Minneapolis grocery store bounces back after copper thief inflicts massive hit, huge loss of food

Eastside Food Co-op in northeast Minneapolis experienced a significant setback when a thief damaged its refrigeration system while trying to steal copper piping, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of food. The refrigeration was repaired by Saturday, and staff worked over the weekend to restock shelves, with full restocking expected by the following Saturday. Marketing manager Tucker Gerrick expressed gratitude for community support, stating, “We took a massive hit ... but we’ll be OK. ” The incident reflects a troubling trend of copper theft in the Twin Cities, where local governments have spent millions to combat this issue.

St. Paul alone allocated over $1. 2 million in 2023 to address theft, while Minneapolis committed $1 million in contingency funding. Although the store has insurance, it remains unclear how much of the losses will be covered. The cooperative, owned by over 12,000 members, has received financial donations from its community to help recover.

This event underscores the vulnerability of local businesses to crime and the vital role of community support in their recovery.