There’s a lot of activity this week at McMunn and Yates Building Supplies in Steinbach.

After 11 months since fire tore through the store, the last of the burned structure is finally being demolished.

Store Manager Corwin Penner says it’s almost surreal, watching the big orange tarps go down and the old structure get cleaned up.

“You go through a period of time where you think it’s never going to happen, and then it finally does...it’s really, really nice to see,” he explains. “We know there’s going to be progress and a new store coming. So, this is the beginning of that.”

Penner tips his hat to the team at McMunn and Yates, saying his employees have shown resilience, strength and loyalty. And that’s something he really appreciates and admires.

There have been many changes for Penner and his crew to adapt to; from working out of a construction trailer to moving around and getting a temporary storefront ready for customers to access.

Through all of this, Penner notes his staff team has mostly stayed intact. They could have left for employment with less chaos, but he says most of the team chose to stay and help move to the next phase.


Penner says focusing on the future is what helps everyone get through each challenge; knowing that the old will be replaced with something bigger and brighter.

The new storefront will be ready for customers in spring. Penner says May is the projected month for opening the new building.

Kindness and concern have also come from the community. Penner says people have shown their support in various ways, from buying coffee to visiting the temporary retail space, and offering words of encouragement. Staff have fielded many phone calls from customers enquiring if the store is still open.

With a new temporary retail space, Penner's team was able to set up a new entrance. He hopes the big red square will make it easier for everyone to find the right doors to enter the store.

Watching the demolition crew take down the old structure one piece at a time, Penner says, “it’s been a long time coming to see this, and I’m glad it’s finally happening.”