The La Ronge SLGA liquor store in February 2023. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Provincial auction

La Ronge liquor permit sells for $3.27 million, highest sale yet in auction

Feb 23, 2023 | 4:06 PM

The auction for the SLGA liquor permit for La Ronge closed Thursday at a staggering $3.27 million.

The auction was due to end at 2 p.m., but a bidding war continued for more than an hour and it was finally won by LakesideSpirits at 3:21 p.m. There were a total of 125 bids.

It’s still unclear who exactly purchased the liquor permit as the legal owner is not specified in the online auction details. The bid, however, is high and likely the highest yet paid for a permit in the provincial auctions.

Previous permits fetched $1.45 million in Regina, 1.4 million in Prince Albert, $1.25 million in Saskatoon and in Moose Jaw for $1.165 million. Other permits sold for less than $1 million in other smaller communities.

“I think we are just really curious to see who won the bid, so time will tell,” said La Ronge and District Chamber of Commerce vice-president Karla Hardcastle.

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She watched the bidding online and she explained there must have been a lot of interest in the La Ronge permit and people must have seen a potential for profit.

It’s also unknown if the Town of La Ronge was involved in winning the bid. While administration was authorized to spend up to $1.25 million in the auction, there was room in the resolution passed last week for the municipality to partner with a public or private organization if approached.

“From the Chamber of Commerce’s perspective, we would be really excited to see another new private business investing in our area and having a new privately-run business in operation,” Hardcastle said.

“We are definitely not in favour of the Town of La Ronge operating a municipally-owned and operated liquor store in the community. We fully support the business community growing and having another private businessperson is what we are hoping for.”

La Ronge chief administrative officer Lyle Hannan told larongeNOW council will likely issues a statement following the conclusion of the auction.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno