AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 6, 2026
Sunterra Market to Exit Britannia Plaza After 30 Years
Sunterra Market will close its doors at Britannia Plaza in Calgary on November 9, after a court decision allowed the landlord to evict the Alberta-based grocer. This brings to an end Sunterra's 30-year presence at the location, which first opened in 1996.
Court Ruling Upholds Lease Expiration
According to court documents, a judge ruled in favor of the landlord, rejecting Sunterra’s argument that it had a verbal agreement allowing the company to stay beyond the original lease term. Sunterra had claimed that executive Arthur Price reached a verbal agreement with the previous landlord to continue the lease on a month-to-month basis while the company's court-supervised sales process was underway. However, Justice Michael J. Lema found that Sunterra did not provide evidence of this extension or of follow-up after being notified by the former landlord in September that the lease would expire at the end of October.
Property Ownership Changes and Future Plans
Sunterra cited changes in property ownership and tenancy arrangements as the reason for the store closure. The building's new owner, Certus Developments, has stated that the lease ended naturally and that this presents an opportunity to renovate and refresh the building. Certus Developments plans to bring in a new grocery tenant, scheduled to open in summer 2027, with the goal of positively impacting the community.
Ongoing Court-Supervised Sale Process
Sunterra and several of its affiliates are currently undergoing a court-supervised sales and investment process, following a previous judicial finding that the company engaged in cheque kiting and was liable to Compeer Financial for $35 million. The Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings give Sunterra additional time to restructure while being shielded from creditors, and these proceedings have been extended until January 29, 2027. According to Sunterra Market president Chris Alladin, the sale process is still under review and not finalized.
Impact on Sunterra and the Community
Sunterra Market president Chris Alladin expressed regret at closing the Britannia Plaza market, citing its importance to both Sunterra's history and the community over the past three decades. Alladin highlighted gratitude for customer loyalty and emphasized that Sunterra remains committed to serving Albertans through its other markets, online grocery services, and catering operations in Calgary and Edmonton.
Other Recent Sunterra Closures
The closure of the Britannia Plaza store marks the third Sunterra Market closure this year, following previous shutdowns in Edmonton and Red Deer. Sunterra, which was founded by the Price family in 1970, continues to operate meat processing facilities and grocery stores in Alberta as it navigates restructuring and the sale process.
Source: cbc.ca.
