It's been just two years since the escalators shut down and inventory cleared out — but the Uptown's old Zellers store in Port Alberni seems like a distant memory from a bygone era.
After 21 years of operations, the business closed in March 2013, ending a long retail legacy stretching back to 1948, when former owner Woodward's took over the property.
Less than a month after Zellers shut its doors, the Coulson Group of Companies purchased the building, but besides a fresh coat of paint given last year, little activity is evident at the massive Third Avenue location that contains 90,000 square feet of vacant retail space.
The old Zellers building serves as a glaring reminder of a persistent issue that has stricken Port Alberni's Uptown: storefronts have been empty for years, and they aren't being filled.
Kevin Wright, president of the Uptown Merchants Association, spoke about the problem to city council on Feb. 23. His presentation included a map of four blocks along Third Avenue, extending from Mar to Argyle Street showing businesses that are in use and vacant. Of the 55 storefronts identified in the area, 21 do not have tenants running an operation.
The situation is not unusual for communities like Port Alberni that depended heavily on resource industries, such as forestry, said Wright.
"Small businesses and even large businesses were very successful until arguably the late '70s and early '80s when the significant downturn happened," explained his presentation document. "Once the downturn happened they couldn't maintain the volume level of business in the community."
Long periods of vacancy creates challenges for new businesses looking to bring the space back into use. Mold, substandard wiring and outdated plumbing are among the hindrances facing entrepreneurs in the Uptown, said Wright, who owns the SteamPunk Café and Coffee House on Third Avenue.
"I'm just currently taking over the facility next to my café," he said. "I've gone into the upstairs and I'm just mortified, I have to take all of the wiring out and that's only built in 1977."
There is potential for returns, as Wright and some other business owners operating in a small space are finding.
On Argyle Street, one block north of SteamPunk, Daniel Tsai was working over his sewing machine through the night until 8 a.m. Thursday, only to be back to open his shop four hours later at noon.
Since the 16-year-old opened Tailor Me in October with the help of his parents, a consistent stream of jobs have come in — particularly custom work for men's clothing.
"We're doing a suit blazer, which is what I'm working on right now. It needs to be done by tomorrow, so I'm really cramming," said Tsai. "He's the national lawn bowling coach for Canada."
Tsai's operation is a small storefront, with space for a change room, sewing room and a toilet in the back. He shoulders the demand with help from his mother and a subcontractor during the busiest times.
Wright believes that a smallscale approach is the best option for the Uptown's vacancy issue. Last week, he asked for city council's support to encourage the establishment of small shops — or micro businesses — at the front of the area's large unused spaces.
While monthly rent for the typical Uptown commercial space ranges from $700 to $1,000 plus utilities, costs can be significantly less if an entrepreneur uses only a portion of an unoccupied space. A smaller initial investment could open up opportunity for those who would be otherwise unable to secure a startup loan from a local bank, said Wright.
"The banks don't loan money to small businesses anymore," he said. "The only way that they'll give you money is if you have money."
"Bank managers just don't have the pull that they used to," added Coun. Sharie Minions. "Lending for any businesses is getting harder and harder."
