The Bearspaw band of the Stoney Nakoda Nation in nearby Morley celebrated their grand opening of their premier Nation franchise, a Subway restaurant, March 18.
The Bearspaw band of the Stoney Nakoda Nation in nearby Morley celebrated their grand opening of their premier Nation franchise, a Subway restaurant, March 18.
“We're building commercial businesses in stages, ” said Darcy Dickson of the Bearspaw band, adding that the Subway and adjacent Bearspaw Gas Bar now employs some 28 Nation members - from all three respective bands (Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley).
Subway manager, Colin Twoyoungmen said he is excited about the opportunity; he was sent to Connecticut by the Bearspaw band for a two-week period of franchise training.
Dickson and Bearspaw CEO Rob Shotclose said that the band is also currently working on opening a Bearspaw travel centre, to be located on the Stoney-Nakoda Resort and Casino lands.
The vision is to open a service station (fuel, diesel, services for tourists and truck drivers) at the location along Hwy 1 and Hwy 40.
The Subway franchise is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.
Bearspaw administration first began looking into a restaurant franchise in April 2012, with the gas bar opening in December 2013 and the adjacent car wash following.
Shotclose said the band wanted to ensure operations were running smoothly at this initiative before moving forward with the Subway venture.
The band will also be looking at possibly opening another commercial enterprise on the land between the gas bar complex and the Bearspaw Youth Centre.
