Staff from a cherished North Vancouver grocery store will soon scan people’s items one last time as they close up shop after 31 years in business.
Columbus Farm Market in Edgemont Village announced on social media recently that they will be closing their doors on June 30.
Owner Peter Young says the local shop is closing due to financial pressures from a variety of factors, including increased rent costs.
“It’s going to be very hard to say goodbye. Running a food store, it’s seven days a week,” Young said. “Going from working every day to not working at all, it’s just going to be a big change for me.”
Young says he started to see a decrease in business when restaurants started to open again near the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said it could have been because people were used to ordering take-out and food through apps like Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats and kept that pattern. Young has also seen a sharp increase in rent, making it hard to keep up with other expenses like staff wages, utilities, insurance and other costs.
“So all these things kind of played a part in our business hitting in the downward trend,” he said.
Columbus Farm Market first opened its doors in 1994, with Young's parents running the business until he took over in 2010.
After the local grocery store made the announcement online, people have been sharing their condolences.
“The neighbourhood won’t be the same without you. Wishing you all the best wherever your next adventure takes you!” one comment reads on Instagram.
“We love your shop. This is such sad news for the neighbourhood. Thank you for all your service and charity. You shall be sorely missed,” another comment reads.
After the grocery store closes, Young said there will only be Thrifty Foods in Edgemont Village.
The limited options have made some frustrated, he said, as people will either have to go to the nearby grocer or travel elsewhere to buy their groceries.
“We sold a lot of unique items that you don’t normally see in these supermarkets,” Young said. “So, a lot of those customers are kind of angry.”
Before Columbus Farm Market closes, he hopes to plan a “customer appreciation” event to chat and reminisce about the store’s journey.
After the store closes he plans to retire and hopes to continue seeing regular customers in the area.
“I’ll be sad leaving here, we built a lot of friendships, regular customers,” Young said.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
https://bsky.app/profile/abbyluciano.bsky.social
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