A new grocery store is coming to Moonbeam. The Co-op’s Board of Directors received unanimous support for a bigger store during a membership meeting on Tuesday night. President Lise Cloutier says the plan is to build a 6,000 square foot store that’s worth $3 million.
“We’re looking at the location of 205 Highway 11 at the entrance of Moonbeam so it is the old site of the Blue Moon Motel, people might remember that use to be there,” she said. “It is very close to the intersection with Highway 581.”
Cloutier says the new store is not only important for the entire region but for the community of Moonbeam.
“The distances are very large in Northern Ontario so if you’re living in Moonbeam and if you have to travel to Kapuskasing, or if you have to travel to Smooth Rock Falls that can be a 40 km round trip just to get your groceries,” she said. “So it’s really important to have a location option.”
Cloutier says the money for the new store would come from the sale of shares, donations, and government grants. The Co-op must get approval from their regulatory body before the project goes ahead. Fundraising for the new store could start as early as this summer.
