KAMSACK — Before the end of March, a second grocery store will be open at Kamsack.
Potts Family Grocery and More is to open at 527 Third Avenue South (main street), which is the building that was previously occupied by Gateway Enterprises.
This will be a family-operated business, Kayleb Potts recently said, explaining that he, his mother Samantha Potts, sister Dazie Potts and his wife Shayla Potts will be most active in the grocery, but will be supported by another sister Ivy Potts, and by his father Lloyd Potts.
Although this will mark the first time Samantha and Kayleb will have owned a business, Samantha, who is originally from Alberta, has spent many years working in grocery stores, both as an employee and as a manager, both in Alberta and Saskatchewan. After coming to Kamsack in 2013, she had been employed at the former Prairie Family Centre grocery in Kamsack.
The family is leasing the 2,900-square-foot building from Tyson Beyko, who had it renovated. The bulk of the building is the store space with an office and a bathroom in the rear. A loading dock is located at the side.
Much of the store’s interior contents were acquired from Prairie Family Centre, including the shelving, poly boards and coolers.
Kayleb is pleased that the Saskatchewan Indigenous Enterprise Foundation is supporting their venture.
Established in 1986, SIEF provides commercial and agricultural lending for First Nation individuals and communities wanting to start a business, acquire a business or expand an existing business in Saskatchewan, says its webpage.
“We have established a relationship with Sobeys,” Kayleb said, explaining that many of their products will be acquired from Sobeys, including groceries carrying the chain’s signature brand “Compliments.”
The grocery store will be a complete grocery in that all one needs to feed a family will be carried by Potts’ Family Grocery, including groceries, fresh produce, dairy products and packaged meats.
“Because of a smaller overhead, we will be able to provide items at better prices than one currently finds at the Co-op store,” he said.
A “convenience store” area, featuring such items as soda pop, potato chips and snacks, will greet customers at the front, while at the back, plans are to stock “trending clothes” from various providers and will include sweaters and graphic shirts.
“My aunt, Jacqueline Buffalo, who lives in Alberta and is a TikTok entrepreneur with her own line of makeup and clothing called Sacred Beauty, will be supplying items for sale,” he said.
“We are stocking items that I know as a shopper what people like,” Samantha said. “We want products that will go off the shelves.
“We want good products and good sales,” she said, adding that she is open to suggestions as to what people want the store to stock.
The store, with a floor plan that has been designed after years of experience, will carry household products, pet supplies and laundry soap and will have a nice hygiene section, she said, adding that products being carried will be based on quality and a good price.
Products are being placed conveniently in the store, she said. Certain items, including milk and bread, rather than being stocked at the rear, forcing customers to walk through the building to find, will be clearly available at the front for convenient shopping.
Kayleb explained that plans are to eventually establish a coffee nook at the front that will carry such items as subs and hot dogs that could make use of a microwave oven.
“We’re here to make the store fly,” Samantha said. “We want to offer decent prices that compare with a box store in Yorkton.
“We plan to have in-store sales, probably weekly,” she said, adding that the business will have increased visibility through its Facebook page.
The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, and those hours may be extended in the summer.
Possibly, a grand opening event will be held later in the spring, the owners agreed.
