It’s a Win for Spring Grove

Red’s IGA in Spring Grove is well-known for its high-quality meats, exceptional customer service, competitive prices, and the distinctive red hair of the previous owner Pat Longmire, an attribute that inspired the store’s name.

Wynn Nies and his wife Justine Nies purchased Red’s IGA from Pat and Debbie Longmire in January 2025. The Longmires owned and operated Red’s since 1989.

Unlike many businesses that rebrand following a change in ownership, Red’s IGA retained its original name, a decision that was clearly an easy one.

Fittingly, Nies had red hair in his younger years, and one of the couple’s three children also shares that trait. The family, which includes two daughters and a son, lives in Mabel. 

Nies’ journey to grocery store ownership began at age 16, when he worked at a grocery store in southwest Wisconsin. Over the last 35-plus years, he has worked for various grocery stores and has held a variety of grocery-related positions. He worked for Frito Lay for six years and later spent nine years with KeHE Distributors, a natural and organic company, and worked for Kellogg’s. The last three years prior to buying the store, he served as a district manager for Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), which supplies most of the store’s groceries. 

Through his work in the industry, Nies has known former owner Pat Longmire for approximately 10 years. He first met him while working for Frito-Lay and later through AWG, where he learned Longmire might be interested in selling the store.

“I’ve known Pat and the Longmire family for years,” Nies said. “It’s a great store, and they did a great job. They’re known for their meat, customer service, and everything like that.”

When asked whether customers should expect major changes, Nies was clear. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” he said.

A Picadeli salad bar, where customers pay by the pound, was installed last fall and has been successful. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Future plans include offering soft-serve ice cream during the summer months from a drive-through window.

Justine used to be a florist, so there is talk about adding a flower department to the store’s product mix.

Shoppers can also expect to see an outdoor meat sale under the big tent in the parking lot twice a year. Wynn noted that last year’s meat sale was extremely successful. He explained that he is doing them “just to get extra sales and more people in the store. I think that Wednesday, April 30, and May 1 were probably the best days the store has ever had. We could have done more if we hadn’t run out of the product. We just didn’t know how much to order.”

The store’s traditional meatball mix remains a customer favorite. While Nies has mixed it up once alongside former owner Pat, employee Steve has taken over the role as “meatball king.” Nies shared a recent example of its popularity: a customer from Pennsylvania who comes to the Driftless region to fish recently called to order 15 packages, which Nies is working on shipping.

Red’s IGA sources products from several local vendors, including Owl Bluff Farm in Houston County, Rolling Hills Greenhouse in West Union, Spring Grove Soda Pop, Saggemeyer Stave Co., and Fat Pat’s Brewery. Customers looking for specific products are encouraged to ask. For example, when a shopper requested frozen corn on the cob, it was stocked within a week.

Sustainability is also a priority. The store recycles cardboard, grocery bags, and shrink wrap whenever possible. 

The liquor department, added under the Longmire family’s ownership, continues to grow with sales increasing weekly. Nies is considering hosting wine, beer, and bourbon tastings in the future.

Red’s IGA is located at 500 E. Main St. in Spring Grove, Minn. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Curbside pickup is available. 

Spring Grove continues to thrive with a strong local grocery store. Spring Grove wins.