C2

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

The Lonsdale Drive Co-op Express store is closed and won't be reopening as a Co-op, Co-op Atlantic has confirmed.

The manager of the popular store and gas bar, formerly known as John Boy's, couldn't be reached, but Romeo Cormier of Co-op's public affairs department confirmed yesterday the relationship between the store owner and the co-operative has been severed.

"The singular reason is the co-op management's inability to negotiate a new agreement with the building's owner," Cormier said.

The owner wanted concessions that Co-op Atlantic could not agree to, Cormier said, as it would have no longer been financially viable from Co-op Atlantic's perspective to keep the relationship going.

"It was agreed that we would disagree."

Co-op shoppers can still avail themselves of the full-service Co-op grocery store and gas bar on Mapleton Road, which is less than three kilometres to the east, but the closure has dismayed the store's many customers who appreciated being able to pick up the Express's limited number of grocery items right in their own neighbourhood.

Cormier said Co-op could forge a new relationship with one of the other corner stores nearby.

"I would imagine so," he said, "but it would take some time. But we could seek other retail space."