Cash Wise Food & Drug

Cash Wise Food in 2011
Cash Wise Food in 2011

Cash Wise Foods is a regional grocery chain owned and operated by Saint Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s. The Bismarck location opened in 1982 and recently completed a significant face-lift that included an improved checkout and bagging system.

The Bismarck store originally opened as Holiday Plus Warehouse, which was the grocery division of Holiday Companies (whose parent was then Erickson Petroleum). It held a soft opening on July 7, 1982 and grand opening July 21. The store added 17,000 square feet to its original 40,000 just the following year. Even at that, it was already the company’s largest warehouse-style grocery store and served as a prototype for future stores.

In or around 1990, Coborn’s purchased the local store and re-branded it “Cash Wise.” From 1994-1996, the store temporarily reverted back to Holiday Companies, as SuperFair Foods.

Cash Wise completed minor renovation in 2007, which included the addition of the Little Dukes convenience store. A 2017 renovation included a new exterior facade and a new checkout and bagging system. In 2020, the store underwent more interior remodeling, including a new paint scheme.

Second Bismarck store

In February 2018, Cash Wise announced its intent to open a second Bismarck store, in northern Bismarck near Ottawa Street and 43rd Avenue. The store opened January 2019.

About Coborn’s

Coborn’s has its roots back to 1921, with the first Cash Wise opening in Willmar, Minnesota in 1979.

Cash Wise is noted for providing limited service in exchange for what they claim are lower prices. This makes Cash Wise the only grocer in the region not to offer bagging service – shoppers must instead take their purchased items to a bagging station located near the checkouts.

Cash Wise is also the only grocery store in Bismarck to still feature a video rental store, although it is no longer housed within the grocery store itself. Cash Wise also houses Little Dukes and Cash Wise Liquor.

External Link:
http://www.cashwise.com/

[Visit Cash Wise Foods Picture Gallery]