NEWLY RENOVATED ALBERT SOUTH LIQUOR STORE OPENS

Released on July 13, 1998

Maynard Sonntag, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and

Gaming Authority, officially opened the renovated Albert South Liquor

Store today.



"The store is unique in the province and will, I believe, serve its

clientele and market very well," Sonntag said.



The South Albert liquor store, built in 1976, was deteriorating

structurally and was not large enough to meet the needs of the market

in the area. The renovated store boasts expanded floor space of

12,600 square feet, 2,800 more square feet than the old building.

This provides ample room for carrying all products listed by the

Authority. The store is located on Albert Street and 28th Avenue. The

upgraded store features access from Albert Street, improved parking,

and upgraded interior space.



"This renovated facility gives us the opportunity to provide better

customer service to a clientele whose needs have changed over the

years," Sonntag said. "Customers in the area will be better served by

the increased space, improved product display and special features of

this store."



Construction on the building started in March 1998, following a

successful public tender bid by Gabriel Construction Ltd. of Regina.

The Regina firm of McMillan, Lehrer, Ellard and Croft was used for

architectural planning and Inner Dimension Design Associates provided

interior design.



"A fresh, new design for both the interior and exterior of the

building will provide a personal, yet modern, shopping experience

for liquor store customers in the area," Sonntag said. "And the

special features of the store, such as a demonstration kitchen,

will add to the pleasant shopping environment."



The demonstration kitchen will allow liquor suppliers, at the

suppliers' expense, to bring chefs to the store to cook and

provide samples of food to accompany taste tests of liquor

products.



During the renovations, the South Albert liquor store was

temporarily located in the Southland Mall. That temporary

location is now closed. The renovated store resumes the hours of

9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday. There are eight

full-time and 14 part-time employees at the store.



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For more information, contact:



Lisa Thomson

Liquor and Gaming Authority

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1721