Okanagan Edge This Week is our look back at everything that happened in business in the region over the last seven days.
Local business news
Bargain Shop building sold
Mission Group bought the former home of The Bargain Shop on Bernard Avenue in Kelowna, which has sat empty since 2010.
Millions for casino makeover
The millions of dollars of renovations at Kelowna’s Lake City Casino will see two new restaurants get built, but no changes to the games themselves
Fastest growth in Canada
Blistering growth at a trio of Kelowna startups has landed all three businesses among exclusive company.
Kelowna-based Strawhouse, 5 Point Operations, and Refresh Financial were named this week to the STARTUP 50 list.
Strawhouse actually topped the list, standing far and above the rest of the companies with more than 3,000 per cent growth over a two-year period, and $50-100 million of revenue in 2016.
Yacht club sinking in red ink
Members of the Kelowna Yacht Club were told the club could lose as much as $560,000 in 2017. To help cut costs the club’s general manager was let go at the beginning of September, staff cuts began last week, and members will also be asked to help cover the shortfall out of their own pockets.
Stars sign with Kelowna company
Reality TV power couple Bryan and Sarah Baeumler have thrown their names behind an upstart, Kelowna-based mattress company.
The stars recently partnered with Kelowna’s Haven Mattress Co., signing on to promote the company’s line of hand-tailored mattresses.
The couple says they loved the fact that charitable giving was a key element of Haven’s ethics.
Greyhound looks to end service
Greyhound Canada has applied to the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board to pull all operations out of the Similkameen Valley.
Longer Look
Massive local winery takeover
The Okanagan wine industry received huge news this week, as Andrew Peller Ltd announced it is in the process of shelling out $95 million to buy three well-known local wineries.
Community champion of the week
The non-business business
Most new business owners work as hard as they can to make as much money as possible. Brandon Storozak mostly just wants to make the community a better place.
Feature column
Short-term rental furore
Is the proliferation of short-term rentals in Kelowna a blessing or curse? Mark Ameerali takes a look at the numbers.
Got the Edge profile of the week
Tina Walczak
All Biz Releases Stories