Cub Foods will close its Midway St. Paul store on Aug. 2 and could lay off all 96 workers, parent company UNFI Inc. informed state and city leaders yesterday in a required mass layoff notice.

Why it matters: The pending loss of Cub means Midway is losing a second large discount grocer in six years, as Walmart closed its neighborhood store in 2019.

Between the lines: The writing has been on the wall for a few years. The store has stopped stocking hand baskets, frequently ran out of shopping carts (citing theft), shut down self-checkout lanes and was often short-staffed at registers, according to the Pioneer Press.

Yes, but: Cub Foods has struggled in recent years, executives at Rhode Island-based UNFI have told investors. Promises to resuscitate the brand have not produced the desired results.

• Sales in the company's retail division, which is 70% Twin Cities Cub stores, have declined 2.1% over the last three fiscal quarters, according to an SEC filing.
• UNFI also abruptly closed its Uptown Minneapolis store in June and has not said when it will reopen.

What they're saying: "Like any food retailer, we're constantly working to optimize our footprint, which includes investing in stores — like our newly remodeled Cub in Burnsville ... as well as closing underperforming stores where necessary so we can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible," UNFI said in a statement.

Zoom in: With nearby Target and Aldi stores still open, the closure won't make Midway a food desert.

• But interim Ward 4 City Councilmember Matt Privratsky said it's unfortunate Cub didn't stick it out to benefit from the new hotel, offices and restaurants that are part of the latest phases of the new United Village development at that corner.
• Privratsky said he'd love to see a retailer like Mississippi Market open in the Cub space, because the neighborhood would like to shop at a grocer with union workers.

UFCW Local 1189, which represents 84 of the store employees, said the majority if its members have layoff protection and they'll be working to get them placed in other UNFI facilities.

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Minneapolis' Stone Arch Bridge fully reopened to the public yesterday, months ahead of schedule.

Catch up fast: A $38.5 million repair project prompted a partial closure of the historic bridge starting in April 2024.

• Pedestrians, runners, cyclists and couples taking prom and wedding photos were only able to cross halfway while the work was underway.

What we're hearing: Minnesota Department of Transportation officials said a mild winter helped them finish sooner than planned.

The bottom line: MnDOT's turnaround time means we all get "another 90 days" to enjoy running, walking, biking and snapping pictures at the landmark this summer, Mayor Jacob Frey said at yesterday's ribbon cutting.

✈️ The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after the pilot of a Delta regional jet traveling from MSP Airport to North Dakota reported that he had to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a midair collision with a B-52 bomber. (ABC News)

🍻 Wild Mind Ales, and its daytime cafe Wild Grind Coffee, will close, "likely at the end of the summer," per the South Minneapolis brewery's Instagram. (Announcement)

🗳️ State Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) announced a bid for the suburban 2nd Congressional District, joining a GOP primary field that includes a two-time candidate for the seat. (KSTP)

👷‍♀️ Chanhassen officials are seeking a "reset" on plans for a new community center, after designs for the $80 million project, funded in part by a voter-approved sales tax hike, came in over budget. (Star Tribune)

🗳️ The Frey campaign formally asked the state party to invalidate rival Omar Fateh's endorsement, asserting some delegates' ballots likely weren't counted at Saturday's convention. Minneapolis DFL officials have disputed that claim.

🏥 Sen. John Hoffman shared updates on his recovery during his first radio interview since last month's attack, telling host Al Travis that it's "good to be alive." (YouTube)

• "The only other guy I know who survived nine bullet holes is 50 Cent, so maybe you should start calling me the '50 Senator,'" he cracked.

Walz says he will call a special election for DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell's Senate seat "as soon as" time and the law permit.

Driving the news: Mitchell announced yesterday that she will resign by Aug. 4 in the wake of her felony burglary conviction, setting the stage for a high-stakes special election.

What we're hearing: DFL state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, who represents a Woodbury House district, already said she intends to run for the Senate seat.

• If she won, it would trigger yet another special election that could shift the balance of power at the narrowly divided Capitol.

Republican Dwight Dorau, who ran for the Senate seat in 2022 and for an overlapping House seat last year, confirmed to Axios that he's considering a bid.

What we're watching: Depending on the timing, the race for Senate District 47 will either be the fifth or sixth special election for a state legislative seat this year.

• Another will be needed to fill late Sen. Bruce Anderson's solidly GOP seat in Wright County.

The #MPRRaccoon has some competition for zaniest Twin Cities animal encounters.

The latest: A raccoon named Gerald was recently rescued by Lakeville police after he started "to act more like a K9 than a critter."

What they're saying: Gerald followed officers around and "even hopped into a car on command," per a social media post from the department.

• Pictures show him hanging off a squad car door and standing for treats.

What's next (for Gerald): He was brought to a wildlife rehab center.

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