{"id":822644,"date":"2025-01-28T10:13:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T16:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/westgate-books-continues-under-new-ownership-in-familiar-saskatoon-location\/"},"modified":"2025-01-28T10:13:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T16:13:01","slug":"westgate-books-continues-under-new-ownership-in-familiar-saskatoon-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/westgate-books-continues-under-new-ownership-in-familiar-saskatoon-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Westgate Books continues under new ownership in familiar Saskatoon location"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"eff6dccb-e614-4639-ad3f-1c5ceb2f4eb2\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>&#8220;The location is still the same,\u00a0the name is the same,\u00a0and people are just happy\u00a0about that\u00a0and that it&#8217;s going to keep going for a while.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Jan 07, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Jan 07, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>6 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=0d5kVewtcbeTN0uxz04TiQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=rZXw7pEZ8KI2DUHd1l2-gQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=DpetOdToIL4in88zXTMcyQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=uzLnx0FTOB8a-F-n3XA37Q 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=d2iV5TmKAa0DapyjQKfcrg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=VB_jezqNa90qY1vbLdOlNw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=gHbhf5LAp4djRjnHpiDt1A, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=DAzQU58ALSuYGQmgocM9hQ 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=ZtMVTwO5KF4oPSX22MPTMg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=R1zeKGxg5nNNQ5k_Mn9-xw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Westgate Books\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=0G5cwZ3mayT3VSu3e9bvHA\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=0G5cwZ3mayT3VSu3e9bvHA,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1219-nfnp-westgate-books-5.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=NkHfemOKsWB-7XZPyZQJJw 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Luke Syrnick and a partner took over Westgate Books in May, becoming the fourth owners of the Saskatoon used book store since it first opened in 1972. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.<\/span> <span>Photo by Michelle Berg<\/span> \/<span>Saskatoon StarPhoenix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Businesses and non-profit organizations regularly open and move in Saskatoon. Today the StarPhoenix talks to Luke Syrnick and his business partner, who purchased Westgate Books to keep it open after the previous owner retired.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Westgate Books has a long history in Saskatoon, stretching back to when it first opened in a different location in 1972.<\/p>\n<p>The bookstore has had four groups of owners, including Luke and his partner when they took over last May. They have been working on some new plans for the long-running bookstore, including organizing and digitizing the inventory and introducing a store cat.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Star Phoenix\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/17.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ssp-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Luke\u2019s partner has asked to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What made you decide to buy Westgate Books?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> A friend of mine heard that the previous\u00a0owner was looking to retire. We really loved Westgate.\u00a0It was our favourite bookstore\u00a0before we bought it.<\/p>\n<p>I had a bit of money for a down payment\u00a0for the business from my grandma\u00a0who passed away about a decade ago.\u00a0She was a teacher.\u00a0She loved books.\u00a0I think she\u2019d be happy\u00a0with this money going\u00a0towards this kind of thing.\u00a0It felt like, why not?<\/p>\n<p>Even when we still lived (elsewhere) and we could visit \u2026 here, we would always look forward to coming to Westgate. We always found the philosophy section was really well stocked, and the literature.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Luke Syrnick:<\/strong> I always found something here at Westgate. I would always find books I couldn\u2019t even find in Vancouver.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How important was it for you to see Westgate continue?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Luke:<\/strong> We\u00a0definitely didn\u2019t want another used bookstore to close in the city.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> I don\u2019t have the long connection with Westgate, but people come here all the time\u00a0and they\u2019ve been coming here basically the whole time it\u2019s\u00a0existed, which is over 50 years.\u00a0So people are really happy that it\u2019s continuing,\u00a0even though we\u2019ve reorganized a lot of it.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"SaskatoonStarPhoenixAfternoonHeadlines3396460305458072202395291274444800\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"SP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re kind of doing a lot of modern upgrading, and obviously we\u2019re different people. But the location is still the same, the name is the same, and people are just happy about that and that it\u2019s going to keep going for a while.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How long have you had a love of books?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> I\u2019ve always been a big reader. My mom is a big writer, not published or anything, just constantly writing. She wrote\u00a0a few plays when she was younger.\u00a0There were always books in our house.\u00a0I could always read whatever I wanted.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t remember not knowing how to read.\u00a0I\u2019ve always been a big devourer of books,\u00a0although I feel like less now that we actually own the store.\u00a0I don\u2019t have time to read.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Luke:<\/strong> I guess I grew up with books all over the house. My parents were always trying to get me to read and I would have none of it when I was a kid. I was always going to the mall and into sports. But then in my early 20s, something flipped, and I couldn\u2019t get enough of reading.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What sets Westgate Books apart from other used book stores?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Luke:<\/strong> An eclectic stock of inventory\u00a0is a part of it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> I\u2019ve worked in customer service my whole life.\u00a0We have a few employees\u00a0that are really good,\u00a0really friendly.\u00a0They know more about books than I do.\u00a0One of them has a creative writing degree;\u00a0the other one is working on hers.\u00a0So they\u2019re just really helpful people to have around.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In the new year we want to do some events,\u00a0like getting a letter writing club going.\u00a0We have a student discount now,\u00a0trying to get some new faces in the door.\u00a0We\u2019re just trying to be out there more\u00a0and really be part of the community.<\/p>\n<p>Coming from Vancouver, in Vancouver you really feel anonymous. It\u2019s so much bigger and busier. Saskatoon is so much friendlier and I see the same people all the time. So I\u2019m really diving into that. I want to be part of this thing. And I\u2019m an artist and people know me a tiny bit from that. Now they can know me because I own the bookstore too. And we hang some local art on the wall, too, that is changing all the time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What kinds of changes are you making in the store?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong>\u00a0A big one is we are working on getting\u00a0a digitized inventory of the books.\u00a0To have everything inventoried is huge.\u00a0Some of our employees only work a few hours a week and\u00a0of course don\u2019t know where everything is. We hardly do either.\u00a0It would be super easy to look up a book. We\u2019d\u00a0be able to take requests for customers.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what the previous owner was doing, but it\u2019s so\u00a0hard without the computer keeping track of things.\u00a0That\u2019s going to be a big modern upgrade that\u2019s going to make a big difference\u00a0and it\u2019s going to streamline a lot of stuff. Then we\u2019ll be able to put some rarer,\u00a0weirder books online\u00a0and sell to a bigger audience as well, which would be good.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>A lot of what we\u2019re doing too is kind of reorganizing the store a little bit. It had some interesting categories, like it was divided by gender of author a lot of the time. And that was kind of my one thing that I didn\u2019t love about the store. We\u2019ve eliminated that.<\/p>\n<p>We are just making the store tidier with a bigger emphasis on going around and organizing, because every day the books get out of order just from people looking at them. And we\u2019re playing music now. We feel like it\u2019s a little cozier.<\/p>\n<p data-async><strong>Luke:<\/strong> And it\u2019s a very comfortable store, too, just to be in and browse and spend some time in. You don\u2019t have to know what you want. You can come in and browse around. There\u2019s something for everybody. We have our LGBTQ+ books a little more prominently displayed. And we have a <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"website\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/westgatebooks.ca\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/westgatebooks.ca\/\">website<\/a> and <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Instagram.\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/westgate.books\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/westgate.books\/\">Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: How does your pricing work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> We\u2019re trying to do about half the new book price.\u00a0That\u2019s probably how the majority of the books are priced.\u00a0If they\u2019re more rare or unusual, we price them higher.\u00a0We try to be competitive with what they\u2019re selling online from\u00a0other used book stores.\u00a0Some books are priced less than half the new.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>We do get donations of books sometimes, and we appreciate those. Sometimes those will be a little more beat up than I would take in for store credit. I\u2019ll price those lower, which is kind of nice to be able to do. We try to be pretty in line with what other used book stores are doing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: You have a store cat?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> We have a store cat named Cracker.\u00a0She\u2019s about nine.\u00a0We got her from a man who lived nearby\u00a0and had to re-home her.\u00a0It\u2019s actually a nice situation.\u00a0He can still visit her all the time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What do you love most about owning Westgate Books?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Luke:<\/strong>\u00a0I love when we find\u00a0books that we haven\u2019t seen before.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Partner:<\/strong> I just like learning every day about a new author.\u00a0I learn about different books all the time.\u00a0I\u2019m happy to let authors and books\u00a0take up room in my head.\u00a0That\u2019s the best thing about working here, for sure.\u00a0I feel like I\u2019ve added 20 books to my list of books that I want to read.<\/p>\n<p><i>This interview has been edited and condensed.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><strong>Westgate Books<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-async><strong>Owners<\/strong>: Luke Syrnick and partner<br \/> <strong>Address:<\/strong>\u00a01022 Louise Avenue (Louis the 8th Mall)<br \/> <strong>Hours:<\/strong> Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 4:30 p.m.; Closed Tuesdays.<br \/> <strong>Phone:<\/strong>\u00a0306-382-5252<br \/> <strong>Email:<\/strong>\u00a0<a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='T2hrtRc9j3ykxDItjAAbdw==7f4ZuNXQazLY\/UUc1pg\/TurOeg4HZFaXgZveO9RGQcPLoE='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. 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To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>we<span class=\"apbct-blur\">**************<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>il.com<\/span><\/a><br \/> <strong>Website:<\/strong>\u00a0<a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"www.westgatebooks.ca\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/www.westgatebooks.ca\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/www.westgatebooks.ca\">www.westgatebooks.ca<\/a><br \/> <b>Check: <\/b><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Instagram\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/westgatebooks\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/westgatebooks\">Instagram<\/a><br \/> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/westgatebooks\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel2902841256034932637983385858342912\" data-aqa=\"embed-more-topic\" data-carousel-component data-carousel-icon-button data-carousel-type=\"list\">\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n<ol data-carousel-slide-list tabindex=\"0\">\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Reem Star Shawarma offers Middle Eastern and Canadian menu in Saskatoon\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/reem-star-shawarma-offers-middle-eastern-and-canadian-menu-in-saskatoon\", \"target_article_title\": \"Reem Star Shawarma offers Middle Eastern and Canadian menu in Saskatoon\", \"target_article_id\": \"03e89658-2aa6-4cf7-8361-5b4d0e0f6a11\", \"target_article_position\": \"0\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/reem-star-shawarma-offers-middle-eastern-and-canadian-menu-in-saskatoon\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cousins (from left) Mohammad Rateb Hammoudah, Mohamad Dahan and Hassan Hamodah, originally from Syria, opened Reem Star Shawarma on Broadway in August, featuring Middle Eastern food.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1123-nfnp-reem-star-shawarma-3.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=gRQ1uOt501AKYO3V56OeiQ\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1123-nfnp-reem-star-shawarma-3.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=gRQ1uOt501AKYO3V56OeiQ, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1123-nfnp-reem-star-shawarma-3.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=mpwEq9Y5J_bm-Blw0E5PiQ 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1123-nfnp-reem-star-shawarma-3.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=kchEnlZfc8xY03MDBSPuyA 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Reem Star Shawarma offers Middle Eastern and Canadian menu in Saskatoon<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"REDARX provides fortress against growing cyber attacks\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/redarx-provides-fortress-against-growing-cyber-attacks\", \"target_article_title\": \"REDARX provides fortress against growing cyber attacks\", \"target_article_position\": \"1\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/redarx-provides-fortress-against-growing-cyber-attacks\">\n<p><span>REDARX provides fortress against growing cyber attacks<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Fiori-Studio and SVE Jewels offers professional flower and jewelry selections\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/fiori-studio-and-sve-jewels-offers-professional-flower-and-jewelry-selections\", \"target_article_title\": \"Fiori-Studio and SVE Jewels offers professional flower and jewelry selections\", \"target_article_id\": \"de075271-6693-4c08-8c58-b071e430aebb\", \"target_article_position\": \"2\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/fiori-studio-and-sve-jewels-offers-professional-flower-and-jewelry-selections\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Svetlana Leonchuk moved Fiori-Studio, a flower shop, and SVE Jewels, specializing in hypoallergenic jewelry, to Broadway Avenue in May.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1203-nfnp-fiori-3-2.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=oU4-n_QZ3fM4DxwBgACkgA\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1203-nfnp-fiori-3-2.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=oU4-n_QZ3fM4DxwBgACkgA, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1203-nfnp-fiori-3-2.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=cKdG0I7j0_JaNjWSuxKWdw 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/1203-nfnp-fiori-3-2.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=8HikzmD7RKuDsHeqiMCYgQ 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Fiori-Studio and SVE Jewels offers professional flower and jewelry selections<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"TeamLinkt new AI assistant Emi saves sports leagues hours of work every week\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/teamlinkt-new-ai-assistant-emi-saves-sports-leagues-hours-of-work-every-week\", \"target_article_title\": \"TeamLinkt new AI assistant Emi saves sports leagues hours of work every week\", \"target_article_id\": \"7a872ca8-b1cc-40e2-a4bc-32c01a6f767d\", \"target_article_position\": \"3\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/teamlinkt-new-ai-assistant-emi-saves-sports-leagues-hours-of-work-every-week\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"TeamLinkt - (from left) Developer James King, CTO Scott Gjesdal, Marketing Specialist Vince Ocampo and CEO Jay Maharaj at their office at Innovation Place. Maharaj founded TeamLinkt about seven years ago to help sports teams and leagues manage and communicate. In September, the Saskatoon-based operation enhanced its services by launching an AI-powered assistant. Photographed by JamsPhoto in Saskatoon, Sask. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/1105-nfnp-teamlinkt-1.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=JOSWRpdG7C13gvskYySvzQ\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/1105-nfnp-teamlinkt-1.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=JOSWRpdG7C13gvskYySvzQ, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/1105-nfnp-teamlinkt-1.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=8B2Obsi0ql-kpiw_wUq4Jw 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/1105-nfnp-teamlinkt-1.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=AeQrMDm9N0mg2Zd9RiJeDA 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>TeamLinkt new AI assistant Emi saves sports leagues hours of work every week<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<p data-async><i>Have you recently started or moved a new business or non-profit organization in Saskatoon? We want to hear your story. Please email<span>\u00a0<\/span><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='iUsLoz2I2fGUHb5EcgQ53Q==7f4bVvoeqsDUPZ9yhuoZMCrJxr2w0BDJddWRB0yx4bExSs='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>dr<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span>&#8220;, &#8220;layout_section&#8221;: &#8220;in-page-link&#8221;}&#8221; data-evt=&#8221;click&#8221; data-evt-typ=&#8221;click&#8221; data-linkindex=&#8221;5&#8243; href=&#8221;http:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/mailto:dr***@*******ia.com&#8221; data-original-string=&#8221;Vcsk15ubXkSAIM0jFdnOOg==7f4RgGPzR5BePFSgA6RIxqdQxz6pTftbJzThTNQMXJ87Gg=&#8221; title=&#8221;This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.&#8221;><span \n                data-original-string='BwRV0qg4oKLaXn8lxYbP0Q==7f4ymOk9utOGn+YTXame902ICESBGx0QnYa3tdBo0nIJgU='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>dr<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<p><em>The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an\u00a0<strong>Afternoon Headlines<\/strong>\u00a0newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day.\u00a0Click <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"here\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> to subscribe. <\/p>\n<p> With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"thestarphoenix.com\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.thestarphoenix.com\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestarphoenix.com\" target=\"_blank\">thestarphoenix.com<\/a> and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"here\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> to subscribe.<\/p>\n<p><\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p> Don Rice<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/business\/local-business\/westgate-books-new-ownership\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The location is still the same,\u00a0the name is the same,\u00a0and people are just happy\u00a0about that\u00a0and that it&#8217;s going to keep going for a while.&#8221; Published Jan 07, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Jan 07, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 6 minute read Luke Syrnick and a partner took over Westgate Books in May, becoming the fourth owners of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":822645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349,32047],"tags":[8375,141215],"class_list":{"0":"post-822644","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"category-westgate","9":"tag-books","10":"tag-westgate"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=822644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/822645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=822644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=822644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=822644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}