Neechi Foods

Neechi staff, (from left) Trina Monias, Russ Rothney and Louise Champagne are excited by expansion. (BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

A North End institution is branching out from its long-time home in hopes of creating a destination location that can provide healthier food options to many of its patrons.

Neechi Foods Co-op has finalized plans to expand from 325 Dufferin Avenue to 865 Main Street to be the anchor tenant in a retail, restaurant and food complex to be known as Neechi Commons. The project, which is scheduled to encompass a minimum of 25,000 square feet when it's completed, will break ground in the next three weeks, according to Russ Rothney, treasurer at Neechi.

"We haven't been able to keep up with the demand for our in-store food preparation, like bannock and bannock pizza. The ovens are going all the time and it's crowded cooking there. We have more and more catering business and we're looking to expand into the wholesaling area as well. We can't do all that in the old space," Rothney said.

The move by Neechi fills a long-time need on North Main, which has been largely abandoned by grocery stores over the past two decades.

"We're hoping this will be a major shot at turning North Main into a retail destination, not just for the neighbourhood but for commuter traffic as well," Rothney said.

Neechi Commons is being funded in part by both the federal and Manitoba governments, which have each contributed $1.3 million. In total, it will cost between $4 million and $6 million to build. Other financial support is being provided by the Assiniboine Credit Union and the Jubilee Fund.

Rothney said the high-visibility space will enable Neechi to maintain a better inventory of healthy and high-nutritional foods, which isn't possible currently because most of its customer traffic is sporadic and comes in shortly after welfare cheques arrive in the mail.

He said the complex will include a full-range grocery store as well as aboriginal specialty foods, including wild rice, wild blueberries and fish, and aboriginal crafts, books and music. There will also be an emphasis on regionally-grown fruits and vegetables.

Rothney said it will take between two and three years to develop the entire site but it's hoped the new Neechi location will cut the ribbon in February.

He said Neechi is considering converting its current location into a food prep site for the new one, It also plans to maintain a small deli and convenience store on Dufferin to accommodate seniors in the area.

Rothney said Neechi's staff are "fed up" with the negative social conditions and problems in the area and are excited to spearhead an initiative that will provide much-needed employment to aboriginal people.

Neechi's expansion will bring another food store to Main Street