Liquor store staying open
Jon Manchester - Jan 25, 2023 - Biz Releases

Photo: Contributed

After announcing it would close due to being cut off by a major Salmon Arm road project, the Downtown Liquor Store says it has received an outpouring of support and will stay open.

The store expressed “a heartfelt thank you to our valued customers for their overwhelming support during our recent Going Under Sale. Due to our community’s exceptional turnout and loyalty, we have decided to remain open for business.”

The store has faced ongoing challenges due to the ongoing Ross Street underpass construction project.

“Despite our landlord’s efforts, the city would not reopen Lakeshore Drive to two-way traffic, and we have been unable to regain the use of our parking lot for customers. This sustained loss in traffic has caused significant damage to downtown businesses, including ours,” store management said in an email.

The owners said they have been in regular contact with city council since the project started 14 months ago. Told the city would work with businesses to minimize impacts, the liquor store’s Tim Frazer says there has been “no real action behind those words.”

“This is a $20-plus-million project, yet somehow there are no resources to help the businesses most affected by it,” he said.

Despite that, Frazer said staff was “amazed at the level of support” from the community.

“It is clear that the people of Salmon Arm want to see traffic flow freely through downtown, and they want to see small businesses supported by the city. No one seems to understand why the road is still limited to one-way traffic when it could easily be open for business.”

The underpass will provide a safer crossing of the CP rail line to connect downtown Salmon Arm to Shuswap Lake.


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