Yellowknife (Apr 06/05) - The Saan store in Yellowknife will reopen.

A truck could be in town as early as today or tomorrow, said store manager Mary Chipman.

The retail outlet, which had 223 stores, went into bankruptcy protection in January. The Yellowknife store closed its doors on March 13.

The company is conducting store-by-store analysis to determine which stores will remain open.

Chipman and the staff were confident the store would re-open despite posting an unspecified loss last year.

Chipman feels vindicated now that word has come down that the store would reopen after all.

The re-opening signs are on the windows and Chipman was upbeat as she set about doing her work.

"Everything is coming in pre-priced. We don't know what the prices will be because we haven't seen it yet. All we have to do is hang it up," she said.

Every one of her staff who Chipman has talked to so far has said they will be coming back.

"I've talked to 10 out of 17 people," said Chipman.

The Saan store manager said she needs 10 to 20 truckloads to completely restock the store.

"But when the first one comes in, we're opening and the doors will be unlocked," she said.

Chipman said her staff is ecstatic with the reopening.

"We feel fantastic. A couple are working elsewhere but they said, 'Mary, we need to know because we're coming back,'" she said.

The store is not receiving any additional help to set up.

"This team is strong enough to set it up themselves," said Chipman.