THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A long-established store in Fort Smith is about to get a new home.

The Fields store, which has operated in the community since 1993, will move to a new location in April.

Tracey Yee, manager of the Fields store in Fort Smith, stands in front of the retail outlet's new home, which is under construction. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"We're very excited about it," said Mike Buell, the senior manager of store operations with Fields in Vancouver.

The new building will open for business by April 19 and a grand opening is scheduled for May 1.

Tracey Yee, the store manager in Fort Smith, said customers are excited about the new building, which is across the street from the Rec Centre.

The old store will remain open until the end of April to offer clearance sales.

Buell said Fields has been operating in the same building since the chain arrived in Fort Smith.

"It's really nice to be getting into something new and customers should really like it," he said.

Buell noted Fort Smith has been one of the best locations for the company.

"We do plan on staying," he said.

The store's new 5,000-square-foot home will be slightly larger than its current building, but will have many improvements, Buell added. "It makes it a much more inviting place to shop."

For example, the new location will have more parking and no stairs or ramps, he noted. "It's much more accessible."

Fields will not own the new building, which is being constructed by the store's new landlord.

"Our investment is all-new fixtures for the store," Buell said, noting that will include things such as new cash registers.

Aside from Fort Smith, the only other NWT community with a Fields store is Hay River.

Buell described Fields as junior department stores, which fulfill customers' everyday needs - including new fashions - at good value.

In Canada, there are 190 Fields stores, mostly in British Columbia and Alberta. They go as far east as Ontario.

"We like the rural communities," Buell said. "They give us a lot of support. It's a win-win for us and the community."

In Fort Smith, Fields employs between five and eight people depending on the season.