St. Paul & District Co-op is embarking on what its general manager calls a “historic project” of modernization and renovation for its St. Paul and Elk Point facilities, three projects with an estimated total cost of $18 million.
“We’ve been knowing we needed to do something for quite some time,” said Graham Getz, adding that the mall is 37-years-old and showing its age. “Little has been done to be reinvested in the mall so now we have to reinvest in the mall.”
Cliff Martin, president of the Co-op’s board of directors, said the board had decided spending $6 to $7 million to upgrade the mall to be safer and to meet code without making any improvements for the customers was not “sustainable or responsible to our members” nor did it benefit the Co-op’s future. Instead, the Co-op decided to take on a more ambitious expansion project.
In the last 10 years, the food store sales have doubled and the food store has outgrown its location, Getz said. Modernizations and renovations to the mall will cost $16.9 million and will see the food store expanded from 27,824 sq. ft to 44,840 sq. ft, with a bistro area, new hot and cold food offerings, and an expanded selection, with the store also incorporating the Co-op pharmacy. The other part of the renovation will see the Home and Ag section expanded from 18,097 sq. ft to 34,134 sq. ft, with the inclusion of a small addition to the north side of the mall.
After looking at several options, the board decided the best plan was to build within the existing mall, with Getz saying that in addition to maintaining its customer service, “our number one focus was to make sure the project was sustainable and feasible.”
While the drycleaner service, post office depot and pharmacy will continue to operate out of St. Paul’s Co-op, five other tenants will have to relocate, including The Dollar Store, Red Bird Clothing, Richardson’s Jewellery, Floral Enchantments and Town ‘n’ Country Hair Fashions. These tenants were informed of the changes on Monday evening, said Getz.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure the transition or relocation is as seamless as possible,” said Getz, adding the Co-op is giving the tenants six months to relocate, a break on rental fees, and hiring a local realtor to help them find new homes, calling this an “unfortunate” side effect of the project. “If our sales didn’t double in the past 10 years, we wouldn’t be undertaking this renovation project.”
New government regulations on emissions has also prompted the Co-op to look at bringing in diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) dispensing equipment at both its St. Paul and Elk Point cardlocks, while the success of the St. Paul liquor store has prompted the business to look at opening a 3,650 sq. ft. liquor store in Elk Point.
“The Elk Point Liquor Store project will cap off an $8 million investment in facilities in Elk Point over the last five years,” said Brad Belton, controller at the St. Paul & District Co-op.
Belton noted that the entire project was only recently completed and approved, but that the Co-op has been budgeting for some time to invest in the mall. He said in a press release he anticipates this project “will not have a negative long term impact on our cash back and equity programs.”
“It’s a huge complex project,” said Getz, adding that he estimates the project will break ground in late spring or early summer of 2016 and will take about 24 months to complete, while offering positive spin-offs to local businesses in the midst of an economic downturn. “We will remain open through the entire renovation.”
He added that the entire project was thanks to the support of its dedicated and loyal customers, saying the Co-op remains committed to these customers. “We have been a part of our communities for the past 80 plus years, and we intend to lead the next 80 plus years.”
