Minnesotans prep, stock up ahead of snowstorm

Minnesotans were stocking up and planning ahead of Friday’s snowstorm.

“Mother Nature is doing her thing,” David Studler, who bought a snowblower, said.

The first big snowfall of the season means Studler and Karen Larson get a shiny new toy.

“We had an old one, but it was too big so I wanted a new one,” Larson said.

She said Studler is on snow duty tonight.

“Well first of all, I won’t be the first one to run it, but I’ll watch and supervise,” Larson said.

Customers flocked to Frattalone’s Ace Hardware in St. Paul to get their hands on snow tools that speed up the cleanup.

“We’re getting so much snow. I hate to shovel, but we have to get everything ready for the winter,” Rachel Wannarka, shopper, said.

Shovels, salt and snow brushes flew off the shelves. Workers said the store had been packed with people since they opened.

"It’s been insane. It’s been a wave of people with snow shovels, ice melt and grit,” Morgan Bartlet, Frattalone’s Ace Hardware store worker, said.

“At 10 a.m. we had lines through the aisles on every register,” David Organ, Kowalski’s Market worker, said. “It’s Minnesota — we’re used to this, but it’s silly to see people forget how to interact with snow every year.”

A flurry of people stocked up on food at Kowalski’s Market.

Alec Johnson headed out the door for a normal trip to the grocery store, but he was greeted with long lines and a crowd of people.

“I didn’t think it would be remotely this busy, it looks like people are out getting ready for the winter storm,” Alec Johnson, shopper, said.

Minnesotans said the fresh powder can be a pain, but some said they still wouldn’t trade the snow for sunshine.

“I’d miss it if I didn’t live here,” Larson said.