The only remaining member who was on city council during the contentious period 20 years ago when debate raged over whether to convert the old Memorial Stadium by Quidi Vidi Lake to a supermarket is shocked and disappointed that Loblaw is now going to close the building.

Cygnus Gymnastics and the medical clinic will be looking for a new home once the building is shuttered.

At first, Sandy Hickman was opposed to the idea during a time when council was split on whether to allow it to happen. However, he switched his vote and that changed the balance at City Hall.

“As soon as it was announced, we called a news conference the next day and told everyone that I was changing my vote,” Councillor Hickman told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly.

“I said this was the greatest corporate support in history. All these years later and Cygnus still enjoys free rent.”

He’s concerned about what will happen with the gymnastics club.

Hickman says the closure of the supermarket leaves the city with only two Dominion stores – Stavanger Drive and Blackmarsh Road – and increases traffic pressure on the other supermarkets in the east end.