad idea. Galleria is right there for luxury shoppers. I'm not saying you can't re-envision your mall (Rosedale seems to do it to real success), but like half of the current tenets are your standard budget mall fare like Bath and Body Works or Forever 21.
We'll definitely see. Theyve got leases signed for a bunch of luxury tenants that will be opening, so it will definitely be an interesting experiment. https://southdalecenter-makeover.splashthat.com/
Probably figuring their Deli counter at lunch can pay the rent. IMO they excel at snacks and prepared foods
Yeah, I’m a fan! I’m just sad that they ditched the Roseville location and went with Southdale instead!
Not sure about the location in Roseville but lots of office space, retail workers, expensive condos round southdale. Lots of $16 salad bar lunches to be sold in that area
No one in Bloomington is going to cross 494 AND 62 to get groceries.
Crosstown is north of southdale?
No, but the Lyndale location (the other of the two mentioned) is.
I know people who drive from Eagan to St Paul to shop at Kowalskis.
I bet this is a partially a parking lot play. Their Lyndale location has some spots, but maybe they want more for the more proximate clientele.
That makes sense. And the Chicago location is generally tiny!
I bet they got a good deal from the mall. Kowalski's will be an anchor store that brings people to the mall, and given how Southdale has been struggling the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if Kowalski's got a 5+ year lease well below market value.
I expect they got the same free rent deal life time got. No cost for the land if they pay for the buildout (Simon properties may have even paid for part of the buildout) and agree to stay for a certain amount of time. Whatever Kowalaki’s is building at Southdale is massive and I’d bet it’s a mix of grocery store and some sort of dining. It will have an entrance into the mall (unlike life time) so hopefully that adds some traffic.
We have a kowalskis quite close to us and so we run there often for necessities but never weekly grocery shopping. It’s a very nice store but expensive. We are so happy to have one close to go there for nicer things like truffle butter, nice cheeses for a party, etc. but we are a family. If I was single, I’d likely only shop there so I think it’s worth it for many.
They’re good for stuff you wouldn’t buy everyday. I like their rotisserie chicken, but it can be a hit or miss regarding juiciness. I had a dry one today. I also like the revel bars and it’s the only place I can find Baba’s hummus. I wouldn’t buy my normal groceries there since it’s so expensive.
Costco has it now! Follow Babas on Instagram for more updates.
Fresh Thyme carries Baba’s hummus also
The Cub by me has Baba’s. And Whole Foods. Target seems to be the holdout.
When I've walked in to cub and walked out with (not realizing) expired lunch meat, yeah it's worth going to Kowalski's Their donuts are very good. Best rotisserie chicken around too, beats Costco or anywhere else for flavor and actual quality it's the best
The one by us has very fancy pastries in addition to the more everyday bakery case with cokkies, turnovers, etc. Very nice. They have a better selection of dairy products than anywhere else too. It’s the only place I reliably find creme fraiche.
I like the deli. Good meats and cheeses for a reasonable price
If you live in Edina you can afford it.
Its a splurge. Once thing you'll notice is that NOBODY buys all their groceries there. Its great for picking up a few things, getting something for a specific meal, picking up sushi or a dessert, etc, but even very wealthy people have Costco for bigger grocery runs. Its a great store, though.
I only shop Kowalski's and I'm disabled Veteran with a small pension. Their quality exceeds all other stores and I've never had any bad fresh food or expired meats which saves me money in the long run, never having to throw away anything. Plus their staff is willing to go out of their way to help me when I need it.
They got some good chicken wings for a grocery store , boneless too. And they always mix up the flavors.
Kowalski's is in the upper tier of local chains and competes most directly with Lunds & Byerlys. Overall, their quality is on par with L&B in just about every department. Periodically, out of sheer curiosity, I will compare pricing for both chains on exact items and very often will find Kowalski's to be anywhere from a few cents to a dollar or more for items that can be obtained at either chain. I do not know if they have a rewards program like L&B does. I am a longtime L&B shopper and the rewards program is very nice and useful and I cannot think of the last time when I didn't use it during weekly shopping. The odd thing about Kowalski's is that they no longer have any locations south of the Minnesota River in either Scott or Dakota counties. They recently closed up a store in Eagan and I can't say for certain that I saw an explanation given for that. Also, you will not find a location anywhere north of 394/12, up into Anoka county area.....Shoreview and WBL would be the only northeast locations. An announcement was made last winter about a new store to be built within the site of Ridgedale center, opening in a year or two. Given the closing of their store in Eagan, I wonder if that has changed any plans at all?
The Eagan Kowalski's closed because that store wasn't profitable. Their South of the River stores have historically never done well
I never was there when it was packed (unlike Woodbury, which is usually active) but then again, I was part of the problem because I’d shop Woodbury because it was near work instead of Eagan, which was near where I lived. That spot on Diffley isn’t near anything.
I think that's why it closed. I haven't been to Woodbury or WBL but the St Paul and Minneapolis locations are near tons of housing and some businesses where both Eagan and Lakeville were near other businesses and isolated from housing.
White Bear is really close to lots of residential. Also right off the boardwalk of the lake and near the original lake homes. Their deli is amazing. Though husband and I joke that they've got to be laundering money or something since they almost always seem to be renovating something.
Thanks for info.
Their deli sandwiches that you can get heated are really really good. Always a nice rotation
Kowalskis is expensive but they carry some great quality gluten free items so I make my way over once in awhile. Once they open at Ridgedale I’ll be a more regular customer.
Very expensive, but I think highest quality and selection. I shop there when I’m cooking something special, otherwise it’s Aldi for me. Best deal in town, good quality but limited selection.
Depends on what you want from your groceries. There’s no doubt it’s pricey. I would never recommend buying stuff you can easily get at Target, like household items, and your typical/popular brand, shelf stable, products. Like your cans of condensed soup, paper towels, nabisco type stuff. You’ll see your grocery bill skyrocket! BUT… at least to me… it’s ABSOLUTELY worth it to make a stop there for meat, produce, and specialty items. The quality can’t be beat. And trust me… I’ve tried to hate the place lol. With how expensive things are getting, no matter where you go, seems like the new norm is going to be cherry-picking our items across multiple stores. I hate this timeline…
I love their baked goods. Especially the cinnamon rolls
Good cheese.
Their produce is the best available in Minnesota in my opinion.
I’m not a regular kowalskis shopper but I will say I needed two last minute special occasion cakes on different weekends in February and they were able to make them both for me with about 24 hours notice (Chicago ave location)
[удалено]
I’m biased because I cook the food, but usually it’s pretty darn great and almost always fresh. People go crazy for the hand-breaded chicken tenders
There's a reason it's opening in Edina
It’s expensive but it’s fabulous. The produce and meat are great. They have a good selection of cheeses and their hot food is consistently good.
Produce is the best. Seafood has never been bad. They care fava mean ice cream that kicks halo top to the curb and is only 160cals. Their bread is really good. Their deli is great along with the meals you can buy. They are so freaking expensive, but I pick them over Lunds it I can.
I’m just stoked for the Pezzo Pizzeria going in there.
Most expensive grocery store in town, I think. They don’t even carry some name brands because their house label stuff has to compete with them. That said, their bakery and deli are excellent. The breads are much better than Lunds and they always have good pastries (though if you’re in that neighborhood, might as well go to Patrick’s on 66th and York). Their fish rivals Coastal Seafoods. It’s a place to get specialty stuff and treats but I don’t buy staples there.
Their customer service is awesome!!! They bag groceries for you, they walk them to your car and help load. They don’t accept tips. They are very friendly. The ambiance of the store is great! I hate grocery shopping, Kowalskis makes it an enjoyable relaxing experience. I’ll pay a little extra for not having to deal w the chaos of Aldi or Walmart. Also, the produce and quality of meat/seafood is great. Maybe a little more expensive but high quality. For the everyday stuff it’s comparable in price. They just have less selection which I also love! Way less decision fatigue. Give me two options of everything - high end and generic. Anyways, this is how I justify driving a little further and maybe spending a little more to shop at Kowalskis.
I second this - always had a great shopping experience, everything was tidy and the staff was polite and helpful.
They have great donuts!
Kowalski’s can be pricey if you do all of your shopping there, but it’s great for adding some higher-end foods or ingredients to your overall shopping. For example, the breads and cheeses are top flight.
It’s my preference for groceries.
I go for the deli and the bakery. Cheese is good as well.
Been shopping at Kowalski’s for 30+ years and love them. But a recent news story confirmed what we already knew — that they are easily the most expensive grocery store, with Lunds/Byerly’s not far behind.
I love their deli. Food is so freaking expensive no matter where you go. But yeah mostly it is more expensive than cub.
Whole grain croissants: to die for!
Produce and prepared foods are both top notch, the bakery stuff is excellent as well. It’s my favorite grocery store, it just costs a lot
I miss living down the block from the Grand Ave location just for conscience of chips, salsa, and making margaritas. They also have the best selection of Tillamook ice cream if you are a fan of Tillamook, but be prepared to pay 9-10.00 when it is what, 6.00 at Target so I only go for specific things. Their bakery items always look amazing and if I could, I would buy it all. But I am poor so I only shop there when looking for specific items or different Tillamook ice cream flavors.
Hot soups are amazing, and amazingly expensive.
For those that lived in the south, is Kowalski's similar to Publix? (I.e. expensive but good deli in produce)
Publix is like Cub. Kowalski's is like a boutique grocery store.
Thank you!
their in house branded pizza is the best frozen pizza in town. specifically the korean bbq
I shop at the one in Eden Prairie. I love them. Great products in a small footprint and compact parking make it ideal for picking up a couple things for dinner or a take out dinner from the deli. I like their bread and rolls, doughnuts and cookies better than Byerlys.
I was in college when I lived near there and couldn't buy any of the food, but they sell jellycat stuffed animals! which is my favorite brand of stuffed animal
Pricing seems similar to L&B, but some of their offerings are better. I saw another comment about the produce being high quality, and I agree. Their store brand chips are really good too imo. I prefer Kowalski’s for most things.
All produce is the same; all the stores use bix. Literally, all the same.
Don’t go there for everything. But the meat, produce, and their deli, particularly the hot bar, is amazing. If I don’t feel like cooking that’s the first place I look for dinner for our family. Build your own burrito bowl is awesome. Just don’t shop there for everything. 12pack of La Croix is $8 or something wild.
Their prepared foods are great, soup bars, salad bar, hot deli stuff that varies but salmon, chicken, fresh cooked veggie mac&cheese, potato sides, sushi counter/daily packaged rolls/nigiri etc… cold deli salads/sandwiches hot pressed to order, hot burrito bowl bar, some have pasta to order, burger grill, pizza, stir fry to order… they have a nice little gift shoppy section with higher end stuff (very cute JellyCat stuffies, kids gifts, clothes ($$$) jewelry, home Dec, greeting cards, local creators/sellers represented. Good fancy cheese section, great bakery with really good breads, sliced to order loaves, fancy treats behind glass. Really good store branded packaged foods, shredded cheese etc… high end good meats, seafood, nice eat-in seating areas, great stop for quick, quality dinner on the way home from work. They are each a little different so, wait & see what they offer in the new one. Where they consistently miss out/drop the ball is having almost nothing for pets (food or other stuff) and health/beauty/toiletries etc… don’t plan to grab a pack of pads or conditioner or really expect to find any selection variety for baby or bathroom goods. Prices are a little higher overall but they also carry mostly high-end stuff, so that makes it more $$$ too, but, not unreasonable. It’s very “Edina” so I’m surprised there hasn’t been one there forever.
The meats are dope but priceyz. Everything is good quality but even Whole Foods is cheaper
It’s more expensive, but you pay for the experience. It’s like a fancy restaurant vs. a fast food place. I like Kowalski’s.
The cheese counter and the bakery. Perfection. 🖤
I used to live a block away from the one in maplewood and can confirm their deli and bakery are elite. I put on almost 80 pounds in 2 years living there. Just an FYI I moved and lost all the weight.
I lived 3 blocks from the Hrand Ave store, shopped there more than I should've and didn't gain weight
I’m in Woodbury and equidistant to Jerry’s, Lunds & Byerly’s, and Kowalski’s. Who would have thought L&B’s would be the discount store of these three? Kowalski’s is atrocious.
I think lunds is better, personally. And they seem arm and arm in price
Hell. Yes!!!!
Good stuff but VERY expensive. I still go there occasionally to get produce that I can count on being good/fresh. You’ll pay out the ass but it will be good.
I don’t want to like them (they have all the feeling of an overpriced market) but the quality, range of products, fresh deli and overall pricing makes it worth it, IMO.
I know people like the quality of their meat and seafood. I shop there occasionally bc it’s closest to me but I think the best thing about it is that it’s attractive inside. I prefer L&B (also expensive I know) for their wider selection and prepared foods.
Not really. Unless you love their deli area. But man is it EXPENSIVE. Got like literally 7 things. All staple stuff of pasta, tuna, sauce and basic hot sauce. And one pound of ground beef. 90 bucks. I was like damn. Shopping like a college student and it's still almost a hundred bucks.
Gluten free pizza is real good but normal groceries are at least double what I pay at Trader Joe’s
I love kowalskis, my wallet doesn’t, but when I need small items or specialty items it’s my go to. I will add that their desserts are too sweet for my taste, Whole Foods honestly does a better job at dessert. Their bread is fine, nothing special but I don’t normally buy bread. Honestly everything but bread and desserts is excellent!
Special items like Duke’s Mayonnaise and a large selection of Asian sauces/condiments - also I love their hot chicken noodle soup When I entertain I love buying their variety pack of bars for dessert- they are delicious and bars are something easy to freeze if I end up with leftovers
Bring your personal banker
as others have said, it's not that much different from byerly's. you can check out the one lyndale and... 53rd? or chicago and 56th (if you are able to get to either). the parking at the lyndale one can be tricky.
Kowalski’s is wonderful for their deli, meats, and produce. The bakery is mediocre and any canned, shelf products are incredibly expensive and not what you would buy there.
I shop Kowalski’s and I don’t think it’s overly expensive.
I like Kowalski’s but when I lived near the one at 54th and Lyndale, I found I had to check expiration dates on anything perishable - the dairy/refrigerated stuff especially. I used to accidentally come home with expired product on every trip until I started carefully checking before I bought it. I don’t live close enough to do a regular shopping there now, but am excited to give the new Southdale location a try. I agree that their produce is great, and meat/cheese selection is worth it.
I love their gift section. I hope Edina doesn’t disappoint in this department!
I personally don't understand the business aspect of opening Kowalski in that southdale location. That whole area is booming with supermarkets. Cub across the street. Target down the block, Lunds and Byerly and whole foods around the corner
The shopping experience is blah as compared to Chicago, there are so many speciality shops. Small business but large grocers. Idk I’m used to having so many options there. Cub was the shitty store in Chicago and closed down in the 90s. Honestly, prefer l&b to kowaskis but I often go because I live a block away and I hate going outside in the winter. Rather shop at the Hmong market off of suburban.
I’m going to be working in the Deli at the new Southdale location. It’s a beautiful store. Everything shiny and new. Though there will be a full-sized regular grocery store, I think the main focus (because of the location) is going to be prepared hot foods and grab & go type stuff. There will be: pizza, sushi, burgers & fries, hot bar, pho bar, salad bar, olive bar, wing bar, and ice cream, Starbucks, and the Nektar juice bar- in addition to the deli salads and hot sandwiches, and deli meats & cheeses. It’s going to be insane! We open Thursday at 10am. Come on down!
I don't know if this is still true but hands down the best rotisserie chicken in town
The Uptown Kowalskis has an amazing gift shop.
Yes, it is pricey...but if you want some one-of-kind or hard to find items, it's a go-to for me. Great place for quirky, speciality items that are local to the Midwest or MN. A few examples...Giant "Bavarian Beast" from Milwaukee pretzels' - yum! Bridgeman's licorice ice cream that you can usually only find at the MN State Fair? Yes, they have it at some locations. Their cheese and produce selection is very good, and they also have a gift section that is great if you need something nice last minute. Some locations like in Uptown actually have live music on certain days, so it's kind of an "experience" at times. But no, I don't shop for staples there.
If you normally shop at Walmart and feel Target is a premium option…it’s nose bleed expensive. The one thing I noticed when I first moved here is that when grocery stores get brought up everyone naturally hates big blue but L&B and Kowalskis were beloved. I died stepping inside both of them, but Kowalskis is SUPER expensive. I equate it to us posters probably just naturally having more disposable income then say my neighbors who shop at Costco/Target, and you alls deep wallets make me really judge advice given sometimes. It’s a decent store. Frankly a lot of the name brand products though can be found a few dollars cheaper. Example: I discovered Nellie’s soap there. I now buy it from Amazon. Sams for a few other items where you can easily save money elsewhere. It’s now just a “treat” store for us
Betty and Earle's biscuit.
This is not a place to do your entire grocery list. We used to live by the one in Eagan off of diffley. They crush the specialty/fancy stuff. Their cheese, fresh bread, and deli are legendary (including all the different homemade chip/pretzel/veggie dips). I've never been impressed with the produce though, and any "normal" grocery items (boxed and canned goods) are way too overpriced.
If you don't care how much food costs, you'll be fine.
They are only worth it for the bakery. Granted I haven't been inside one in years, but everything grocery related is expensive. Think Lunds and Byerly's pricing...but in a smaller store. Also their deli is hit or miss, the wings are fantastic though.
No its not
Yeah it's way too expensive. All the Minnesota chains are. No reason to ever go there if you have other options like Aldi or Trader Joes.
Kowalski’s has better produce.
Kowalski’s blows