08/26/2024
As most of you know, we are being forced to close due to the building we are in unexpectedly selling, and the new owners not extending the lease this small section to us, leaving the Village of Barons and surrounding areas once again without a local store for 15+ kms (further for other communities and areas).
With minimal locations to move, we asked the Village if we could rent the curling clubhouse to move our location to, as it has sat empty for almost 2 years and currently costs approximately $1000/month of expenses to the village.
We’ve been getting lots of questions as we near the Oct 1 moving deadline for an update, and unfortunately we don’t have a lot of answers to these questions.
Here’s what we do know though.
-we still have not received a lease review from the Village of Barons after council gave the directive over 1 month ago
-we have been told the entire space of the clubhouse portion only of the building is 2428 sq ft despite being given quick sketches showing the perimeter or the building being approximately 1000 sq ft
-we have not been given official documents or official drawings showing the actual space or what the sq footage of the space on the tax assessments shows despite asking for official drawings or documents
-we have been told the village will be asking $10/sq ft per (though it was not stated if it was per month or per year) however that would equal likely $2400/month plus tax
-we have been told we will likely pay fees for maintenance, utilities, insurance, property tax etc but amounts have not been confirmed
-we have been told that there will be no lease negotiations once council signs off on the lease, despite the directive from council to have negotiations begin THEN draw up a lease agreement
-we have been told council will be being given the lease sometime this week, and a special meeting will be called, but have not been confirmed if we will be given notice when the special meeting is
-we have been told if we decide to do a mobile store/food truck, we will likely have issues with council approving that as there appears to be no bylaws currently regarding food trucks
What we do know is we need to be moved by Oct 1, and have a lot to move and minimal space to move to. We will likely be open until Sept 7, with that being our closing day.
Ways you can help are writing your local council, writing newspapers and news media, writing your MLA, and sharing the information with as many people as you know (we are doing the same).
We appreciate all the support we have had over the last year, and feel lucky we have been able to get to know so many people in the area. You are truly a great community of people, and we will continue to work towards bringing services to the community.
Barons council emails:
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Other emails:
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