Mundare Bottle Depot Demolished

Mundare Bottle Depot Demolished

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

One of the oldest businesses in town was demolished this past week.

The move came amid structural and safety issues as the storefront recently caved in. Sukhwinder Kalher explained that his son Gurjot had purchased the property last spring and was operating the bottle depot up until recently. “It is an old building. Because of structural issues, it was not safe.”

Andrew area contractor Brandt Koroluk of K. Demolition was hired to complete the demolition that began on July 15. Koroluk said the building dates back to 1912, with an addition put on in 1937. It was a former hardware store. Dynamite was one of the items sold in that business and was used by the early settlers to blast rocks to clear the land.

Koroluk recalls going into the hardware store when he was younger. He said the demolition was tricky given the fragile state and close proximity to a neighbouring business on main street. “One wrong move and it could have flopped on the new building.” Fortunately, the neighbouring business was not negatively affected during demolition.

It was also fortunate his son had purchased another lot last year for $1 from the Town of Mundare. They are in the early stages of construction on their new property. Kalher said the plan is to build a new bottle depot. It will be between 1,700 and 1,800 square feet and include a lunchroom. The facility will be built by Kowal Construction, and he expects to open this November.