Pioneer Jasper grocers aim for June

The walls are up, the roof is on and Robinson Foods Ltd. is aiming for a June opening date for its new store.

“We’re pushing as hard as we can go to hit our target date of early June,” said Ray Robinson, owner-manager of the enterprise his grandfather started in 1923.

“We will absolutely be open for summer and getting back to normal.”

The original opening date was May, but Robinson said there were “delays in dealing with different levels of government and the booming economy in Alberta makes it difficult to get certain things.  Some components like windows can take time. 

“Our project cost is probably 30 per cent higher than when we started out in 2003,” he said. 

Robinson’s closed last November for the multi-million dollar expansion that will open with 8,500 square feet on the main  retail floor, and another 8,000 square feet on the lower level for storage and coolers.

“It has added about 2,000 square feet on the main floor,” he said.

The store will have 40 employees during the peak summer season and about 30 year-round, full-time and part-time.

The store will reopen with a new wholesaler, Associated Groceries of Calgary, and some specialty items that Robinson is keeping as a surprise.

“Associated Groceries have been really supportive,” Robinson said, explaining his decision to switch from IGA.

“They are more independent-minded than some of the bigger players in the industry. That gives us more latitude in bringing in specialty foods from smaller suppliers.”

Ray’s grandfather Bert Robinson opened one of the first food stores in Jasper, “near where the Everest store is now. He sold bulk goods. I don’t think they had organic issues or genetically-modified back than. Just everyday basic food stuffs.”