Larson's Food Center

L.A. Larson and descendents have operated a store in the Hendricks area for well over 100 years. Even before Hendricks was an established community, L.A. Larson operated a roadside country store out on the prairie, about a half-mile north of what became Hendricks.

L.A. Larson was born in Spring Grove, MN and came to Hendricks after a brief stop in White SD. L.A. would later be known as the "The Pioneer Merchant of Hendricks Minnesota". In the early days L.A. carried a fill line of dry goods and groceries. All three of his sons - Elmer, Maurice, and Ronald - grew up learning to work at the family store. Shortly after Ronald graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1937, he purchased the store from his father. Ronald had two children, Larry and Susan, which also worked at the store. In 1971, following a distinguished service as a Marine officer in Vietnam, Larry purchased the store from Ronald. Ronald and his wife Velma have continued to work for Larry until the present time. Larry and his wife Shirley had 5 children, which all had their first job at "the store" making them the 4th generation of Larson grocers.

The 'Larson Store' has undergone some changes with the times - the most dramatic being a conversion from a full country general store to a full service grocery store. The name has changed several times - from 'L.A. Red & White' to 'Ronald's IGA' to 'Larry's Jack and Jill'. The store is currently known as Larson's Food Center and stands prominently on the west side of Main Street.

The business was incorporated in the early 1980's and has continued to expand to the present sixteen stores in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa.

Both Ronald and Larry attribute the long success of the family grocery business to the many faithful employees and loyal customers over the years.