BOWDEN — Reddi Mart, a Bowden gas station, convenience and grocery store closing Jan. 31, is going to receive recognition from the Town of Bowden for all its owners have done for local residents, according to the town's mayor.
Former Reddi Mart owners Larry and Shirley Adams owned and operated the business for decades. Current owner/operator Patty Houchin has owned and operated it since 2021.
“We're going to give them a little recognition, because they've gone above and beyond,” mayor Robb Stuart told the Albertan, noting for one thing, the business provided employment for students over the years.
“Both of them came when we had fire emergencies. They'd come and get us gas at 2 in the morning for the fire trucks and all kinds of things,” he said.
“We had to get them to come in at 2 or 3 in the morning to get hot chocolate and stuff over to our evacuation centre for people that were stranded in a snowstorm.
“So we're going to give them a recognition, a plaque of recognition for their contribution to the community over the years.”
Stuart said those plaques will probably be presented early in February.
“The plaques are ordered,” he said. "But who knows with deliveries anymore, right?”
Stuart sympathizes with those who will be affected by the loss of the Bowden Reddi Mart at the end of the month.
Reddi Mart owner/operator Patty Houchin confirmed the closure of the store located downtown, saying the property owner, Parkland Corporation, will not renew the lease, which expires at the end of April, and she’s tired of fighting the company on the matter.
“It's going to be a big blow,” Stuart said during an interview with the Albertan.
“They've been so supportive, the owners that had been there for 30 or 40 years, and the lady that's running it now.
“They've just been phenomenal, going above and beyond to help us in times, like when the fire department at midnight needed gas or something like that.
“And it's going to hit a lot of the locals pretty hard too, because, you know, if you need bread or milk or something, you (could) just walk over there or something.”
Stuart said over the years, town council has taken “a lot of heat” for not being able to lure a grocery store to town.
“We tried to proactively get people to come, but unless they can make a profit, they're not going to do that.
“Like it's a business, and they're not going to come to Bowden and either rent a place or buy a store or build one, unless they can get enough to show a profit,” he said.
Stuart said part of the trouble to attract a grocery store to Bowden is the fact that many residents tend to work out of town.
“They buy their groceries on their way home or on the weekend, and they come home and they spend the night, and the kids probably go to school here and stuff like that, but that's about it,” he said.
“(We’re) what you call a bedroom community, really,” he said.
