Final SLGA liquor stores preparing to close

An era is coming to an end in Saskatchewan: As of the close of business Saturday, the provincial government will no longer be in the retail liquor business.

The last seven Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority-run stores will be shutting their doors for good. They’re located at:

• Prince Albert South Hill
• Saskatoon Eighth Street
• Saskatoon Confederation Park
• Saskatoon University Heights
• Regina Normanview
• Regina South Albert
• Regina Quance Street

The closing of the SLGA-operated stores was first announced in the fall throne speech, the provincial government arguing that the stores weren’t making enough money and were, in fact, soon to be costing the province.

Workers found out about the closure at the same time the public did and many tried to raise their voices in protest, but the plan went ahead.

As stores began to close, opportunities to apply for the liquor permits coming available were auctioned off online, raising more than $45 million for the province.

That money will be used to pay for the wind-down of the SLGA stores and the rest will then go into the province’s general revenue fund. David Morris, spokesperson for the SLGA, couldn’t say how much the closing of the stores would cost.

“We’ll have a better understanding of that once the sales are complete and the operations are completely wound down,” said Morris.

Morris said the SLGA is pleased with the auction process.

“There was a lot of interest in the auctions when we first announced them last fall and that interest carried over into the bidding process and there (were) a lot of bids and a lot of interest in the permits,” he explained.

The equipment and fixtures in the stores will be sold as well as the buildings. As of this week, three were already listed with commercial realtors.

It’s not clear how long it will take for the new private liquor stores to start opening up. The winners of the permit auctions still have to go through the SLGA’s application process and Morris said the time that takes could vary.

The auction winners will have to open a store eventually – the rules of the auction dictate a store front will have to be open in 18 months in the communities laid out by the permit.