The Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers building, built in 1945, doesn’t owe much to its tenants.
The wool growers have occupied their current Lethbridge location since 1950, when wool was delivered in one-ton trucks and railcars and left the same way.
The city grew up around the building on First Avenue South, making modern access by semi-trailer difficult, and the rail siding is long gone. Now, the co-op has plans for a new building in the business park south of the city with easy access and more space.
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“We’re pretty excited about it,” branch manager Brian Shaw said about the 14,000 sq. foot building soon to be under construction.
The 1.3 acre site will allow more room for parking, warehouse, retail and office space.
Shaw said he will miss the 10,000 sq. foot building in some ways. It tended to elicit reminiscences from visitors who now deliver wool to the same place their grandfathers did.
“We’re not going to hear those stories,” said Shaw.
On the other hand, neither he nor his aging knees will miss the stairs. The new building will be on one level with easier access for customers and more display space for retailers who provide products vital to sheep and wool production.
“People will be able to see stuff better. It’s just going to make it safer and a better experience,” said Shaw. “We will have considerably more room for our wool and for more bagged feed and some other things.”
The current building has been sold and will likely be renovated.
The new building, to be developed by Southwest Design and Construction of Lethbridge, is set to be ready by Christmas.
