The Brick breaks ground at new location

Swift Current's business base received another boost this past week when the official sod turning ceremony was held to welcome The Brick.

"It's a great feeling for the city. It's awesome for the City of Swift Current to have an opportunity like this. It's another option for the residents of Southwest Saskatchewan, another option for them to shop locally and keep our dollars locally here in Swift Current," said Deputy Mayor Tim Bugera.

Mike Kesslar, Store Manager for the Brick in Swift Current, is excited about the opportunity to build in the city.

"It's a terrific opportunity for the city of Swift Current and it's another thing to keep people in the city to shop, it's great for the economy and I'm very, very excited to be here."

"I was born in Swift Current. I finished my schooling in Swift Current, but than jobs took me to Alberta, but I have always wanted to come back and now is the perfect opportunity to do that."

Kesslar added there are a series of reasons for picking up and leaving Alberta for Saskatchewan.

"Saskatchewan has a great economy now and I have always wanted to come back here after being born and raised here, and now with the economy doing good, my opportunity to do this, I couldn't ask for a better place to come too."

The Brick is a very well known company and Kesslar says it's going to offer not only the residents of Swift Current opportunities but also all of Southwest Saskatchewan. The Brick was founded as The Brick Warehouse LP in Edmonton, with their first warehouse opening in 1971.

"The Brick is Canada's largest retailer of furnishings, appliances and electronics. We are going to have a 20,000 square foot show room of Canada's best brands in sofas and mattresses, big screen TV's, some beautiful appliances. It's going to be awesome. A terrific display that people are going to be proud to shop in and want to shop in."

Residents of Swift Current can expect a rather quick build for The Brick, with the store opening relatively quickly.

"We are hoping right now with Mr. Bridal's help the construction crew is going to be up and running for an opening in the early spring of next year," said Kesslar.

Over the past 35 years, the Brick has expanded across Canada and now operates 194 retail stores (including 20 franchise locations) in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon Territory. In addition, the Brick operates distribution centers in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal.