What are Minnesotans buying right now? Roof rakes, ‘safer’ ice melt and snowblower parts – Twin Cities

After the snow finally stopped falling on Thursday, Sue Hanson walked into Frattallone’s Hardware & Garden on Plato Boulevard in St. Paul with a very Minnesotan shopping list:

“A roof rake, a Snowplow (snow pusher) and three bags of salt,” Hanson said.

Despite the big snow — 15 inches fell over four days, marking the 14th biggest snowstorm on record in the Twin Cities — many of us went out shopping during the storm, seeking reinforcements similar to Hanson’s list.

“Yesterday was pandemonium,” said Johnny Towle, manager of Frattallone’s on Plato, about Wednesday’s customer traffic.

The chain, which consists of 21 locations throughout the Twin Cities, was ready.

“We are always ready for storms,” said Mike Frattallone, senior vice president of the chain. “This is our Christmas.”

Minnesotans go shopping

What are people buying? Buckets of roof melt tablets and roof rakes, lots of roof rakes.

“We have thousands of them,” Frattallone says.

The big bags of a premium ice melt, Safe Step Mag Chloride 8300, were temporarily out of stock at the Plato store on Thursday — the product is designated a “safer choice” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (although, remember, Minnesotans are encouraged to limit their salt use to combat water pollution).

Minnesotans might be buying Yaktrax as one alternative to cut down on salt usage.

“We sell a lot of those,” Frattallone said of the ice traction devices for shoes.

Of course, snowblowers have been popular this week (especially by Toro, a Minnesota-based company).

“We started the week with 800 snow blowers, now we’re down to a couple hundred — with hundreds more coming in,” Frattallone says.

During the storm, Minnesotans also sought help for the snowblowers they already owned.

“A lot of people were looking for parts,” said Towle.

(That wet, heavy snow can be hard on belts and carburetors.)

The Plato location is accustomed to snowblower traffic: Besides the hardware store, it’s also the site of the chain’s small engine and window repair shop.

On Thursday, there were rows of machines ready for pickup — ready to finish clearing all that snow.

Wool socks, push brooms and airplane tickets

We asked Minnesotans on social media what they consider “must haves” for getting through our winters. Here are some of their responses (which are both practical and wry).

• “Wool socks and choppers (wool mittens inside leather ones) as opposed to gloves.”
• “I’m a huge fan of the long-handled ice scraper for clearing ice and snow gunk off of sidewalks and driveways.”
• “Push broom instead of snow brush to remove snow off vehicle.”
• “A cask of brandy.”
• “I needed snowshoes to walk my dogs yesterday.”
• “Yak tracks, rubber floor mats to place under tires stuck in mush, kitty litter.”
• “Tushie warmers in cars! What DID we do without them?”
•  “A fantastic husband with a snowplow on his truck.”
• “A strong back and a good masseuse,:”
• “Be prepared for power outages: flashlights, nightlights with battery backups or led string lights … things that help littles who are afraid of the dark.”
• “Plane tickets south.”