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Business notes: Crepe Vine restaurant moves to Cowichan Bay

Business Notes
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Duncan’s Crêpe Vine restaurant has moved to Cowichan Bay. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

After more than three years in Duncan, the Crêpe Vine restaurant has closed and moved operations to Cowichan Bay.

Owner Daniel van den Wildenberg said an opportunity arose in Cowichan Bay that he couldn’t resist, and he decided to close the popular location on Jubilee Street in Duncan, change the name to The Vine and move to 1765 Cowichan Bay Rd.

He said he operated the Grapevine restaurant in Maple Bay for 10 years before moving to Duncan and a lot of his former customers were asking if he would bring their favourite eating establishment back to the area.

Van den Wildenberg said The Vine will continue serving the ever-popular crepes for breakfast and lunch, as well as other popular foods such as burgers, fish and chips and meatballs.

“We’ve been busy in our location every day since we opened, and it gets better every day,” he said.

Two new IKEA pick-up locations on the Island

IKEA Canada, which currently has no stores on Vancouver Island, has announced there are now two new collection points for their products in Nanaimo and Victoria.

Starting last week, customers shopping on IKEA’s website can now have their purchases shipped to collection points at 2205 Keating Cross Rd. in Victoria and 4386 Boban Dr. in Nanaimo for $79, regardless of the size or value of the purchase.

The fee is $91 less than the average home delivery fee of $170.

However, customers can still choose home delivery if they do not want to go to a collection point, with home delivery fees staying the same price.

According to IKEA Canada, the collection points are not IKEA stores and are owned by XPO, a third party service provider.

Products are not available to purchase at the collection points.

In 2015, IKEA Canada said it would double in size by 2025.

The company said it plans to open new stores in new locations and introduce new formats to achieve its goal.

Sweet Pickins blueberry farm goes up for sale

Duncan’s Sweet Pickins farm, known for its blueberries, is up for sale.

While the main crop at the 40-acre mixed farm is blueberries, the operation on Mays Road also has a small herd of Black Angus cattle.

The owners, Mike and Laurie Pauls, have run the farm, which has been operation since the 1950s, for 17 years and Mike said it’s time to retire.

He said he’s turning 60 years old next year and figured it’s a good time to sell.

“It’s a good little farm and we’ve made a decent living at it for years,” Mike said.

“There has been some interest already, mostly from people interested in converting the farm into a legal marijuana-growing operation. But I don’t really understand why anyone would want to change a blueberry farm, which has all the machinery to grow blueberries, into a pot operation.”

Tourism Cowichan gets new executive director

Karen Elgersma is the new executive director of Tourism Cowichan.

Elgersma has more than 25 years experience in communications and has successfully marketed the people, places, and events of the Cowichan Valley through her work in media and tourism.

She brings a unique blend of experience, education and a comprehensive perspective on the industry from her work in media and most recently with Tourism Victoria.

Before working at Tourism Victoria Elgersma was the producer and host of Shaw TV’s Go Island, and was a full-time journalist for Shaw Media for more than 18 years.

“I am thrilled to be part of Tourism Cowichan and to be marketing such a magical destination to the world,” she said. “I love the Cowichan Valley, and I have always had an authentic passion for sharing the stories of this incredible place with locals and potential visitors.”