The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon's new business boom continued this morning with the grand opening of the Extra Foods grocery store at the Flintoba Shopping Centre. Residents were expected to pack the aisles of the community's third major grocer, which joins Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire on the outskirts of town. "People seem really excited to have us here," smiled Lori Stene, director of public affairs for Westfair Foods, which owns the Extra Foods chain. While groceries are the focus of the new store, a variety of other products are contained within its walls. Non-edible items include small appliances, toys, health and beauty products, and magazines and paperbacks. The store also features a pharmacy, photo lab and, during the summer months, a garden centre. "We're a one-stop shop," said Stene, who was in town from Calgary for today's grand opening. With a number of new outlets popping up across Western Canada, Extra Foods is clearly in expansion mode. Westfair Foods, based in Calgary, saw Flin Flon as the next logical place to set up shop. "We had done some market research and felt it would be a really great market for us," noted Stene. "Our research showed that this would be something that would be beneficial for the community and for us." The new 42,000 sq. ft. store becomes one of the community's largest commercial employers. It's created about 50 new jobs, less than original estimates. Between 150 and 200 people filled out applications to work at the store. All but about two of the jobs were filled by locals. "We had a very, very talented bunch of people who applied," said store manager Robin Bernhard. "The people we've hired have worked really well for us." Bernhard, who moved to town last month with seven years of experience in the grocery business under his belt, said the community has embraced both him and the store he will manage. Mayor Dennis Ballard, who was to cut the ribbon at this morning's grand opening, sees the new store as another positive step forward for the community. See 'It's' P.# Con't from P.# "As far as I'm concerned, it's another nice big business in our town," he said. "It's more development. More development, in my opinion, is better. It gives amenities to the people and taxes in the (City) coffers." Added Doug O'Brien, president of the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce: "It's a positive move and I just wish them all the best." Stene commented that Flin Flon is home to one of the most advanced Extra Foods outlets in the nation. "Every time we build a new store, we make improvements," she said. "We go in and see what works and try to replicate that, and continually try to improve." This morning marked the third grand opening ceremony held at the Flintoba Shopping Centre in 15 months. In that time, property once home to a field of slag has become a thriving business hub that attracts hundreds of out-of-town shoppers. Wal-Mart opened in November 2002 and Canadian Tire followed less than year later, opening in October 2003. Other businesses that have publicly expressed interest in the Flintoba Shopping Centre include Mark's Work Warehouse, owned by Canadian Tire, Robin's Donuts and A&W. In the latter instances, officials have stated that those restaurants will open at the site provided franchise owners can be found.
