Store celebrates as ‘Chicks are back’
With the community behind him, Matt Strand of Strand Hardware in Pelican Rapids, Minn., fought city hall. And it looks he’s going to win.
At issue was the legality of selling live chicks at his hardware store.
The controversy began on the early morning of April 2, when Strand Hardware was informed by police that its chicks for sale were in violation of a Pelican Rapids city ordinance that prevents the keeping of chickens in the open. The local news took up the story, and the community rallied behind Strand and his chicks.
One example of the support: A spa and tanning business next door to the hardware store covered its windows with the message: “Save the Chicks.”
At the subsequent city council meeting, the decision was made to create a temporary ordinance allowing for the sale of chicks in the retail setting.
Strand told HBSDealer that it seemed clear to the city council that the original ordinance was never intended to prevent the sale of chicks in hardware stores or farm-and-ranch stores. “I still don’t know why they chose to enforce it," he said.
Strand Hardware’s chick supplier is Hoover Hatchery. When contacted by HBSDealer, the company said some jurisdictions prevent the sale of chicks. The company also said retailers should check with their city before engaging in chick sales.
Hoover Hatchery’s booths at hardware conventions usually attract crowds to their live chick displays, reflecting the growing interest in the category.
Before the city council's latest pro-chick decision, Strand Hardware posted the following message on the store’s Facebook page: "Chicks, ducklings, goslings and pheasants are still available at the store via special order but if you want to see them in person you will need to travel to a business friendly community such as Detroit Lakes, Perham, Fergus Falls or Moorhead (to name a few) where chick sales are allowed,” wrote Strand.
Following the decision, Strand posted the following message:
The key to his successful challenge of city hall was the “overwhelming support from the community," Strand said. And there was a silver lining to the episode: “We got a lot of great publicity over this,” Strand said.
At issue was the legality of selling live chicks at his hardware store.
The controversy began on the early morning of April 2, when Strand Hardware was informed by police that its chicks for sale were in violation of a Pelican Rapids city ordinance that prevents the keeping of chickens in the open. The local news took up the story, and the community rallied behind Strand and his chicks.
One example of the support: A spa and tanning business next door to the hardware store covered its windows with the message: “Save the Chicks.”
At the subsequent city council meeting, the decision was made to create a temporary ordinance allowing for the sale of chicks in the retail setting.
Strand told HBSDealer that it seemed clear to the city council that the original ordinance was never intended to prevent the sale of chicks in hardware stores or farm-and-ranch stores. “I still don’t know why they chose to enforce it," he said.
Strand Hardware’s chick supplier is Hoover Hatchery. When contacted by HBSDealer, the company said some jurisdictions prevent the sale of chicks. The company also said retailers should check with their city before engaging in chick sales.
Hoover Hatchery’s booths at hardware conventions usually attract crowds to their live chick displays, reflecting the growing interest in the category.
Before the city council's latest pro-chick decision, Strand Hardware posted the following message on the store’s Facebook page: "Chicks, ducklings, goslings and pheasants are still available at the store via special order but if you want to see them in person you will need to travel to a business friendly community such as Detroit Lakes, Perham, Fergus Falls or Moorhead (to name a few) where chick sales are allowed,” wrote Strand.
Following the decision, Strand posted the following message:
The key to his successful challenge of city hall was the “overwhelming support from the community," Strand said. And there was a silver lining to the episode: “We got a lot of great publicity over this,” Strand said.