Yorkton is one step closer to having two new major chain stores. The City confirmed last week that both Save On Foods and Winners have taken out development permits.
Mayor Bob Maloney is pleased with the progress.
“I think it’s always good news, especially for the mall, anytime you can drive more traffic out there it’s good for all the businesses,” he said. “And it’s jobs for the city as well, and that’s kind of what it all comes down to. If you’ve got jobs in the community you can have some positive growth and when you lose jobs bad things happen.”
In fact, the mayor is guardedly optimistic about the future overall.
“I think the general footing of the economy is still pretty solid and we draw from such a big area around the city,” he said. “As long as farmers have got some dollars in their jeans, they come to the city to spend it, so I think we’re still in pretty good stead.”
While having development permits, which precede building permits, is a good sign, it does not mean the stores are a done deal, however.
Samuel Twumasi, the City’s economic development officer, explained development and building permits indicate intent, but are still preliminary steps.
“Even at these stages, all things can still fall through,” he said, citing the recent case of a national auto parts chain that pulled out after taking out a building permit.”
Save On Foods, however, is committed according to Julie Dickson, a media relations officer with the company.
“I can confirm we have a building permit in Yorkton and we are targeting a spring 2017 opening,” she said from Regina, where Save On Foods opened its first Saskatchewan store on March 31.
When the company announced in July 2015 its expansion into Saskatchewan with five stores, Yorkton was originally slated for a fall 2016 opening.
At this point, Winners is not committing, however. Elyse Goody, public relations coordinator for the chain said they are not ready yet to announce a new store opening here.
