Fred’s Store in Goodland refueled more than its renown smokers this winter.
The bacon, beef sticks and jerky are still going strong, but now the 70-year staple of Itasca County features new gas pumps and an updated look. It’s the latest addition for Kim Korpi after purchasing Fred’s in May 2022, with her sister Kerri Eden, when the Majewski family was ready to sell the business.
They were awarded state and federal grants offered for selling higher ethanol blends of gas to replace the aging tanks, which were more than 30 years old and up against a typical 25-year lifespan.
The project involved replacing the tanks, dispensers, canopy and updating the point of sale to allow for pay-at-the-pump services 24 hours, as well as adding on-road diesel.
“It ran the whole gamut,” Korpi said.
When the gas pumps were activated Dec. 23, 2024, it was the beginning of a new future for Fred’s, at the end of a long and challenging year.
A roundabout project created detours around Goodland this summer, directing traffic away from the store. Most of Fred’s business in the summer months comes from Twin Cities seasonal visitors and vacationers.
“We lost a lot of money, about 50 percent of a typical summer,” Korpi said. “That was our first hurdle.”
The second was actually getting started on the new gas pumps. Construction was supposed to start in September but was pushed back until late October. That delay pushed into Fred’s other busiest time of the year — deer hunting season.
By the time it was done, the storefront had a fresh look with the Fred’s Store logo and an Amoco-branded gas station. It was a good return to business as usual for Fred’s, offering fuel, groceries and the famous meat department.
“We made it through and it’s been nothing but positive feedback from the locals and the cabin owners,” Korpi said. “The customers are all very happy, and it gives us a fresh look.”
Fred’s Store will be the Member Made featured business at the 2025 Lake Country Power annual meeting on Thursday, April 24, at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Registration begins at 5 p.m. and the business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Fred’s will be located inside the Reif offering a variety of products.