The Bigway Foods store in Shellbrook has been closed since Oct. 10. (Jordan Twiss/ Shellbrook Chronicle)

By Nigel Maxwell

Unfortunate events

Shellbrook grocery store owner determined to re-open after fire

Oct 22, 2024 | 4:26 PM

The owner of the Bigway Foods store in Shellbrook says he is extremely thankful for the community’s support.

It’s been nearly two weeks since an electrical fire forced the temporary closure of the town’s only grocery store. Jody Lanovaz told paNOW no one ever expects something like this to happen.

“It happened and you know we’ve got to deal with it and we’ve got to get back up and running for the community and we’ve got 30 employees who are relying on us too,” he said.

The source of the fire was a freezer unit and due to the amount of smoke damage, and the fact it happened in a store that sells food, Lanovaz explained they have to be very diligent with cleaning. All the store’s inventory was disposed of and the store has to be washed from top to bottom. There’s also plans to change the ceiling and flooring.

“It’s been 10 days and they are still cleaning,” Lanovaz commented.

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As one can imagine the impact of a grocery store’s sudden closure can deeply impact a small community, especially its seniors.

The Shellbrook Chamber of Commerce has set up a bus service that for three days a week takes people into Canwood to get groceries. There’s also been people volunteering to make deliveries including 16-year-old Marcail Philp.

“I go to P.A. twice a week to swim so I might as well take groceries to people,” she said.

So far Philp has been responsible for two deliveries but is open to doing more.

Mayor Amund Otterson also noted the impact on the community.

“It’s a great store and it’s the only place I buy groceries,” he said. “Since COVID we haven’t shopped anywhere else. It’s just become the go-to place.”

Lanovaz told paNOW he hopes to be back open in three to four weeks, but added that will also depend on the availability of contractors.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell