Renovated store set to open
Wider selection and lower prices promised for Nahanni Butte residents
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, May 22, 2014
TTHENAAGO/NAHANNI BUTTE
The Nahanni Butte General Store Ltd. is expected to open soon in its former location after more than two years and a million-plus dollar renovation.
A deck with a view is part of the renovations to the Nahanni Butte General Store Ltd. building that will soon be opening for the first time since the 2012 flood. - photo courtesy of Pauline Campbell
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The store's building was closed following the community's 2012 flood. Since then, the business has operated out of a trailer attached to a home and then later a mobile trailer.
Last September the Naha Dehe Development Corporation, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band's economic arm, became the sole owner of the business that was previously co-owned with the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation. The fact that the local corporation is now running the store by itself, in addition to the renovations, is expected to result in a greater variety of food along with lower prices for Nahanni Butte residents, said Frank Moretti, the band's manager.
"It's going to be run as a tight ship to offer good prices," he said.
Renovations began Jan. 21 and finished May 13. Almost everything was redone except the building's roof. The most important aspect was the restructuring of the foundation pillars supporting the upper floor, said Moretti.
On the main floor, which houses the store along with a bed and breakfast and a diner, the drywall, floors and lighting were all replaced. The renovations cost $1,049,000.
"If you're going to do it right you've got to do it right. We did it right," he said.
The store is expected to be operational before the end of the month. The bed and breakfast is already fully booked for 60 days starting May 26.
The bed and breakfast includes four rooms. When a new administration building and visitor's complex is built in the future, the plan is to convert the current band office into additional rooms so there will be at least 14 in total, said Moretti.
On the exterior of the building the siding was redone and a two storey deck was built on top of the diner portion.
"That's for the tourists to enjoy the scenery and the mountains and the river," he said.
The development corporation wanted to renovate the building because the store can't be run properly out of a trailer.
With the building refurbished, the store can offer more products and buy in bulk to obtain better prices for residents, said Moretti.
"We're going to be the Walmart of the North when it comes to general stores," he said.
"As long as the store turns a small profit just to pay the bills that's all we care about."
The building also has substantial space in the basement for storing dry goods. Before the ice road closed, three truckloads of dry goods were brought in – enough to last until the late fall. Next winter, more than five five-tonne trucks worth of goods are expected to be stockpiled.
People who have seen the inside of the store have been impressed, said Moretti.
"They are in awe how it turned out."
The store and connected businesses are expected to create employment for four or five residents.
