Jim’s Clothes Closet has opened another store in B.C. at 33 Station St. in Duncan, where Martin’s Menswear was located for more than 80 years.
The men’s clothing store opened a few weeks ago but a grand opening and ribbon cutting was held on Nov. 3.
The business was first established in Port Alberni 50 years ago and has since grown to five locations, as well as an online store.
Spokesman Nathan Matheson said Jim’s Clothes Closet’s Duncan store has been well received so far in the Cowichan Valley community, and he’s confident of its success.
He said the business decided to expand into the area largely because its other locations in the province were seeing a lot of local people shopping in them.
“It seemed a good fit to open a store here,” Matheson said.
“Our store in Port Alberni is in the process of doubling its size and the one in Campbell River will be soon moving into a much larger location, so business has been good for us. We’re always considering expanding into other communities, but it has to be the right fit.”
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A new head shop has opened in the heart of downtown Duncan.
Steve McCoy opened Steve’s Glass Station at 167 Canada Ave. on Nov. 1.
The shop’s inventory includes hand-blown functional art from local glass blowers and from across the country, and other smoke accessories.
On the store’s website, McCoy said he has been involved with the cannabis culture for many years.
“The compassion I felt from the community was very welcoming and made me feel like I may have found my place,” he said.
“I learned that there was a whole community that was into some of the same things I loved; art, music, and cannabis. One day I was offered to buy a second-hand pipe. I bought the pipe and that is what started it all.”
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Coastal Community Credit Union is supporting the arts in the Cowichan Valley with a gift of $5,000 to the Cowichan Public Art Gallery.
“In keeping with our vision of building relationships that improve financial health, enrich people’s lives and build healthier communities, we appreciate partnering with like-minded organizations such as [the CPAG],” said Kristin Hocking, community experience specialist at the CCCU.
Duncan CCCU representatives Graeme Service, Leigh Power, and Bronwyn Palmer met CPAG president Jock Hildebrand at the gallery’s “Green Door” location on Ingram Street to present the cheque.
He said the donation will be used to help renovate the downstairs at the Green Door location, which is earmarked to become CPAG’s first official showing space.
The gallery’s programming committee is already booking international talent to be displayed in the space beginning as early as February, 2023.
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The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Speaker Series Luncheon with the Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society at The Best Western CVI on Nov. 10.
Attendees will have the opportunity to discover more about the CTSS vision of “Great Times, Great Trails” as they cover the economic, tourism and recreational impact of mountain biking in Cowichan.
CTSS members will outline the distinct characteristics of each mountain — Tzouhalem, Maple and Prevost — and why each is special to the biking and hiking communities.
In particular, CTSS is in the midst of a significant project to sanction Mount Prevost’s mountain biking trails.
There will be networking at 11:30 a.m., and the luncheon will go from noon to 1 p.m.
The cost is $35 plus tax for chamber members and guests, and $45 plus tax for non-members.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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