Kowalski's Markets

Kowalski's Market started out on Grand Ave in St. Paul but recently took over GJ's on Hennepin and Lyndale Aves. south to become more competitive with Lunds, Byerlys, and Jerrys. All of these marketplace local family run chains are similar but offer certain advantages over eachother. After the remodel a few years back, Kowalski's in Uptown got dark and moody but it is an atmosphere you can enjoy in contrast to the glaring bright overhead florescent lights that became the standard of 60s and 70s supermarket food shopping. I am looking to meet a dark moody woman to match this nightclub-like feeling that comes over me at Kowalski's. At the Hennepin Ave location Kowalski's has yet to fully embrace either the gourmand, the organic, or the artisan-style marketplace but they get closer. A big missing feature is a cheese counter with s full-fledged cheesemonger. Yes, they have many of the artisan cheeses you'll find at Lunds or whole Foods but not the full dedication of trained experts on the floor. I'm sure their buyer/manager is qualified but not the staff interacting day-to-day with customers. Prices are very competitive with Lunds and Byerly's, in fact, I do a lot more comparative shopping between the local chains because on certain items Kowalski's is lower and sales seem to be aimed at undercutting the competition. Deli isn't as strong at Kowalski's as it is at Byerly's and even Lunds (although I am really unhappy with Lunds) and Kowalski's could do better in selection and especially price in weights and measures. All in all it is good to have Kowalski's stepping it up in the neighborhood and going head to head with the other local chains. more

If you demand your grocery store to be as refined (and pricey) as a fine dining restaurant, then Kowalski's is your place. The meat is prime, the cheese imported, the bread artisan. The produce is architecturally arranged with nary a brown spot in site. The floors are carpeted, and the lighting subdued. And the price fully reflects all this attention to detail. While the quality and class of the shopping experience takes away a lot of the drudgery of your average trip to the grocery store---Kowalski’s prices are way too steep, especially on your run of the mill gourmet items, such as brie cheese, and olives. Bill’s Imported Foods has solved my olive dilemma, and the Trader Joe’s opening soon in St. Louis Park will probably provide my brie cheese fix. (Heads-up Whole Foods, and Lund's-your monopoly on imported cheese is in jeopardy as well!) more