TOWER — Tower’s only convenience store has new owners and a new name. Some changes that are sure to please customers are already underway.
Lars Odegaard owns three convenience stores near his home in the Detroit Lakes area, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, and five children, who range in age from one to 13.
He and his new business partner, Matt Gourde, heard that Terry Wagoner was looking to sell Vermilion Fuel and Food, known locally as F & F, and after a quick trip to Tower, decided to move ahead with the purchase.
“We have a lot of ideas,” Odegaard said, while noting that at this point these are all just ideas.
The new owners’ willingness to invest in improvements will be a “big plus” to Tower-Soudan, said Wagoner, who noted he had been trying to sell the business for 15 years.
“We will be experimenting with adding new food options, both hot and cold,” said Odegaard. “Our ideas include expanding the ice cream selection to 20 flavors and adding hot pizza, more cold drinks, sandwiches, take-and-bake pizza, breakfast sandwiches, fried foods, and burgers.”
“With all the changes we are planning on bringing to the store,” said Odegaard, “we have decided to change the store’s name. Moving forward, we are now Odegaard’s Lake Vermilion.
In the next couple weeks, we are adding a few fridges to bring in more fresh products. In addition to this, it will allow our pop and drink suppliers a chance to expand and bring in more flavors. With this, we will be able to do specials on drinks.”
This past week, the new owners, a crew of helpers, along with the current store staff were busy rearranging shelving for a more walkable floorplan, doing inventory, adding in new snack items, a new coffee bar area, and more.
“We will be keeping and expanding the fishing supplies, bait, and sporting goods area,” he said, “as well as remodeling the bathrooms.”
The interior will be getting new flooring and paint, and they are looking adding different entrances to make it more convenient for customers, as well as to make room for the added amenities inside. They will also be adding a free air station outside.
Odegaard said the location, small town, and Wagoner’s good employees helped seal the deal. He said their reception in town has been warm and friendly, and they are enjoying getting to know their new staff. They are also busy making connections in the community and have been asking what people would like to see added to F and F, and listening to all the suggestions.
Hours at the store will remain the same, open daily from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.