Bargain! Shop plans to reopen at SAAN location

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The president of a major Canadian retail company is optimistic his company will open its doors in High Prairie before Christmas. Michael Roellinghoff, president of The Bargain! Shop, says if all goes according to plan, “We’ll be open by late fall.” The company announced Aug. 13 it was entering into an asset purchase agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., a court-appointed interim receiver and receiver of former SAAN Stores Ltd. “We’re trying to acquire up to 93 former SAAN locations,” says Roellinghoff, speaking from his Brampton, Ont. office. One of the former locations is in High Prairie. “There are certain conditions that have to be met, but assuming we’re successful – and there is no reason to believe we won’t be – we’ll be open by late fall.” The Bargain! Shop is currently advertising for interested applicants for a store manager in High Prairie. If successful, the acquisition will give the company about 270 stores across Canada, including over 50 in Alberta. “We’d be one of the largest retailers in Alberta,” says Roellinghoff. He adds the purchase is positive for all consumers not only in High Prairie, but across Canada. “The acquisition of the former SAAN locations is very positive, not just for our company and the Canadian vendor community, but also for the towns where SAAN has played a very important role over the years. Our goal is to reopen those stores as The Bargain! Shop locations as soon as possible, and we’re hopeful that many of the former SAAN associates will consider joining The Bargain! Shop to help us make that happen. “We’re looking forward to coming to High Prairie,” adds Roellinghoff. The Bargain! Shop is a rapidly expanding, Canadian-owned retail chain with over 180 stores, located mainly in smaller communities and neighbourhoods across the country. They carry a wide range of brand-name products for the home as well as grocery items and clothing for the entire family.

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