By paNOW

Sobeys shuts its doors for good

Aug 21, 2014 | 12:54 AM

The aisles were bare, as only a few products were left on the shelves. Each one had a bright yellow sticker with a new sale price.

On the last day of Prince Albert Sobeys being open, customers continued to filter through the doors.

Drew Martin and his wife Gina were among some of the last customers to see the store open.

“It was pretty good. [We] got some good deals, but overall I think it’s sad for everyone that’s working there and we’re just losing another good grocery store that was to see we had it in PA,” said Drew, who has been shopping at the store since he moved to Prince Albert six years ago.

One of the highlights, according to the pair, was the store’s close proximity to their home.

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“It was just reasonably priced and they had different stuff,” Gina added.

The store scheduled its close for that evening.

Kurt Harriman, store manager, said there were usually around 20 customers in the store at any given time for the past couple of weeks.

He said he’s spoken with some of their customers and a lot of their regulars are wondering where they’re going to shop. However, Harriman added some of the competitors have been “picking up their socks and their sales.”

As for the staff, it was an emotional.

“We had a fair enough warning, the staff are taking it quite well. The community has really supported them in that way and we’ve had a few people who’ve found positions already within the community and a few more looking, so if you see people with those names on the application forms they’re good workers,” Harriman explained.

“They [Sobeys staff] can use us as references. The people who are here right now are only leaving us because of the store closure.”

Harriman will also be seeking employment. He said he moved here in 2001 for the position with Sobeys and has decided to stay in the community with his family after the closure.

Seventy Sobeys employees received layoff notices at the end of June. The company said the Prince Albert location was one of 50, including Moose Jaw’s, that was shut down due to continuous underperformance.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84