Independent Winnipeg grocery store Dakota Family Foods closes after 20 years [Video]

After two decades in business, a beloved independent grocery store in Winnipeg’s Southeast is shutting its doors for good.

Last month, Dakota Family Foods owner Scott Clement announced the store’s closure, a decision that wasn’t made lightly.

At the time, he said it came down to a combination of factors: a lease renewal, struggles with retail theft, and a challenging business environment.

“A lot of (customers) obviously do not want us to close the store,” Clement told CTV News in an interview Sunday. “They’re very thankful for the years that we’ve been here,” adding that people have offered to start fundraisers to keep the store running.

Aug. 11 marked the store’s unofficial last day – but Clement said he plans to keep it open Monday and Tuesday to clear out whatever’s left, at a 30 per cent discount rate.

“Customers have been coming in, actually helping us really clear our …