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Construction of Gateway Co-op C-store and liquor store proceeding

Although the wet October and the late addition of a liquor store have contributed to a delay in construction of the expansion of the Gateway Co-op enhancements in Canora, it is expected customers will be able to begin using the new C-store and liquor
Gateway Co-op construction
At the site where a new C-store and adjoining liquor store are being constructed immediately south of the Gateway Co-op food store in Canora, from left were: Bryan Harder, the C-store manager; Heather Prestie, operations/office manager for Gateway, and Dana Antonovitch, Gateway general manager.

Although the wet October and the late addition of a liquor store have contributed to a delay in construction of the expansion of the Gateway Co-op enhancements in Canora, it is expected customers will be able to begin using the new C-store and liquor store before summer.

After the wet October, the cold weather prevented work on the pavement and concrete, Dana Antonovitch, the general manager of Gateway Co-op, said last week, adding that with the addition of the liquor store, management has had a few more hoops to jump though with regards to licencing and the legal structure which has also slowed progress.

Construction of the C-store (convenience store) began in September on the Co-op’s property at 721 Norway Road, immediately south of the existing food store, Antonovitch explained. KOR ALTA Construction of Edmonton is the general contractor of the job, which to date is about 50 per cent completed.

Gateway has about 600 lineal feet of property on Norway Road, he said. In addition to the C-store and liquor store, the property includes a sewer disposal site for RVs and room has been identified for a new carwash in the future.

The C-store was to be a building of 2,700 square feet next to eight lanes of gasoline pumps to dispense premium diesel and both, regular and premium gasoline, he explained. After the Co-op received approval to be the liquor dispenser in the community, it was decided to add another 2,000 square feet to the C-store building.

The C-store will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and together with the liquor store will employ between 13 and 15 full and part time persons, he said. The C-store will be similar in appearance to many of the newer C-stores in major centres and will include milkshakes, slushies, coffee, submarine sandwiches from the food store, breakfast sandwiches, a roller grill to make hot dogs and smokies, an ATM machine, fireworks and will still be the community’s STC bus depot.

The liquor store will include a 500-square-foot walk-in beer cooler and will feature Co-op brand beer, wine and spirits, he said. Gateway Co-op is experienced with handling liquor having operated the liquor store in Buchanan for over 10 years.

The property will be paved and concrete berms will be installed to help direct water drainage.

The eight lanes of gasoline pumps, which are being located across the street and north of the existing petroleum Cardlock facility, will include a “pay-at-the-pump” feature.

Antonovitch commended the Canora town employees who removed some of the trees along Norway Road which has resulted in a better visibility of the Co-op facilities.

“That’s made for better visibility,” he said, adding that entering Canora by highway from the south and seeing the new Co-op facilities will be aesthetically pleasing.

“We’re excited about having food, gasoline and liquor sales on the same property,” he said. “It will be a one-stop shopping experience.”