Details remain, but the wait is over

Workers will still be putting the finishing touches to renovations that have kept Robinson’s closed since last November, but the store is set to open Friday - regardless.

“My original target date was May,” said store manager Ray Robinson as work crews attacked a remaining tangle of loose ends.

“There is still a lot of set-up and cleaning to be done, but there was no way I was not going to be open by this weekend; it’s going to open regardless.”

Robinson co-ordinated work on the renovations “and for the most part the project worked out well, but it never goes quite the way you expect.”

“We had delays in getting the necessary drawings; things happen, it was a combination of events, not just one thing,” he said, explaining the delay that had incredulous visitors asking Jasper residents “is there only one food store?”

The old store was “dirty, dated and falling down. It had to be fixed or shut down,” he said.

“I’ll be interested to see people’s reactions to the changes.” 

The renovated store is bright and spacious, with five check-out lanes – two more than before, Robinson said, listing new features. 

A full-service bakery and deli department will offer a broad selection of fine cheeses, and sliced meats; double the amount of dairy space, and an expanded offering of organic food.

Fresh products started arriving in mid-week, along with 30 staff who will be trained on new computers that Robinson had yet to set up.

“It’s been a long haul,” he said.