Ingebretsen’s— a community treasure

Known for the long lines of chilly customers standing on the sidewalk, waiting to buy traditional Norwegian and Swedish Christmas foods, Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts (located at 1601 E. Lake St.) has been an integral part of South Minneapolis for 85 years. What started as a meat market founded by Charles Ingebretsen in 1921 has expanded to include a gift store, a needlework store, and classes on all aspects of Scandinavian culture. Gift store manager and granddaughter of the founder, Julie Ingebretsen, says, “In the 1980s, I began to wish that this place could become a center for information on Scandinavian culture. And that has happened.”

On a recent Saturday, Norwegian and Swedish fiddle players provide traditional music and an author discusses his book on Sweden’s economic and social successes and how the United States can learn from their policies. Shoppers visit all three sections of the store and a knitter finds assistance from a staff member who readily dispenses expertise and encouragement. Other shoppers enjoy the endless pot of coffee and some conversation as they look at artwork in the classroom and gallery. This type of bustling scene plays itself out almost every Saturday at the store and daily throughout the holidays.

Many of the customers are descendents of Scandinavian immigrants and they make shopping at Ingebretsen’s a family tradition. “People have an intrinsic need to know where they come from and how that influences who they are now,” says Ingebretsen. The store and the classes help customers learn more about their heritage and about modern Scandinavian culture. Others come because they enjoy the international flavor of the store or simply the fact that it is a colorful and interesting part of their own neighborhood. “I find it encouraging that lots of young customers have an appreciation of what we’re doing,” Ingebretsen says, referring to the store’s commitment to be an anchor in the neighborhood and to contribute to East Lake Street’s on-going revival.

At one point, East Lake Street supported several Scandinavian gift shops and three butcher shops stood on the 1600 block alone, the block where Ingebretsen’s is located. Ingebretsen credits the store’s survival to having both a meat market and a gift store. This combination helped the store ride out a period of neighborhood decline. While East Lake Street had seen a time of shuttered buildings and struggling stores, new businesses have come in, the Midtown Global Market has opened, and people have begun to return to Midtown to shop.
Barbara Gerten of Minneapolis had heard about the store but finally decided to visit after she bought a gift certificate at a silent auction. She registered for a class taught by cookbook author Kirsten Larsen. Gerten says, “The Danish open face sandwich class was an opportunity to create art to eat.” She has made the sandwiches several times since then, and each time, she says, “It becomes a very special meal.” Customers like Gerten are just discovering Ingebretsen’s, while the faithful continue their tradition of buying their Christmas lutefisk and other foods each year from the store. This combination of old and new will ensure that Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts will continue to be an important part of South Minneapolis for a long time to come.