Solomon’s on the move

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This article was published 02/07/2015 (3219 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The former Extra Foods location in downtown will become home to a different business come this fall, but it won’t be a new grocery store which has often been touted since Extra Foods closed its doors in Feb. 2013.

After 30 years in business-25 years at its current location alone-Solomon’s Furniture is making a big move.

“I’m going to miss this place,” says Solomon Budala.

But the time has come for a change.

“We’re thankful to God for providing,” Budala says of their new location.

Faith was part of what brought Budala to Steinbach in the early-1970s as an exchange. He attended Steinbach Bible College, where he met his wife Joanna. Together the couple had three children.

Steinbach was becoming home. First Budala scored a job at Penn-Lite, across the street from where Solomon’s Furniture sits today but soon got into the furniture sales business with a stake in Steinbach Furniture and later Solomon’s Furniture.

Over the years the business has expanded to acquire much of the nearby properties.

Budala says that he was interested in acquiring a newer building and the 18-year-old Extra Foods building fit the bill. He says he’s happy to be remaining in downtown Steinbach where business all began for him.

“I’m a staunch downtown person,” he said.

The face of downtown has changed during his time in business but Budala points to examples like Shoppers Drug Mart and the new Steinbach Credit Union building as reasons why the downtown is still the place to be.

“I’m a downtown person because this is where I started,” he says. “People supported me here.”

Acquiring the vacant property was a slow process. Budala says the talks extended over two years before a deal was finally signed.

“Because of it being a big corporation, it took a long time,” he says.

There was one key requirement for Loblaws in agreeing to the sale. There can be no grocery store on the property until July 1, 2055.

As far as Budala can tell, there seemed to be little interest on the part of Loblaws to open another grocery store at that same site, as some speculated they might.

Budala is pleased that son, Mark, has taken a interest in taking over the business. His son and manager Jason Stubbington, who has been with the business for 16 years, are expected to run the business after its move into its new location.

Renovations are expected to begin soon with plans to open its new doors in fall.

What becomes of the mass of property that Budala has already accumulated remains to be seen.

At one point, he says they entertained plans of building a completely new building, which could house the furniture store on the main floor and include condos above. In the end, building new wasn’t the best option to be considered.

So, Budala is ready to strike another deal for his current location. He acknowledges there’s been interest about different types of commercial possibilities but said it wasn’t for him to speculate on future plans for his current business home.

“That’s out of my hands,” he says.

He looks forward to seeing the support for the business at their new location and will treasure the memories made at their old building.

“This is the best community for me,” he says. “Forever from my heart I say thanks.”

Budala said he has also purchased the adjacent Shoppers Plaza and hopes to attract a few more tenants to the units to the small strip mall.

Mayor maintains hope for downtown grocery

Steinbach mayor Chris Goertzen said it is always encouraging to see someone grow and expand their business.

The mayor had mused in the past the former Extra Foods site might one day be reborn as a Loblaws No Frills grocery store.

While wishing the existing downtown furniture business well, Goertzen said he still hopes that a grocery store is part of the downtown’s future.

“A full service grocery store is still something that is needed,” Goertzen said.

Goertzen said he has heard from more than one group interested in attracting a large grocery store downtown again.

“There’s been more than one (group) considering that possibility.” the mayor shared.

“I think it will be a great opportunity.”