Wine, mead and sake will be on the shelves when Save-On-Foods opens its new grocery store in Coquitlam’s Sunwood Square.
The decision to allow the transfer of the company’s Wine on Shelf licence — from its West Kelowna store to Coquitlam — came after an hour-long public hearing last month in which more than a dozen long-time employees spoke.
At its regular meeting that followed, council unanimously green-lighted the bid for a 1,650 sq. ft. wine section in the Sunwood Square building, where Safeway was a former tenant.
The 72,825 sq. ft. store has been under renovations since last spring.
Under the licence, sales are allowed daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Save-On-Foods has 21 wine shops at its grocery stores in B.C. and its staff are educated in the B.C. wine industry, as well as liquor regulations and security, council heard at the June 13 public hearing.
Its staff, some of whom had worked for Save-On-Foods for more than 35 years, told council the company is a good employer and buys local.
A spokesperson for Pacific Breeze, a New Westminster winery, said his product has had a boost in sales because of Save-On-Foods.
“Their efforts have truly impacted our business,” he said, adding the company has allowed “small producers to shine” by stocking their goods.
Ken Christensen, a B.C. regional director for Save-On-Foods, also told council the opening of grocery wine stores in other communities has had a positive spin-off for nearby liquor retailers, as his company only sells VQA wines.
And Steve Moriarty, a Save-On-Foods director, said the grocer had dozens more staff members wanting to speak at the public hearing in support of the application.
“We’ve got history in Coquitlam,” he said. “We are a part of this community.”
Coun. Craig Hodge said he was impressed by the turnout at the public hearing, while Mayor Richard Stewart thanked the company for its organized outreach.
Coquitlam’s approval now means 11 municipalities around the province permit the sale of wine on shelves, including Surrey, Maple Ridge and the City of Langley.
Save-On-Foods did not return a request for comment on the opening date for its Sunwood Square store.
