MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A popular grocery store in northeast Minneapolis is dealing with empty shelves after a theft disrupted its refrigeration system.

Shelves empty after Eastside Food Co-op theft

What we know:

Critical piping from the roof of the Eastside Food Co-op was stolen, leading to the loss of all frozen food, meats and dairy. 

The incident happened around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and workers discovered the theft when they arrived at 5 a.m.

Marketing Manager Tucker Gerrick explained that the thief, or thieves, gained access by using a ladder to reach the roof. 

They left behind bolt cutters, a ladder, a bicycle and a condenser unit.

Impact on the store and customers 

What they’re saying:

“Any sort of cut or washed vegetable that needs to be refrigerated is gone. All the dairy, all of our meats, all of the frozen foods, and cheeses,” said Gerrick.

The co-op serves about 1,000 people daily and is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the disruption. 

The to-go deli section is closed, and the online grocery system is down. 

What’s next:

The co-op plans to maintain regular store hours and hopes to have everything back up and running by the weekend. 

Customers can still purchase non-frozen food items.

What we don’t know:

Police are investigating the incident, but have not announced any arrests.

MANITOWOC – The Clipper City Chordsmen recently participated in the Land O’ Lakes District Barbershop Convention and Competition in Minneapolis.

The event, held Oct. 10-11, drew more than 500 barbershop enthusiasts from parts of five states and three Canadian provinces, according to a community announcement. A total of 382 participants from 15 choruses competed, along with 34 quartets.

Chordsmen performed songs from ‘Toy Story’

Twenty-four members of the Manitowoc-based Clipper City Chordsmen and their quartet, Quandary, took part in the competition.

Another quartet, Lake Effect, did not compete but received three hours of intensive coaching in performance, musicality and singing.

Teachers in one of Minnesota’s largest school districts say they’re ready to take a strike vote this week without a new contract.

Minneapolis Federation of Educators leaders will be back at the bargaining table on Tuesday. Teachers say the mediation session is the last chance to come to an agreement before a strike vote. 

The union says talks with the Minneapolis school district have stalled. Among the sticking points: pay and class sizes. The Minneapolis Federation of Educators says they’re also fighting for the expansion of special education and English language learners resources. 

Voting could start as soon as Thursday. 

In a statement, Minneapolis Public Schools said in part, “While the district’s budget is tighter than ever due to the historic underfunding of public education and expenses outpacing our revenue, we hope to reach an agreement that is fair, student-centered, and ensures the district can thrive even if there are state and federal funding cuts.”

Last year, Minneapolis teachers averted a strike after working 300 days without a contract. In 2022, teachers did strike, leaving students out of the classroom for three weeks and delaying the start to summer vacation.