Clearview Co-op opens Ste Anne store

Clearview Co-op opened its first brand new food store location in the town where it all started in 1931, and more may soon be coming to other Southeast communities.

The doors opened 8 a.m. in Ste Anne, welcoming a line of customers waiting to shop the brightly lit, full-size modern grocer. The co-operative formerly know as Ste Anne Co-op owns stores in La Broquerie and St Malo, but this is its first built from the ground up.

“We’ve been going pretty hard on this for some months, a little over a year,” said food store senior manager Gavin Walls.

He was busy running around keeping things running smooth and ironing out any first-day wrinkles, but did take a peek when the first customers came in. A dozen were lined up on a cool Thursday morning waiting for the doors to open, with local Andre Morin getting there first.

“I think there’s more than what was expected thus far. Even if it was one family (that) came in, we’re getting one step closer to what we’re mandated, and that’s just feeding the community,” said Walls.

Clearview Co-op general manager Martin Trudeau said Walls has led a strong team effort.

“I know there’s been a lot of late evenings and folks working really hard, and it’s really truly appreciated,” said Trudeau.

“I think it’s wonderful for the community and I think the community is really going to enjoy having this option to come to, and hopefully we can work together on making this a great viable situation for many, many years.”

While that viability is measured over those years, new food stores are expected to be drawn up by Clearview Co-op.

“Yes, certainly. It’s one of our focuses that we will be looking at in years to come. But again, they take a lot of time and energy and resources to plan. So we can’t do one of these a year, but in the communities that justify, it’s certainly on the mandate for us to continue looking for,” said Trudeau.