18-hour days are enough: Lunds, Byerly's to close at midnight

Updated: February 6, 2008 - 11:54 PM

A spokesman for the chains' parent, Lund Food Holdings Inc. of Edina, said it's not a cost-saving move and no layoffs are planned.

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It seems almost quaint today that someone would close their supermarket at midnight, like a hint of yesteryear, before the 24/7 culture washed over all of us with e-mails, BlackBerrys and open-all-night stores.

Even wrongful-death lawyers have their own 24-hour phone numbers. Google it.

So it's a surprise to learn that Lunds and Byerly's supermarkets, long open 24 hours a day, will start closing at midnight this month. All stores will adopt a 6 a.m.-to-midnight schedule starting Feb. 17 -- except the St. Cloud Byerly's, which will close at 11 p.m.

A spokesman for the chains' parent, Lund Food Holdings Inc. of Edina, said it's not a cost-saving move and no layoffs are planned. Instead, the company wants to focus resources on the most popular hours. Some night-owl employees will move to day shifts, which may result in more cashiers for checkout lines during busy times.

Byerly's has had stores open around the clock since 1971. Lunds started opening its stores 24 hours in the 1990s.

Among other local supermarkets: Four of eight Kowalski's supermarkets are open 24 hours: Uptown, Lyndale, Grand Avenue and Woodbury. Most Cub stores are open 24 hours. Three Rainbow grocery stores at Eagan, Minneapolis Quarry and Minneapolis Uptown are open 24 hours; most of the rest are open 6 a.m. to midnight.

Of course, you can always shop online.

MATT MCKinney