MELFORT — A new 25,000 square foot co-op food store will be built adjacent to the Stonegate development, the Prairie North Co-op announced.
“COVID-19 may have taught us new ways of doing business, but it also highlighted the need to modernize. The existing food store has served our members for 45 years from its current location,” said Terry Tremblay, Prairie North’s general manager, in a media release issued April 27.
“This new build will ensure that Prairie North Co-op grocery customers in Melfort and surrounding area will be able to access our great Co-op products in a new food store that will allow us to leverage new technological advances in the food industry.”
The new food store will be accessed off Highway #6 at the traffic lights by the McDonalds. Site preparation is expected to begin spring 2021, with construction planned as early as fall/winter 2021-22. If all goes well, the plan is to open around Christmas 2022.
Glenn George, Melfort’s mayor, said the project is exciting news for Melfort and the surrounding region.
“Residents from all over Northeast Saskatchewan require access to services and provisions,” he said. “Prairie North Co-op’s new modern grocery store will be one more reason for shoppers to come to Melfort.”
Brent Lutz, Melfort’s development director, said he hopes the project attracts more development in the area.
“With the additional traffic generated by a new food store development, we expect additional interest in development at the adjacent Stonegate Shopping Centre.”
