10 Minnesota Discount Stores Where Deals Make Every Shopping Trip Worthwhile
A giant captain’s chair has sat upstairs in one Minnesota bargain store since the 1950s. It arrived through train wreck salvage, and shoppers still stop to take pictures with it.
That detail hooked me right away. Discount shopping in this state comes with wild backstories like railroad salvage, insurance losses, and trailer upsets.
The shelves change constantly, so no map stays accurate for long.
One store sends its profits to a local ministry. Another stocks electronic parts and odd project supplies that most stores would never touch.
A third sells food that’s overstocked, discontinued, or past its date, all at bargain prices.
I love that each stop has its own personality. The lineup covers groceries, flooring, mowers, and gently used clothing.
I can’t imagine a better excuse for a road trip with an empty trunk. So which one gets your next free Saturday morning?
1. MNW Retail Outlet, Big Lake, MN
Shopping for a grandkid’s closet and a dog’s toy bin in one stop sounds ambitious. In Big Lake, it’s just a normal Tuesday.
MNW Retail Outlet runs a rotating mix of furniture, home goods, and clothing at friendly prices. The clothing covers all ages, so baby outfits and bigger kids’ shirts can land in the same cart.
Keep going past the racks and the variety widens fast. You’ll spot toys, health and beauty items, stationery, pet products, and seasonal goods.
That seasonal angle makes this a handy holiday stop. Gift lists for little ones get shorter quickly when kids’ clothes and toys share the floor.
Because the stock rotates, today’s shelves won’t match next month’s. If something catches your eye, it’s smart to grab it before you talk yourself out of it.
Here’s a scheduling perk I appreciate. The store keeps the same hours seven days a week, from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Crowds tend to build on Friday and Saturday, from morning into the afternoon. Monday mornings and Wednesday or Thursday mornings usually run quieter, which makes browsing easier.
Plan to haul your own finds home, since the shop doesn’t offer delivery. A quick visit is often enough, though a full cart may stretch that.
For new arrivals, the outlet’s Facebook page is the place to watch. Big Lake sits right off the northwest corridor, so it makes an easy detour.
Address: 751 Rose Dr #103-107, Big Lake, MN 55309
2. Rons Warehouse, Alexandria, MN
Train derailments, trailer upsets, and bankruptcies sound like bad news. At Ron’s, they’re where a lot of the bargains begin.
Ron’s Warehouse Sales has sold discounted goods in Alexandria since 1967. It started in a small building on the east side of town and moved several times before landing here.
The current retail space covers about 40,000 square feet. Since 2000, a separate distribution and processing center near Garfield has helped keep that floor stocked.
Inventory comes from insurance losses, closeouts, railroad salvage, salesman samples, and similar sources. Prices typically run 30% to 70% below original retail.
So what’s actually on the shelves? Think groceries, toys, giftware, clothing for any season, pet supplies, cleaning products, and health and beauty aids.
Hardware, office supplies, sporting goods, and housewares fill out the rest. New merchandise arrives daily, so the mix shifts often.
Furniture shoppers get a nice bonus. The store carries Ashley Furniture and Restonic mattresses on the floor.
Can’t find the exact piece you want? An Ashley Furniture kiosk lets you order it right there.
Saturday mornings and afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Weekdays tend to feel calmer, and the store closes on Sundays.
Alexandria makes a great lakes-country stop for Minnesota road trippers. I’d leave some trunk space, just in case.
Address: 1408 3rd Ave E, Alexandria, MN 56308
3. Gopher Bargain Center, St Cloud, MN
How many stores have a giant captain’s chair rescued from a train wreck? St. Cloud has one, and it sits upstairs waiting for your photo.
That chair has been in the building since the 1950s. It’s a fitting mascot, because this whole business grew out of salvage.
The story starts in 1941 with Gopher Lumber and Supply Company. Its founder worked in railroad salvage, and the building itself was made from salvaged material.
In the 1960s, the next generation renamed it Gopher Bargain Center. Later, the focus moved toward closeouts, bankruptcy stock, scratch and dent goods, and insurance salvage.
Today the selection feels a bit like a small town packed under one roof. Furniture, appliances, groceries, hardware, housewares, school supplies, toys, and clothing all share space.
Hardware fans can hunt for power tools, nuts, bolts, and automotive products. Plumbing fixtures like sinks, toilets, and tubs show up too.
The store is also an authorized Ashley Furniture dealer. Couches, recliners, mattresses, sectionals, dressers, and bed frames are all part of the lineup.
Need snacks or pet food while you’re at it? The grocery section covers canned goods, snacks, and pet food.
Saturdays get busy, so weekday mornings are a calmer bet. Sundays are closed, so plan around that.
Address: 229 Lincoln Ave NE, St Cloud, MN 56304
4. Heartland Outlet, Shakopee, MN
Your new bathroom vanity could help fund community work. That’s the deal at this Shakopee outlet, and I think it’s a pretty great one.
Heartland Outlet sells overstock and returned products at low prices. Profits support HEART Response Ministry and its mission to transform communities.
Discounts can reach up to 75% off. Some clothing and shoes go even deeper, sometimes up to 80% off MSRP.
Remodelers, this is your section. Expect vinyl, laminate, tile, and engineered hardwood flooring, plus vanities, toilets, tubs, and shower surrounds.
New truckloads of flooring arrive weekly. Tools from brands like Husky, RYOBI, DeWalt, Toro, and VEVOR also make appearances.
The home side stays busy too. Mini fridges, freezers, air fryers, crock pots, furniture, toys, and pantry snacks rotate through.
Volunteers keep much of the operation running. On days they volunteer, they get an extra 15% off their purchases.
Want first crack at standout items? The outlet runs weekly Facebook auctions in its VIP group.
Hours are unusual, so check before you drive. It opens Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 7 PM, then Friday and Saturday from 9 AM to noon.
All sales are final, though defective items can come back within 14 days with a receipt. Free on-site parking makes loading flooring boxes easier.
Address: 1698 Vierling Dr E, Shakopee, MN 55379
5. Sky Group Bargains (Discount Retail Store), St Paul, MN
A sofa, a power tool, and a new shirt walk into one store. No punchline, just a typical shopping list at this St. Paul spot.
Sky Group Bargains sits on Kasota Ave and works as a straightforward discount retailer. Its focus covers furniture, electronics, and household goods.
The mix doesn’t stop there. Tools and clothing also show up, which makes it easy to cover several errands at once.
Special pricing is a regular feature here. That makes it a smart place to check before you pay full price elsewhere.
Furniture is a strong reason to stop in. Bigger pieces can cost a lot new, so a discount shop like this one deserves a look first.
You’ll need a plan for getting purchases home, though. The store doesn’t offer delivery, so bring a roomy vehicle or a friend with a truck.
Timing matters here, so check the store’s latest posted hours before visiting. Online listings disagree about its closing time and whether it opens on Sundays.
Saturday afternoons bring the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings and Friday evenings tend to be quieter.
Those later evening hours help if you work a day job. You can swing by after work without racing the clock.
The store posts updates through its Facebook page. It’s a handy way to keep tabs between visits.
Address: 2565 Kasota Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
6. Soul Sisters Discount Store, Duluth, MN
Bring a bag of clothes, leave with a discount. That simple trade powers this friendly shop in West Duluth.
Soul Sisters Discount Store sits inside the Spirit Valley Mall. It sells gently used clothing and accessories for men, women, and teens.
Donations keep the racks moving. When you drop off items, you can earn a discount on your own shopping.
The savings keep coming after that. The store runs weekly and daily sales, plus drawings.
I really like where some of the goodness goes. The shop donates to local organizations and schools and supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Inclusion is part of the setup too. The store identifies as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space, with a gender-neutral restroom.
Need to check something on your phone mid-browse? Free Wi-Fi is available.
Pickup options add flexibility. Curbside pickup and in-store pickup are both offered.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Saturday closes at 4 PM, and Sundays are off.
A free parking lot makes the stop easy. Duluth shoppers can turn a quick errand into a fun clothing hunt without much fuss.
Address: 215 N Central Ave Spirit Valley Mall, Duluth, MN 55807
7. Total Deals, Rochester, MN
Some stores make you wonder if the shelves are on vacation. Total Deals in Rochester keeps them well stocked instead.
This discount store sits on 3rd Ave SE in a suite space. It’s a compact, focused stop that’s easy to fit into a busy day.
The big draw is simple. You get a wide range of items at strong prices, which makes restraint a real challenge.
Friendly help is part of the package too. The staff and owners have a reputation for being helpful and approachable.
That matters more than you might expect at a discount shop. A quick question can save you a lot of wandering.
Here’s the catch worth knowing early. The store keeps limited hours, so a spontaneous Monday visit won’t work.
It’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday through Friday it runs from 10 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Sundays are closed as well. I’d save this one for a midweek lunch break or a Saturday errand loop.
Delivery isn’t offered, so plan to carry your finds yourself. Bring a few reusable bags, because the cart can fill fast.
Rochester gives you plenty of reasons to visit already. A bargain stop just makes the day better.
Address: 1706 3rd Ave SE Ste B, Rochester, MN 55904
8. Ax-Man Surplus Stores, St Louis Park, MN
Need a strange little switch for a science fair robot? This might be the only discount store where that question makes total sense.
Ax-Man Surplus Stores calls itself an unconventional surplus shop, and it earns the label. The focus is unique project supplies and hard-to-find electronic components.
Tinkerers and builders get a lot to explore here. Parts that big-box stores skip often turn up in these aisles.
Parents can win too. Discounted kids’ toys and costumes are part of the mix, which helps with birthdays and dress-up days.
Prices are another reason to love it. Expect more than reasonable pricing on a wide range of oddball items.
Honestly, I think this store works best with a loose plan. Bring an idea for a project and let the shelves fill in the rest.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Sunday is shorter, from noon to 5 PM.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons get the busiest. Monday and Wednesday mornings are usually calmer.
A free parking lot makes the visit easy. Delivery isn’t offered, but most finds here fit in a pocket or a bag anyway.
St. Louis Park sits just west of Minneapolis, so it’s an easy Twin Cities stop. Maker friends will thank you for the tip.
Address: 8134 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55426
9. Mike’s Discount Foods, Princeton, MN
Discontinued cereal, dented cans, and overstocked snacks all have a second chance here. Your grocery budget gets one too.
Mike’s Discount Foods is locally owned and specializes in bargain groceries. Stock includes out-of-date, overstocked, closeout, damaged, and discontinued food and merchandise.
The brand-name items rotate, so the shelves look different from week to week. That keeps a regular grocery run feeling a bit like a treasure hunt.
Organic products are part of the lineup too. That’s a nice surprise for shoppers who want to save without changing their habits.
Produce also stands out here. It’s a strength worth checking before you head to a pricier store.
Low-priced general merchandise rounds out the trip. You might leave with dinner plans and a few household extras.
Hours are generous for a grocery stop. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Sundays, Saturday mornings, and Tuesday and Friday afternoons get busy. Monday and Wednesday mornings are the quiet sweet spot.
On-site parking and a restroom make the stop easy. Delivery isn’t offered, so pack a cooler if you’re driving far.
Princeton sits north of the Twin Cities, a short drive for many Minnesota families. Stocking the pantry rarely feels this rewarding.
Address: 705 Northland Dr, Princeton, MN 55371
10. All That & More Liquidation Center, Fosston, MN
Few places sell crockpots and backyard sheds from the same counter. In Fosston, that combo is just business as usual.
All That & More Liquidation Center is locally family owned and operated. It offers big box retail items at a fraction of the price.
New truckloads arrive to keep the inventory fresh. That means the store you visit in spring may look different by fall.
Overstock, imperfect items, and big box surplus fill the shelves. Small appliances, household goods, pet care items, clothing, cosmetics, toys, office supplies, and tools all appear.
Then the outdoor side takes over. The store is a dealer for Toro, Generac, Task Tool, Red Max, and DR Power.
It also sells Old Hickory sheds and buildings. So you can grab a coffee maker and price out a storage shed on one trip.
That mix makes sense in northwestern Minnesota. Snow blowers matter in winter, and mowers matter by May.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Saturdays go from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, and Sundays are closed.
Address: 680 W 1st St West, Fosston, MN 56542