MINNEAPOLIS — Sugar, spice, everything "nice." Nice Time Market + More is a new, women-owned grocery and convenience store in Minneapolis' Corcoran neighborhood, offering to-go meals, fresh produce and prepackaged items ranging from candy to cooking spices.
Owners Tatum Barile and Heather Olsen say, prior to opening the market, they worked at the same nonprofit, where they tried to keep a positive attitude as they dreamed about opening their own store.
“Whenever something's a little tough, it's like, 'Hey, I'm just trying to have a nice time,'" Barile explained.
That mindset led to the name Nice Time Market + More. Now that it’s here, joyful music can be heard outside as customers approach the store.
The building was formerly a convenience store with a Tom Thumb sign visible from the street. However, that store was not a Tom Thumb as the Tom Thumb chain left Minnesota in 2004.
Barile and Olsen decided to purchase the building but say they didn’t have much money after that. So they rolled up their sleeves.
“We thought it would take us seven months. It took us 14,” Barile said, thanking the community for its patience. “There were days where I was swearing under my breath. You know, I've tiled 1,800 tiles and there's still more … but here we are standing on this floor that I tiled.”
They decided to keep the Tom Thumb sign, moving it indoors and hanging it near the entrance.
A professional chef, Barile’s culinary skills led them to add a commercial kitchen to the space. She and employees serve cold breakfast and lunch sandwiches and a variety of sides like potato salad. All are made in-house every day.
Co-owner Olsen doesn't have a culinary background, but she’s used to serving in another way.
“I was in the Navy for about 10 years as a CB, so that's a construction worker,” Olsen said. “I was building buildings in like Afghanistan, you know, just basic plain wooden buildings, barracks for people to sleep in and stuff like that, and so to be able to kind of translate into this is definitely a different situation."
Barile said the area surrounding the store technically isn't a food desert. Still, the new marketplace is serving community need.
“We have a nursing home and elder care facility up the block, and a lot of people would rely on Metro mobility to go to a grocery store, and now they can just come here,” she said. “The other day, a 7-year-old came in and was like, 'Holy cow, this looks so beautiful.' He still found his candy, but he also got a nectarine."
Hot deli food isn't eligible for EBT payments, which is why Nice Time sells cold food. The owners are working on getting EBT and WIC approval.