‘Making lemonade from lemons’

New name, no sign yet.

Not much left.

Last five days.

Getting ready to re-open.

Getting ready to close up shop.

NEWS/ BUSINESS — One Kamloops big box will close at the end of the week, another will re-open under a new name, and a shopping area will try to make lemonade out of lemons when summer bridge work disrupts traffic.

After the closure of all Future Shop stores in Canada last Saturday, management at the store in Aberdeen Mall is preparing to re-open as a Best Buy one week later on Saturday, April 4.

A sign in the store window announces the re-opening. While the front windows are papered over, there was no activity Monday on the exterior of the store, where the big Future Shop sign remains on the storefront.

Meanwhile, signs at the Target store in Sahali Mall announced, “Last 5 Days.” While the store was busy Monday afternoon with people taking advantage of last-minute 60-70-per-cent off deals, the store is now mostly filled with empty aisles and shelves.

Women’s clothing and some housewares made up much of the remaining inventory. The closing out sale started Feb. 5 after the U.S. economy retailer failed to get a strong toehold in the Canadian market.

In another business area of the city, merchants are bracing for major traffic disruptions when work begins on the Overlanders Bridge. North Shore Business improvement manager Steven Puhallo said in a newsletter Monday it’s a case of making “lemonade out of lemons.”

“Over the next month the much-needed Overlanders Bridge repairs
will begin,” he wrote.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to driving over an improved bridge without rattling my teeth! For our businesses it will mark the beginning of the end of a long, costly period of disruptions that started with a transport’s load striking the north end overpass four years ago.

“We’ve been working hard to position our business area to take advantage of the traffic delays through a marketing and information plan that will encourage North Shore residents to re-discover their local businesses.”

Puhallo said the theme for the project will be “Shop, Stay, & Play” with “You’ll find everything you need and more on Kamloops’ North Shore!” He said advertising campaigns in local media will accompany the promotion.