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No Frills opens in Nipawin

Nov 3, 2017 | 9:00 AM

There was a big celebration in Nipawin this morning.
 
The grand opening of the brand new No Frills grocery store on Railway Ave. was held.
 
The store is owned by Matt Lebeau and Jacqueline Boswell.
 
Boswell said Nipawin was an easy choice for them.
 
“We picked Nipawin because we’ve always been a fan of the small towns. There are great communties here, you can get involved with everybody,” she said. 

The official ribbon cutting was held at 9 a.m. this morning but the community has watched the store take shape over the past few months.

 Boswell said the response from the community has been great so far.
 
“Everybody seems super excited and wants to get in the store and see what we are all about which we are more than happy about,” she said.
 
Boswell said the store will employ between 40 and 50 people.  This is good news for the community given the air of uncertainty this past summer.
 
Last July, Loblaw announced it would be closing 52 of its unprofitable stores.  Many of the Extra Foods stores would convert to No Frills, but it was not announced right away which stores would be on the chopping block.  . 
 
Mark Knox, President of the Nipawin Chamber of Commerce, said the announcement had a big impact on the community.
 
“It was a concern for residents when news came out Extra Foods was closing but when it was announced No Frills would be taking its place it was great news,” he said.
 
The town of Nipawin will now have three grocery stores: Co-Op, IGA and No Frills.
 
Knox said he is not concerned about the competition.
 
“I think there’s room for everybody because we have a very large area to draw from,” he said.
 
Knox said the Chamber congratulates Matt and Jacqueline on their new venture, and looks forward to working with them.
 

 

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca
 
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell