LIMERICK - What do you do if you’re a small town in Saskatchewan and your only grocery store is about to close its doors forever?
Apparently, the answer to that question depends on who you are, and the name of your town.
The end of last year, 2021, looked pretty bleak for the town of Limerick, Sask. Their only grocery store, Lucky Dollar Foods, was about to close its doors after decades of dedicated and exemplary service. Dave Skarban, its owner, was about to retire, and there appeared to be not a buyer in sight. That’s when local “movers-and-shakers” B.J. Oncescu and Ron Smith stepped in to find a solution to that not-so-tiny problem. The rest, they say, is history.
A small group of individuals quickly formed an investment committee, donations were solicited, and the search was on to find a new store owner.
Enter, one energetic young lady from Assiniboia who had just completed a comprehensive one-year cooking course at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Moose Jaw. She was looking for a new start, and something productive to do with the rest of her life. She was just 25 years of age, but looking to put down roots. The young lady’s name was Savanna Feicht — daughter of electrician Jodi Feicht and his wife Karen, from Assiniboia.
Savanna Feicht wasted little time and effort in setting out to pursue her lifelong dreams. She promptly bought a house in Limerick and, with the help of the Limerick investment group mentioned above, took out a loan and purchased Lucky Dollar Foods from Skarban. Feicht officially took possession of the store on April 1 of this year, re-naming it Limerick Prairie Grocery. She had been working closely with the former owner since October of 2021, getting to know the business and its many customers.
“I love life here in Limerick,” says Feicht. “The past six months have been absolutely incredible!” Renovations are presently underway, and more are planned for the future. Incorporating Saskatchewan-made products into the store’s new inventory of stock is a big part of Feicht’s dream: “Supporting other businesses and locally made products is very important to me — especially today with the way things are going in the world,” said Feicht.
“I need to thank the local investment committee for all they’ve done in helping me buy this store, plus many thanks also to the local contractors who have stepped up to the plate to lend a helping hand. This town is amazing! Everyone has been so helpful.”
Store hours for Limerick Prairie Grocery remain mostly the same: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, but 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
