In April 2013, I bemoaned the loss of a small business in the West End: A small, sad change: Good-bye South Van Produce.
Gone, and I don’t know why. A classic Chinese market-garden corner store, with roots that go back, what?, practically a century. So perhaps the owners, finally retired, have no one to pass it on to. Or couldn’t compete? Or evicted?
To be replaced by, what?, another coffee shop to take advantage of the Comox greenway. Or another fast-food brand, thinking the beach traffic will be insatiable. West Enders will find another place to shop, of course, but now there is less diversity, less character. And a whole lot of memories.
For a year, it seemed, the storefront was an unhappy reminder of loss:
.
So what finally replaced it? Another coffee shop? Fast food?
As it turned out:
.
Another grocer, still filling the corner with an abundance of produce and colour.
We’re quick to bemoan the loss of what was. We should also note continuity too, when it uncommonly occurs.
Not a “grocer”, and “greengrocer” is not a term widely used in North America, but that is what produce stores are called in England. Kin’s call themselves a Farm Market.
The previous owners were locked out and evicted because they couldn ‘t pay the sharply increased rent. I found them in tears outside the store one morning with all their produce locked inside. The landlord eventually let them in and gave them three days to sell off/remove their stock. I’m glad to see someone else there but they don’t sell flowers and I miss the old owners.