Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Canada’s largest music store chain, has recently opened a new location at 5871 York Rd., where Kim Wah Restaurant was located.
Last year Long & McQuade bought Duncan Music, which had been in operation in the Cowichan Valley since 1995, and had been operating from the Duncan Music location at 470 Trans-Canada Hwy. since January.
The company also bought 5871 York Rd. at about the same time and has been renovating the building until it opened its new location there on Aug. 16.
David Symons, who works at three Long & McQuade stores on Vancouver Island as a music educator who liaises with local schools and their music programs, said most of the staff from Duncan Music came to work at the York Road store.
He said Long & McQuade, which has 106 stores across the country, has a full range of musical instruments and also provides music lessons.
“We’ve been successful at this location so far and our customers are happy with our services,” Symons said. “Duncan needed a good and big music store and we’re more than happy to provide it.”
Symons said a grand opening for the York Road store is being planned for Nov. 10, and Steve Long, the son of Jack Long, one of the founding fathers of the business when it began in 1956, will be on hand.
Further details of the grand opening will be announced at a later date.
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The InCharacter Costume and Novelties pop-up store has opened to serve the Cowichan Valley’s Halloween needs for the second year in a row.
This year, the Halloween store is set up at Cowichan Commons, across from the Home Depot store and close to Bosley’s pet store.
InCharacter Costume and Novelties is a Nanaimo-based company that works at creating costumes for drama clubs and theatre groups for most of the year, but shuts down that part of the business during the Halloween season and sets up temporary stores to sell costumes, makeup, wigs, contact lenses and more.
This year, InCharacter has a location in Woodgrove Centre in Nanaimo, as well as the one in Cowichan Commons.
Owner Stephen Kass said that in the past, InCharacter used to set up in Courtenay, but business was so good in the Cowichan Valley last year that the decision was made to come here again.
He said the location opened, appropriately, on Sept. 13, which was a Friday, and will be open until Oct. 31, Halloween Day.
“It started slow, but it’s picking up now that Halloween is just around the corner,” Kass said. “Over the last few years, a lot of the costumes we sold were princesses and less scary ones, but now for some reason we’re getting back to horror outfits. It’s all a lot of fun for us.”
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The BC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week Summit on Oct. 21-25 will celebrate B.C.’s small businesses and provide them with the opportunity to listen, learn and engage directly with subject matter experts and thought leaders on topics that are important to them.
This year’s theme, “Cultivating Resilience through Innovation” will highlight the importance of empowering businesses to thrive during times of uncertainty and change.
“As they face unprecedented challenges, businesses need to stay flexible, embrace new realities, adopt innovative, sustainable practices and harness cutting-edge technologies to secure lasting success,” the BCCC said.
Tickets are complimentary, and each session will be hosted via Zoom webinar.
To register, go to https://bcchamber.org/2024-small-business-week-summit
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Join members of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and their guests on Oct. 9 for the chamber’s next Mix & Mingle at the Duncan Garage Café & Bakery.
Attendees will be treated to a laid-back evening of networking at the organic, vegetarian café that is known for its delicious snacks and drinks, all made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
It’s the perfect setting to catch up with fellow chamber members, meet new people, and enjoy a relaxing evening out.
The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., is free for chamber members and their guests.
Register online, call 250-748-1111 or email chamber@duncancc.bc.ca.