New 24,000 Square Foot Supply Store to Open Near Perham

Construction was underway on a new 24,000 square foot retail construction supply and rental store on a 10 acre site at 48078 Luce Street, at the corner of U.S. Highway 10 and State Highway 228, about eight miles west of Perham. Property owner Chris Dankert purchased the land and planned to open RER by spring 2026. The development was designed to serve contractors and homeowners in Otter Tail County and the surrounding region.

RER began in 2023 as Renewable Energy Resources, supplying components to wind and solar projects. The new store was planned to expand that footprint into retail and rental services, offering rental equipment including backhoes, skid loaders and forklifts, and stocking tools, supplies, limited lumber and Bad Boy mowers distribution. Dankert said the high traffic count on Highway 10 made a larger retail presence attractive, and the business had engaged with roughly 400 vendors for inventory. Early hiring was underway as the site moved through construction and permitting.

The project owner was also exploring the addition of a gas station and convenience store on the remaining portion of the parcel, subject to regulatory approvals and required permits. That potential fuel and convenience option would require additional planning and local regulatory review, and could change traffic flows at the Highway 10 intersection while adding another retail choice for drivers and residents.

For Otter Tail County residents, the store could lower costs and reduce travel time for rental equipment and specialty supplies that previously required trips to more distant towns. Increased local availability of equipment rentals could help small contractors scale projects more efficiently, and distribution ties to renewable energy supply chains may bring additional material access to regional installers. The development may also generate modest new employment as the store hires staff for retail operations, rental logistics and site maintenance.

As construction continued into early 2026, local officials and residents were watching the project for its effects on traffic, job opportunities and the competitive landscape for hardware and fuel retailers in the Perham area.