Esquimalt grocery store expands and gets facelift
Country Grocer will add 3,000 square feet in the vacated Royal Bank space next door
Kim Westad, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Esquimalt's main grocery store is expanding and getting a mini-facelift.
Country Grocer in the Esquimalt Plaza hopes to add about 3,000 square feet to its current 17,000-square-foot store.
Recent shuffling of stores in the mall at 1153 Esquimalt Rd. has left the Royal Bank space on the west side next to the grocery store open. The bank moved to another spot in the plaza
It seemed an ideal opportunity to expand, said Country Grocer owner Peter Cavin.
"We want to be able to offer more selection to customers," Cavin said. "We'll be able to provide more variety."
The new space is earmarked for an expansion of perishables, such as the deli, bakery and produce, as well as the meat department.
The exterior of the north side will also be improved, with newly painted metal fascia and flashing, a new decorative stone veneer and new vertical cedar board and batt siding. A new entrance vestibule is also planned
Country Grocer opened in Esquimalt in 1986. The municipality is a growing area, Cavin said, and the store's expansion reflects that.
He expects renovations to start in the fall.
The expansion and improvements require a development permit from the municipality. Although a request has not yet come to council, municipal staff are recommending it be approved, saying the changes "enhance the village as a whole."
Coun. Hy Freedman, who is chairman of the municipality's economic development committee, said the improvements show that people want to invest in Esquimalt. It's also consistent with the municipality's desire for a "village core" plan
Earlier this year, Esquimalt council hired a consultant to come up with designs for a village centre, a blueprint that would guide future development on municipal properties.
Several large chunks of land on Esquimalt Road and just off the main thoroughfare are owned by the municipality. Rather than have them develop haphazardly, the municipality wants to create an overall plan so that the best use is made of the land
kwestad@tc.canwest.com
Country Grocer getting new look
Victoria News
Published: June 24, 2008 12:00 PM
Updated: June 24, 2008 12:08 PM
Esquimalt's Country Grocer is gearing up for a facelift.
The store is looking to expanding into the recently vacated Royal Bank building adjacent to their current facility. As part of the expansion the north face of the 1153 Esquimalt Rd. building will be renovated
The upgrade will include decorative stone veneer and vertical cedar board.
The grocery store also proposes to build a new entrance.
