SLGA store closed for good at Market Mall

Market Mall’s public liquor store has closed for good, after serving Saskatoon’s east end for nearly 25 years.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) store shuttered its doors on July 16, with no plans to re-open.

The closure happened quietly, and by Thursday shoppers were still being caught by surprise.

Nearby resident Lenora Golanowski said the closure takes away some of her independence, since she doesn’t drive.

“It was nice to be able to come over here and pick up a couple bottles of wine when I had company,” Golanowski said.

“Now I can’t even do that I have to get someone to get it for me.”

Market Mall Property Manager Betty Anne Fisher said the closure was expected, but there are still options for customers at the Coachman off-sale.

But shopper Betty Nagraeff said shopping at the off-sale wouldn’t be the same.

“They won’t have the selection that we had here,” she said.

The Coachman told 650 CKOM they’re working to expand their selection, partly by attempting to accommodate customer requests.

The SLGA store closure happened just before the authority finalized 17 job cuts in Saskatoon.