Best Liquor/Offsale: Melfort Liquor Loft

Winner of the 2023 Best of the Best Award (BOB) for Best Liquor/Offsale, the store offers all your favourite refreshments but also boasts an extensive selection of wine, giftware and gourmet foods including cabbage rolls, perogies and pizzas.

Store owner Branelle Zenuk said, “winning the award is truly humbling.”

“A person always wonders are they making good business decisions? Are the decisions we are making about things we put in our store worthwhile? So, when you get recognition of being the best at something, it certainly makes all that extra hard work of blood, sweat and tears pay off,” she said.

The Melfort Liquor Loft has been open for just over two years. Acknowledging there are other options for people in the city, Zenuk explained what sets them apart, is that she notices the length of time people spend in the store. “It’s not just a walk in, grab what you need and get out as quick as possible type trip,” she said, adding people like to walk around and browse the store’s various sections. “It’s definitely a shopping experience.”

Another unique feature is the selection of niche products in the fine foods and giftware sections that can often be hard to find in other stores. That Zenuk explained, was done intentionally. “We did not want to be a run-of-the-mill liquor store. We wanted to set ourselves apart and we get a ton of feedback from people that are from other provinces, who walk through our store and constantly say to our staff, that they’ve never seen a liquor store like this before,” she said.

In addition to the liquor store, the upper loft is used as a private rental space and has been utilized for weddings, birthday parties, company events, and even seminars and training. “It’s kind of a one-size-fits-all type of rental space,” Zenuk explained.

Since its opening, the store has also offered a free ice promotion, whereas anyone who spends over $25, receives a complimentary bag of ice.

The Melfort Liquor Loft is located at 500 Saskatchewan Drive South in the Stonegate shopping center.

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