I moved to Minnesota in 1996 to start my new job as Northfield’s new City Administrator. The interview process to acquire this new job started at The Ole Store. Being from Iowa, I was initially confused about The Ole Store. I remember thinking to myself, hmmmm, why would they name a store in Northfield, Minnesota after a Spanish cheer (think – “O-lay!)?
Uff da. Was I ever wrong about that. Fortunately for me, I did not ask that question of anyone from Northfield in my interview, and I got the job. I quickly came to understand the more Nordic derivation of “Ole”, and The Ole Store, its place in Northfield’s Norwegian history.
There is a prominent story in the Star tribune’s metro section today about the upcoming closure of The Ole Store. It’s a sad event in Northfield. The Ole Store has been close to closure before, but it’s always bounced back before the fateful day occurred. Not so this time. I am afraid that history is leaving the classic corner store/cafe in its wake.
The Ole Store was a great place to get a strong cup of coffee, a very fattening Ole Roll, and take the informal pulse of the community. It was one of a kind. I’m sure there used to be hundreds of Ole Store-like places in Minnesota, but they have fallen to their more glitzy, pre-packaged competition over the past 50 years. That’s too bad, I think.
So long Ole Store. I’m glad I got to know ya.
