Battery depot reopens after fire in new location, with new name
After a fire caused extensive damage to Regina Battery Depot late last year, the business has officially reopened in a new location with a new name.
“I think colloquially we've always just called it the battery depot, so being a part of the CAA Saskatchewan family, (the) decision was made to just rename it CAA Battery Depot,” Christine Niemczyk, director of corporate communications and public relations for CAA Saskatchewan said Tuesday.
Niemczyk said the new location, located in a strip mall at 200 Albert
St., is a “really good fit” for CAA Saskatchewan.
“We have three CAA stores in Regina, and this location of CAA Battery Depot is right adjacent to the CAA North Albert store, so for us it's really one-stop shopping.”
After receiving many calls and inquiries from customers and CAA members regarding the reopening of the battery depot, Niemczyk said they had a well-attended grand opening on Monday.
“So many people were happy to know that we were back in business and visited,” she said.
Due to space limitations, the new 2,000-square-foot site doesn't offer vehicle repairs, and instead focuses on the retail side of batteries.
In December, president and CEO of CAA Saskatchewan, Fred Titanich, said some of Regina Battery Depot's 13 staff members would operate the new store or transfer to other CAA locations. Others took an early retirement or were laid off, he noted.
The fire was reported at around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2023. Investigators determined the fire was deliberately set to the north side of the building. The remainder of the building received water and smoke damage, and had to be demolished to ensure safety at the site. No one
was in the building at the time of the fire.
“We do know that it was vandalism and we're leaving that case with the Regina Fire Department” and Regina police, Niemczyk said.
“At this point we're just glad that we've reopened, we welcome back customers and our CAA members and we're glad to be back in business.”