Scott’s Toys & Hobbies in downtown Duncan is celebrating 35 years in business.
Owner Diane Scott and her husband took over the business in 1981 when it was called Campbell’s Toy Store, and moved the store to 60 Station St. from one of the local malls 18 years ago.
Diane Scott said the couple, who had retail experience but never in toys and hobbies before, decided they wanted “a challenge” when they took over the business.
She said the store is “really busy” most of the time, even though she made a personal choice years ago not to get into computer games.
“It’s now mostly a hobby and art supply store, although we do a good business in what are considered adult toys, like model-train sets,” said Scott, who now runs the business alone after the death of her husband two years ago.
“I will probably have some sort of celebration this year. A lot of my customers say I should so I’ll make an announcement at a later date.”
PowerHouse opening new Duncan location
PowerHouse Raw Food and Juice Bar is planning to open their fourth Vancouver Island location in Duncan this summer.
The Island-based restaurant chain, which currently has two locations in Nanaimo and one in Victoria, is known for its delicious and nutritious foods that use only the freshest and most natural ingredients possible in their creation.
Owner Toni Jeffries said she has received numerous requests from people in the Cowichan Valley, and from travellers between Nanaimo and Victoria, to establish a new location in Duncan.
She said she already buys most of the fruits and vegetables that her restaurants use in their recipes from farmers in the Cowichan Valley, and with a store in Duncan, she will have the opportunity to make personal connections with them.
Jeffries said the store in Duncan will be located in the newly constructed building at 177 Kenneth St., and she plans to have it open by mid-July.
“We’re really excited about our new location in Duncan,” she said.
“We have other expansion plans as well, but it’s too early to talk about them at this stage.”
New two-day market debuts in Cobble Hill
The region’s newest market, called themarket@thebarncobblehill, held its first market weekend for the summer on May 27-28.
The community market will be held monthly this summer, except in August, on the Cobble Hill Farmer’s Institute property in the New Stu Armour 4H Barn.
Marie McNeill, Amanda Kiezebrink and Mike Flynn are the organizers of the market, which typically has live entertainment, beverage tastings and food sampling as well as vendors on Friday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday’s market, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature dozens of local entrepreneurs, preferably those that currently have no store fronts.
The next two markets are scheduled for June 25-25 and July 15-16.
“The Friday night market is more adult oriented, but families are welcome,” McNeill said.
“We are also hosting a new sub market at our events in June and July called ‘Inspired Market’ which will feature all handcrafted, refurbished, recycled, and original art and designs.”
For more information, email contactthemarket@gmail.com or check out the Facebook page themarket@thebarncobblehill
robert.barron
@cowichanvalleycitizen.com