Shops taking Liberty
The selection of furniture has diminished during the past year, but if you’re into foosball or fishing, the shopping at Liberty Crossing is about to improve.
SML Entertainment has laid claim to a big chunk of the retail space in Red Deer County that was occupied by The Bedroom Shoppe and The Living Room before those related stores closed their shared premises last June.
Meanwhile, Wolverine Guns and Tackle is preparing to open further west in a bay in the same building, setting up shop in a portion of the former Kitchen & Patio, which closed last July.
SML Entertainment is part of a five-store, Calgary-based chain.
The privately owned business carries a wide range of recreation equipment, including pool tables, arcade games, shuffleboards, poker and other gaming tables, bar furniture and home theatre seating.
It’s operated a retail outlet in Gasoline Alley since October 2004. But its new premises, consisting of 7,300 square feet, will give it nearly triple the space of its existing store, said SML Entertainment area supervisor Don Cromwell.
That will allow the local store to expand its range of products, including selling and servicing hot tubs.
“We’ve been handling those out of our Calgary operation for the past two years,” said Cromwell. “The big holdup in getting them into Red Deer has just been the space and finding a location that’s going to work for us.”
Cromwell said he liked the Gasoline Alley location and wanted to stay in the area. He hopes to complete the move by May.
“The sooner I can get in there, the better.”
Wolverine Guns and Tackle, which will carry hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is already stocking its store. Those premises consist of about 10,000 square feet.
Additional details about Wolverine Guns and Tackle, including its timelines for opening, could not be obtained. But owner Brian Rendell previously operated a sporting goods shop under the same name in Yellowknife.
Doug Grinde, a sales associate with the building’s leasing agent, Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd, said just under 6,000 square feet of the former The Bedroom Shoppe and The Living Room space remains.
A further 9,200 square feet of the former Kitchen & Patio is also still available.
“We have interest in the remaining two pockets, but no deal is completed just yet.”
The entire building measures 55,000 square feet, with Ashley Furniture HomeStore continuing to operate in a bay on the east end.
Barclay is also leasing a nearby 9,400-square-foot building that’s never been occupied. A conditional deal for that space has been signed, said Grinde.
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
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