Grasmere: Canco Comes to Tobacco Plains
It has now been open for almost six months, and the new Canco Gas Station and Convenience store in Grasmere is still trying to find its sweet spot. An employee at the new Canco outlet said that "things have been pretty slow" at the new facility, though he expressed optimism that business will pick up come the spring and summer travel season.
Canco is owned and operated by PR Petroleums of Kelowna and has over 100 locations across western Canada. They have also partnered with four First Nations, including the Tobacco Plains Band in Grasmere.
Castlegar: Wendy's Coming to Castlegar
Castlegar should be the home of a new 2,178 sq. ft Wendy's restaurant at 1680 Columbia Avenue in 2025. The City of Castlegar approved the application in the fall of 2024
The new Wendy's will be located across from Kalawsky Chevrolet on 17th Street, adjacent to the railroad tracks. The proposal includes indoor seating, outdoor patio seating and a drive-thru lane to accommodate 11 vehicles, according to the information package filed with the application.
Kimberley: Kimberley Brewing Company Comes Online
There are now three breweries in Kimberley that are producing craft beer. The newest one is the Kimberley Brewing Company, which crafts their beer in a basement facility in the Western Lodge (formerly the Kimbrook Hotel), and is associated with the Porch Restaurant in Kimberley. Their line up of beers include: Off Piste Pilsner, Attitude Pale Ale, Hound on the Loose India Pale Ale and Jumbo Juice Hazy IPA. The active lifestyle beer has adopted the tagline, "Do Your Mountain Thing." The other two breweries are Overtime and Grist and Mash.
Kootenays: Business Closures
This is a partial list of recent business closures in the Kootenays. It illustrates the challenge it is for many small businesses to succeed in today's business environment; however it also reflects the dynamics of business and entrepreneurship.
The Dollar Store, Kimberley (pictured above); Ancron Medical Centre, a privately owned clinic in downtown Nelson closed last August; Grapes and Suds Brew shut its door in 2024; Little Big Studio in Kimberley permanently closed; Woodlands Heavy Equipment closed on McPhee Road. Other closures include Pure Leaf Bubble Tea, Cranbrook; Osprey Landing real estate development (bankruptcy) Wardner; Tare Necessities, Cranbrook; Morchella Market, Cranbrook; Pita Wrap It Cranbrook, Metal Roofing and Siding Experts, Cranbrook and the Sushi Garden, Club Cafe and Fly in the Fibre in Creston have closed.
