A deal that was months in the making will have the Slocan Valley Co-op excited to announce we will become the new owners of a community landmark, The Dam Restaurant & Bar.

This latest investment begins a new chapter for the Co-op after previously announcing intentions to seek solid opportunities for diversification. Located in the heart of the Co-op’s trading area, The Dam Restaurant & Bar is ideally situated in South Slocan with a fantastic reputation in the community for providing an excellent guest experience, making it perfectly aligned to the Co-op’s values.

Co-operatives throughout Western Canada have been focusing on new opportunities beyond the conventional retail commodities we’re used to seeing with gas bars, convenience stores, cardlocks, food stores, etc. A relatively new department at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has been providing services to assist Co-op’s in evaluating business viability and feasibility. Substantial effort from Management was put in, supported by the Business Development Specialists at FCL to conclude The Dam represented a solid investment for the Co-op’s member-owners.

“Setting aside the numbers, a family restaurant like The Dam perfectly aligns with the Co-op and how our team members help our guests feel welcome,” says General Manager, Chris Sapriken. “We felt The Dam was a perfect way to blend our Co-operative values with their team’s commitment to great service and desire to help people just have a good time.” The current team at The Dam have all been provided offers of employment to join the Co-op, which includes eligibility to its excellent benefits package.

There are a number of plans in the works to investigate possible synergies to enhance products and services between The Dam and the Co-op’s network of convenience stores. For now, the focus will be on integrating the team with the Co-op, and taking the time to learn about each other.

When it comes to the question if members will be able to use their member number at The Dam for patronage, there is currently no ability to track purchases, so currently this will not be possible. If we change our POS system in the future, this may be a possibility. Another idea in the works is the possibility of a member’s dining discount. There will be news on this and many other related items in the coming months.

The Co-op team is excited for when they will be taking possession of The Dam, starting February 1st, 2024.

For any questions please email mail@slocanvalley.crs.