Heritage House Interiors is a busy place lately, as long-time customers from near and far stop in to say their sad goodbyes.
The warm comments and friendly chats are appreciated, although they take time, said Jamie Fraser with the store.
Heritage House Interiors, which has been in the same spot on Chisholm Street for 16 years, previously operating in another location, is closing its doors at the end of October, marking 35 years in Ladner.
The furniture and home accessory store is one of a handful of stores that will close following the purchase earlier this year by the City of Delta, of lots along Chisholm Street in Ladner Village.
The city wants to see if there’s any interest in building a hotel on the site as part of the waterfront restoration process.
Council narrowly approved late last month asking for an expression of interest from any developers.
In an interview following council’s vote, Mayor George Harvie, who voted against proceeding with the EOI, said he does not regret the city buying the site because revitalization needs to be spurred, but if the hotel plan doesn’t work out, the site could be redeveloped into much-needed housing, which would sustain the village even better, he said.
Fraser though finds the whole thing disappointing.
“I was shocked that the city was buying it, number one,” he said. And when he learned that the city was planning a hotel on the site, “… it just seemed so backwards to me,” he said.
With five of six businesses leaving the village, who’s going to stay here if there are no businesses to shop at? he asks.
“Who starts with a hotel? It’s just weird.”
Fraser said he’s confident he’ll find something else and his parents Marv and Lynn will also keep busy with their other interests.
But Fraser wonders about the future of Ladner Village saying that small businesses are critical to its character and suggests the city could have redeveloped another lot instead.
Since the whole issue began, Fraser has had no contact from anyone on city council, although one councillor may have stopped in his store.
He organized a petition, but was told there was no one in the city to send it to.
Staff said they would get back to him and tell him where to direct it but no one ever did, he added.
Although the city offered to extend the lease to January, Fraser says it doesn’t make sense to restock for the Christmas season, only to have to liquidate everything the next month.
So when the doors close, they close forever. The family has spent the last four months scouring for spots in Ladner and Tsawwassen and can’t find anything suitable, it said in a letter to customers.
Heritage House Interiors offered thanks to its loyal customers from over the years.
“We will miss the connections and daily interactions that we have made with all of our wonderful customers,” said the letter. “Your encouragement has meant the world to us.”
