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Co-Op gas bar in line for big makeover

Mar 27, 2013 | 6:13 AM

The Co-Op gas bar and car wash on Second Avenue West in Prince Albert has been a staple of the community for decades, but by next summer they will both be torn down, and in their place will be a new and improved version.

“Those facilities there have to be originally over 60 or 70 years old, and there have been three additions over the years. We are really in need of building a new facility,” said Prince Albert Co-Op General Manager Dave Marchant.

The budget for the project is close to $5 million.

“Prince Albert is just a wonderful community that is growing and we are growing with the community. Yes we see that opportunity there and then all of our locations will become similar in offerings,” said Marchant.

The preliminary work is scheduled to begin at the end of May. The back of the store and car wash will be knocked down first. The new store built just in behind the old, and by early next year, the remainder of the existing store will be torn down.

Marchant said they will close the store for a few months during the transition.

“It will probably be closed when the frost is out in 2014, and then re-open again July 1st, 2014.”

Marchant said he is very excited about the changes – the new car wash will be state-of-the-art and there will be an expanded fishing and camping section in the store.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell