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Community Corner

General Store of Minnetonka is a Family Affair

Minnetonka Patch introduces you to the family behind a Minnetonka tradition.

Custom designs, personal customer service and homemade food. This doesn’t sound like your typical general store.

“We’re a destination. We have customers from around the world looking for something unique,” said Jenny Putnam, General Store of Minnetonka marketing director, buyer and daughter of the store’s original creators.

And, it’s managed to stay all in the family, even after almost 27 years in business.

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Today Putnam, along with her parents, two brothers, aunt and even her grandmother can be seen having a hand in pretty much the entirety of what this “everything but bread and milk” store has to offer. From Putnam’s marketing director role to her aunt buying inventory to her brothers’ web maintenance and display construction and even to her grandma greeting the customers at the door. It truly is a family affair.

“When the building was being built in the 70s, our grandpa even helped build it.”

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But the idea behind this ‘destination store’ began much before that, when Putnam’s mother, Gail Bollis, opened a small boutique of consignments, her own handmade doll creations and local artistry in a small cottage on their property. The success of that business led to the opening of the first General Store of Excelsior, which soon relocated, and was re-named in 1984.

The General Store of Minnetonka has been in its current location, off of Highway 7 near Williston Rd. since 1984. In 2000, the store expanded from 9,000 to 20,000 feet, adding with it the General Store Café, where today, you can find old and new-comers alike.

“We started coming to the General Store when it was still on Water Street in Excelsior,” said Bloomington resident Marijean Swenson as she nibbled on half of an iced valentine sugar cookie amongst her sister, husband and son. “We meet our son here every Monday to eat on his lunch break.”

A tradition Swenson started about eight years ago when she says they discovered the convenient location offered some delicious bites. Her sister Susan Dennig comes from as far as Dassel for the regular Monday lunch meetings.

“It’s good, we like it real well. The pumpkin dessert is absolutely delicious,” said Swenson.

The pumpkin dessert, also known as ‘Gloria’s famous pumpkin square’, is owner Gail’s grandmother’s recipe and is just one of the homemade daily desserts, salads, soups and sandwiches that seems to keep customers coming back for seconds.

“We like it here, we come here. It’s a good place to meet, the food is fantastic,” said Minnetonka resident Sandy Jambeck who was celebrating her adult daughter’s birthday at the store Monday afternoon.

“We’ve been coming here for what, 20 years?” exclaimed Jambeck’s daughter Laura Abblett, who now lives in Carver and chose to celebrate her birthday there with her parents and friends Monday afternoon. “I come here mostly to shop; it’s one of my favorite places.”

With the choice of hundreds of designer, unique and custom-made items, such as personalized kids’ piggy banks and c.d.’s as well as retro and nostalgic gifts, old-fashioned candy and even made to order baskets; shopping is what people do best at General Store of Minnetonka.

“Our sole focus is finding unique items customers can purchase or unique gifts, home décor, just something they can be excited about,” said Putnam.

Putnam, along with her mother and Aunt buy the designer, distinctive and downright interesting inventory.

 “We have a buyer in their 30s, 40s and 50s, so we really reach the spans of our customers,” said Putnam.

But even throughout the years, the store still hasn’t lost the unique artisan touch it was based upon. Today General Store continues to offer a large selection of national and local artists’ jewelry, clothing, and artwork.

“We’ve grown very slowly but we continue to change with the times, asking our customers what they want,” said Putnam.

 According to Sandy Jambeck, she says they’re listening.

“Where else can you get popovers? I love this place.”

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If you go:

(952) 935-7131

Store Hours: Mon – Fri, 9:30am – 9 pm

Saturday, 9:30am – 6pm

Sunday, noon – 5pm

Café Hours: Mon – Fri, 8:30 am – 9pm

Saturday, 9:30am – 6pm

Sunday, noon – 5pm

Also, visit their website: General Store of Minnetonka for more information on personalized and custom designs.

  
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