– Mark MacDonald writes about business in Nanaimo. Tell him your news by emailing him at mark@businessexaminer.ca
NANAIMO – Harewood is heating up. A large plot of land across from the 7-Eleven gas/convenience store and University Town Centre at the corner of 5th Street and Bruce Avenue has been cleared and is ready for commercial development.
Persistent rumours indicate that will be the stie of a new Tim Horton’s outlet, as well as a financial institution, to start.
Just down the road at the former Co-op location on Bruce, construction on the new Quality Foods store continues. Residential building continues at a feverish pace at the end of Bruce and 10th Street, with more land cleared for single family homes.
With the continued growth of Vancouver Island University and the need for more student housing, Harewood is a busy, busy place these days.
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Congratulations to Wayne Procter, who continues to expand his chain of Gas N Go locations with the recent purchase of the Buckley Bay Petro Canada at the Denman Island ferry terminal on the Old Island Highway.
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Tali Campbell is pleased to note that Brittany Ellerby has joined the team at Indulge Hair and Esthetics.
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Ron Chiovetti and good friend, the recently passed Tom Harris, were central partners in Guy Garages in Parksville, and Ron has just opened Mega Storage next door to the RV/car/truck/boat strata operation on Fairdowne Road. Mega Storage offers mid-sized space larger than conventional mini-storage, but smaller than Guy Garages. www.megastorage.ca
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Congratulations to Brad “Deuce” McCarthy and his team at White Sails Brewing on Comox Road for earning the title of world’s best black IPA for its Snake Island CDA at the recent World Beer Awards 2017 in London.
White Sails won another best-in-Canada award this year for its Mt. Benson IPA. Two mugs up!
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A tip of the hat to Dealer Principal Anne Marie Clark and the team at Steve Marshall Ford for being the main drivers behind the Driven to Give program locally, which, along with Vancouver Island Real Estate Board staff and directors, presented a $7,500 cheque to Nanaimo and District Crime Stoppers and Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services.
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Dave Petryk is retiring as President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island effective December 1. Dave has been at the helm for the past 17 years.
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Congratulations to VMAC for being awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification, recognizing the company for outstanding attention to quality management and standardization. Sandra Amador is Director of Continuous Improvement for the south Nanaimo company, whose main product is air compressors mounted underneath the hood of trucks.
Marketing Manager Mike Pettigrew adds that VMAC has just released the new G30 Gas Engine Driven Air Compressor, powered by a Honda GX390 gas engine.
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91 Chapel held an open house for its new 61-unit downtown property, featuring one-and-two bedroom units in August. www.91chapel.com
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Chatime is a new restaurant owned by Alexandra Huang that is opening in Rock City Plaza.
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Frank S. Williams Law Corp. has moved to 6-55 Front Street from 137 Bastion Street.
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Pizza Mia is continuing to grow, as Mehrdad Khosraviani is opening a new outlet in Parksville to go with the two in Nanaimo.
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Westrek Geotechnical Services has opened an office in The Network Hub at 120-256 Wallace, notes Tim Smith.
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Sue Proulx has opened Bubbles ‘n Brooms, a new cleaning business. She has been in the cleaning business in Surrey for the past 10 years.
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Amanda’s Housecleaning Services is a company that Amanda Henson has opened at 276-9th Street which does residential and commercial cleaning.
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Banged Hair Salon is now open at 3-1559 Estevan Road.
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Dr. Arthur Burrows of Becker, Burrows and Associates has taken over the psychiatrist practice of Dr. Larry Waterman at 12-1599 Dufferin Crescent. The office welcomes administrative staff Cheryl Toole and Marian Lucas.
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Another business is opening in the strip mall adjacent to Real Canadian Superstore on Metral Drive, joining Meat Craft and Cob’s Bread: Once Upon a Child, featuring kid’s clothing, toys, books and footwear, as well as baby needs.
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The Royal Motel on Terminal Avenue is being renovated, and will become bachelor suites.
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Lexitor Medical is moving to their new location at 102 – 1847 Dufferin Crescent in September, in the new building adjacent to The Buzz coffee shop. Lexitor’s location has been at 205-1808 Bowen Road.
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Georgia View Health and Wellness is moving to 6439A Portsmouth Road.
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Knappett Industries has been awarded an $8 million contract to establish waterlines, underground services, roads and build at 250,000-gallon reservoir at Lantzville Foothills by Lone Tree Properties. The Foothills is zoned for 730 homes on almost 1,900 acres, including a mixed-use village in upper Lantzville.