VISIT A REFRESHING PATCH
First liquor store on urban reserve showcases Indigenous products
New businesses and non-profit organizations regularly open and move in Saskatoon. Today, the Starphoenix talks to Jason Allen and Cam Werezak, part of the team that operates The Patch Wine & Spirits, which opened in December south of Saskatoon in the Grasswood area. The Patch, owned by the English River First Nation, is the first liquor store on an urban reserve in Saskatchewan. The store showcases many wines and spirits from Indigenous-owned companies across Western Canada.
Q Why put a liquor store on an urban reserve south of Saskatoon?
Jason Allen: It was something that I had wanted probably for the last four to five years. We can provide opportunities for Indigenous people to purchase products at a more fair price. Status individuals get rebate savings based on showing their treaty card and purchasing the product on reserve land. And for any customers, if you're passing by or going to the lake, now you've got a place where you can grab a cold case of beer (or other products) on the way out.
There are a lot of acreages south of the city and that was part of the reason we did it. If you look at those acreages, the closest liquor store they could get to would be the Sobeys on Clarence in the south. Our store is on your way, on the highway, going to the lake. You don't have to drive into the city. We'll get a lot of traffic from Rider games, people going to the lake on the weekends. We're right here. It's convenient.
Q What sets The Patch Wine & Spirits apart from your competition?
JA We're local. That's the one key that I would try to make a point of. The money generated from this company stays within the (English River First Nation) community and hence stays in the province. It's not like a Sobeys, which is national, and they take the money out of this province and ship it to their headquarters.
Q Could you tell us about your Proudly Indigenous section?
JA Our Proudly Indigenous section showcases some of the Indigenous companies that provide wine and spirits and various products in the liquor industry. Many of our partners are world-renowned. They go into wine contests and they have actually generated awards for their product. We've also brought in some local companies with Aboriginal or Indigenous connections.
Cam Werezak Here are companies that are currently featured in the Proudly Indigenous section of our store:
Indigenous World Winery, Kelowna, B.C. (Selections include: Merlot and Hee-heetel-kin); Nk'mip Cellars, Osoyoos, B.C. (Chardonnay, Meritage, Merlot, Syrah, Talon); The Parenteau Brothers, Clavet, SK (Chocolate Cherry, Meadworks Dry, Meadworks Semi-sweet); Lucky Bastard, Saskatoon (Vodka, Dill Pickle Vodka, Vanilla Espresso Vodka.)
Q Which Saskatchewan-made products do you feature?
CW Based on customer demand and requests, we're adding to our local products as demand increases. Our current selection includes: Lucky Bastard, Saskatoon; Sperling Distillery, Regina (Vodka); Radouga Distilleries, Blaine Lake (Vodka, Apple Pie Liqueur, Blueberry Liqueur); Last Mountain Distillery, Lumsden (Various products); Whitetail Distillery, Grasswood, SK (Vodka).
We're also offering selections from local breweries: Great Western Brewing Company, Saskatoon; Churchill Brewing Company, Saskatoon; Nine Mile Legacy Brewing, Saskatoon; Minhas Brewery, Regina and Saskatoon; District Brewing Company, Regina; Rebellion Brewing Company, Regina; Black Bridge Brewery, Swift Current; and Nokomis Craft Ales, Nokomis.
JA We're gradually increasing our different skews of products in the store. If you're looking for something that we don't carry, we can place an order and try to bring it in . ... We're catering to the customer.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Have you recently started or moved a new business or non-profit organization in Saskatoon? We want to hear your story. Please email citydesk@ thestarphoenix.com.