Dec. 27, 2021

The owner of the second-oldest family-owned grocery store in Sioux Falls is looking to the future with optimism.

Even though a Dollar General store will open within a few weeks just north of Andy’s Affiliated Foods, owner Bob Jelsma sees a positive side to what could be viewed as a competitor opening next door.

“There are two schools of thought,” Jelsma said, standing near his store’s meat counter. “It could hurt us by taking the heart out of the middle of what we offer, or it could help us.”

Dollar General sells canned goods, but it doesn’t have the fresh produce or meats that Andy’s offers, Jelsma said. On the other hand, he doesn’t sell laundry baskets, and Dollar General does.

Jelsma, 72, owned the land next to his store that was sold to the Dollar General corporation. His father, the late Andy Jelsma, opened the store at Cleveland Street and 18th Street 72 years ago. Jelsma took over about 35 years ago.

In Sioux Falls, Andy’s ownership by one family is surpassed only by Franklin Food Market, which is owned by the Haggar family and will mark 73 years next month.

Like Franklin Food Market, Andy’s is known as an independent grocery that offers customer service and has built a reputation for its meat department. Both Franklin Food Market and Andy’s Affiliated Foods were open Christmas Day.

While Jelsma isn’t planning any immediate changes, he also knows his days as a stand-alone grocery store owner likely are limited. Carrying 60-pound boxes around the store isn’t getting any easier, he noted.