LITTLE CURRENT—The enterprising and always helpful Rodney Deforge, of Barney’s Bargain Barn fame, is set to launch a new business in Little Current on February 1: Barney’s Bargain Barn Home Store. Mr. Deforge is leasing (with an eye to purchasing) the former Turner’s Home Store and apartments and adjacent warehouse (at the location of the former Little Current Sales Barn), which will become the distribution centre for Homeland Missions’ food banks work. The buildings are located at the east end of Vankoughnet Street close to the old Co-Op cattle sales arena.
“We have a transport load arriving every day,” Mr. Deforge said as one transport unloaded and another waited to pull in to the warehouse. “This is the distribution point.”
Mr. Deforge noted that there will soon be an area within the warehouse that will be cordoned off and open to local food banks to take what they need. The warehouse will also house the office space for Homeland Missions, Barney’s Bargain Barn and Cornerstone Christian Assembly, with full-time staff to be hired to operate the three operations. In total, Mr. Deforge hopes to have a staff of 10 working between the warehouse and the Home Store.
Barney’s Bargain Barn will still be operated in Manitowaning and continue to offer the same items with a focus on food (and a garden centre coming soon). The Little Current store will offer very little in the way of food, pointing to Little Current’s two grocery stores, but will have a focus on fishing, hunting, camping and household goods such as pots and pans, small appliances, dishes, bedding and more. Mr. Deforge noted Wal-Mart, Amazon and Sears as his main suppliers with a price range for everyone.
Unlike Manitowaning, the Little Current store will not serve hot food, as Mr. Deforge wants to encourage his patrons to eat locally.
Back at the warehouse, Mr. Deforge explained that Homeland Missions will oversee the shipping of the food they receive on a daily basis to food banks across Northern Ontario and even the province as a whole. “I’ve got too much food for the North alone,” he said.
“It’s not a food bank itself, but a place where food banks can come,” Mr. Deforge explained. The warehouse will not be open to the public.
Before Monday, Homeland Missions was using a series of transport trailers and sea bins—not ideal, he noted.
Barney’s Bargain Barn Home Store will be located in the former Turner’s Home Store and will be open Fridays and Saturdays with extended hours to come in the summer months.
“We are hiring and looking for high school students for cashiers and to do carry outs,” Mr. Deforge said, encouraging students to drop him a resume or contact him on the Barney’s Bargain Barn Facebook page.
The Home Store is anticipated to be open on February 1 (see advertising in this newspaper for details) with an entire transport truck full of chocolate for Valentine’s Day to be an offer at both locations. There will be gift sets too.
Mr. Deforge reminded this newspaper that the proceeds from Barney’s Bargain Barn support charities, schools and children’s programming.
