Small Business Spotlight: Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Molly Ingebretsen

Julie IngebretsenIngebretsen's Nordic Marketplace is 101 years old – a Minneapolis institution. They were recently named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the year by the SBA. We talked to third generation co-owner Julie Ingebretsen about the award, mentoring other small immigrant businesses and items not to miss in the retail store – I have my eye on the Biking Viking chocolate bars!

Q:  Congratulations on Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace being named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association. What does the award mean to you? Will you have a party or event to celebrate the award?  

A: We were so delighted - it's quite an honor to be recognized by the SBA! We're big fans of theirs. The award event was really nice, both mayors (Frey and Carter) handed them out - and it was at Urban Growler, sweet! No party here yet though - we plowed right into a big building repair/remodeling project that's still keeping us partly closed. 

MetroIBA (Metro Independent Business Alliance) advocates for independent businesses across the metro area, focusing on the 'buy local' movement, state-level lobbying, and resource-sharing among members. We're grateful that they nominated us for this award!

Ingebretsen's Butcher Counter 1921

The Model Market, 1921

Charles Ingebretsen, Sr. family, 1925Q: Ingebretsen’s has been a community staple for over 100 years. Four generations of Ingrebretsens have owned this business celebrating Scandinavian culture. Please tell us the history of the Ingebretsen’s retail store. Do you think the founders could imagine a Minneapolis of today?  

A: My grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant, started our meat market in 1921, when Lake Street was near the edge of town and our neighborhood was largely Scandinavian. Hard to know how he imagined the future, but I know he understood the importance of location (Lake Street had a new street car line then), and of being rooted in the community. My dad and his eventual partner took over in the 1950's. They added our gift shop in 1974 and hired me to run it, which I thought would be fun for a year or two. I'm still here, and it's still fun. And our 4th generation is very involved and getting ready to take over.

Q:  Did Ingebretsen's sustain damage during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020?

A:  We had broken windows and quite a lot of internal damage and looting that first night, but thankfully no fire. It was tough, but so many of our neighbors had it much worse. We have felt well supported by our wonderful community of customers and our insurance, and have learned a lot on a visceral level about the meaning of white privilege. Lake Street itself is recovering in some pretty inspiring ways with the help of a wide net of people and organizations contributing time and energy and expertise and money. We're so proud to be a member of this special place.

Q:  I know you’re active in mentoring new immigrant businesses along Lake Street. How did you develop this interest and what types of mentoring do you provide?  

A:  I'd say our "mentoring" is more indirect, but I know our presence and stability influences our newer neighboring businesses in positive ways. We try to be conscious allies of new immigrant businesses and communities, of arts groups, of our surrounding neighborhoods, of the groups working directly with small businesses. Lake Street Council is foremost among those groups, and has done an amazing job raising money and managing the complexity of the recovery. To us, being an ally means supporting and participating in events, sitting on active boards (I've been on Lake Street Council's for years), being active in community safety organizations and projects, welcoming (and buying from!) new businesses, just being as visibly supportive as we can.

Q:  How have you expanded the Ingebretsen’s marketplace during your tenure?  

A:  We occupy four storefronts on the corner of 16th Avenue and East Lake Street. While the meat market/deli part of our business has remained much the same all these years in the second storefront, the rest of the business has expanded around it. The gift shop was added in 1974 in the corner storefront. We had outgrown that space by the mid-90s, so we expanded to the third storefront where we now have our clothing, needlework (especially knitting), and children's things. The fourth space is mostly occupied by our growing mail order business, along with some space for classes. We also had a small boutique in Stockholm, WI for several years, and still run a gift shop in the Norway House building at 913 E Franklin Avenue.

Hagar next to the fish counter

Ingebretsen's clothing and needlework area

Biking Viking chocolatesQ:  What’s a few items we should not miss when we come to shop at Ingebretsen’s?

A:  Our food specialties, for sure - Swedish meatball mix, Swedish sausage, smoked salmon, herring, lefse, cheeses, chocolate, lots more. Nordic specialty cookware. A great book selection. Christmas things when it's time. We're big on Viking-themed things (real Vikings). Also so many of the wonderfully designed and made products for the home that come from Scandinavia. Norwegian wool yarn. Cool socks. Hard to stop...

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We update our website daily, and there you can sign up to get emails from us. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram where we share cultural information and day to day happenings in the store! Come by and see us at 1601 E Lake Street – we love first time and regular visitors!