Local Business

Triple Scoop: Steven Gevenich, Maddie Storvold and Ash Gevenich have opened up shop at 563 Ward St. Big Dee’s Fancy Wieners and Quality Ice Cream is billing itself as Nelson’s premier small batch ice creamery and fancy hot doggery. The trio make all their own ice creams, waffle cones, macarons, and homemade mac n’ cheese, chili, potato salad and coleslaw for their fancy dogs. Big Dees takes over their Ward Street spot from Celestial Scoop. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Recovery survey needs your input, pot program wraps up, KAST in rebuild mode

Columnist Darren Davidson with all the latest in local business news

In February, Valid Manufacturing purchased the former school district office at 570 Johnstone Road. Its zoning application for the property has nearby residents concerned for the future of their neighbourhood. Photo: Tyler Harper

Residents criticize tech company’s plans for property on Nelson’s North Shore

A zoning application by Valid Manufacturing has locals voicing concerns

Om is where the heart is: Melissa MJ Armstrong is opening Intuit Studio, a boutique yoga, dance, and fitness studio in the Nelson Trading Company on June 1. Intuit will offer over 30 yoga classes, and a dozen dance classes, seven days a week. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Cover team bolstered for big days ahead, book business burgeons, tech study tells a tale

All the latest in local business from columnist Darren Davidson

Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper

NEWS AND VIEWS: Nelson’s Chamber helps businesses connect with new talent

Tom Thomson writes about an event scheduled for May 20

Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper
Shifting to glide — Eric Riddington has taken off with a cool carbon-neutral business. Kokanee Soaring Adventures offers glider tours of the mountains ‘round these parts and beyond. Photo: Adrian Wagner

BUSINESS BUZZ: Help for pandemic pain, a Tesla train, and an all-star for old growth

Darren Davidson has all the latest on local business

  • Apr 27, 2021
Shifting to glide — Eric Riddington has taken off with a cool carbon-neutral business. Kokanee Soaring Adventures offers glider tours of the mountains ‘round these parts and beyond. Photo: Adrian Wagner
Students from the three schools may be bussed to Stanley Humphries next year. Photo by John Boivin

UPDATE: Two positive COVID-19 cases reported at Castlegar’s high school, more at Brent Kennedy

Exposure at Stanley Humphries Secondary School occurred April 19 - 20, 22

Students from the three schools may be bussed to Stanley Humphries next year. Photo by John Boivin
Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson says the provincial needs to do a better job of giving businesses a heads up about restrictions. Photo: Tyler Harper

NEWS AND VIEWS: Provincial health orders raise the need for more business supports

Tom Thomson writes about the impact of restrictions on Nelson’s businesses

Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson says the provincial needs to do a better job of giving businesses a heads up about restrictions. Photo: Tyler Harper
The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Mettle to Pedal. There’s been a changing of the guard at NRG Enterprises. The company, one of 14 that’s called Nelson’s old brewery building home for years, has steadily grown through the global cycling industry’s boom over the last two decades. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Latimer’s legendary labyrinth, Valid talks tech zone, Isis expands

All the latest in local business from columnist Darren Davidson

The Mettle to Pedal. There’s been a changing of the guard at NRG Enterprises. The company, one of 14 that’s called Nelson’s old brewery building home for years, has steadily grown through the global cycling industry’s boom over the last two decades. Photo: Darren Davidson
Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)
Nelson’s moratorium on food trucks in the downtown area is intended to protect brick-and-mortar businesses during the pandemic. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson council extends downtown food truck ban on city property

Trucks will be allowed in other areas of the city

Nelson’s moratorium on food trucks in the downtown area is intended to protect brick-and-mortar businesses during the pandemic. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Kootenay Co-op is among the local businesses participating in the travel voucher program. Photo: Submitted

Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism gives back to community with travel vouchers

The program reinvests in the local tourism economy

Kootenay Co-op is among the local businesses participating in the travel voucher program. Photo: Submitted
The Slocan Park Community Hall is one of several Kootenay building upgrades being funded by the Columbia Basin Trust. Photo: Heritage BC

Slocan Park and Slocan receive CBT grant for building upgrades

Grants will make community hall and Legion hall more energy efficient

The Slocan Park Community Hall is one of several Kootenay building upgrades being funded by the Columbia Basin Trust. Photo: Heritage BC
Card-y Be: Kootenay Co-op Radio will be reaching out to 6,000 homes throughout the Nelson area, from Blewett to Proctor, in an effort to boost their membership after a challenging year. The little local station celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. KCR’s sponsorship and advertising co-ordinator Amelie Sauquet holds all three versions of new promotional cards that will be arriving in mailboxes next week. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Devito’s making tracks, Purcell teams up with the Sherpas, big win for Kalesnikoff

Darren Davidson has all the latest on Nelson’s business community

Card-y Be: Kootenay Co-op Radio will be reaching out to 6,000 homes throughout the Nelson area, from Blewett to Proctor, in an effort to boost their membership after a challenging year. The little local station celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. KCR’s sponsorship and advertising co-ordinator Amelie Sauquet holds all three versions of new promotional cards that will be arriving in mailboxes next week. Photo: Darren Davidson
Ben Andrews holds a pair of FireVines’ seasonally ideal sippers. Since 2017, FireVines has been doing great business with bars, restaurants and resorts across the province and beyond. Now, you can find the local brand’s hot apple cider or mulled wine at your local liquor, beer or wine store, or from the FireVines site, firevines.com. Photo: Darren Davidson

COLUMN: Last call at All Seasons, hospitality hurting amidst perfect storm

Darren Davidson has the latest on Nelson’s business community

Ben Andrews holds a pair of FireVines’ seasonally ideal sippers. Since 2017, FireVines has been doing great business with bars, restaurants and resorts across the province and beyond. Now, you can find the local brand’s hot apple cider or mulled wine at your local liquor, beer or wine store, or from the FireVines site, firevines.com. Photo: Darren Davidson
Touchstones Nelson is amongst a number of arts and culture venues in Nelson that have found ways to survive through the pandemic in 2020. The sector has been particularly hard hit by tough COVID protocols and the economic downturn. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: 2020 from K-Z

Part 2 of the Nelson Star’s alphabetical year-end review

Touchstones Nelson is amongst a number of arts and culture venues in Nelson that have found ways to survive through the pandemic in 2020. The sector has been particularly hard hit by tough COVID protocols and the economic downturn. Photo: Darren Davidson
Sam Baio, owner of Nelson’s Valhalla Pure Outfitters, says he’s keeping his store closed on Boxing Day due to COVID-19 crowd concerns. Photo: Tyler Harper

Wary of the pandemic, Nelson businesses opt to stay closed on Boxing Day

They say the profit isn’t worth the potential of infection

Sam Baio, owner of Nelson’s Valhalla Pure Outfitters, says he’s keeping his store closed on Boxing Day due to COVID-19 crowd concerns. Photo: Tyler Harper
It takes a village — If retail trends in outdoor soft and hard goods and motorsports are any indication, it’s going to be a busy 2021 in the West Kootenay backcountry. Ski and snowboard touring gear, snowmobiles, snowshoes — even snowblowers — have sold at a record pace. Local shopping support has been critical for businesses throughout town this year, including Main Jet Motorsports, whose staff posed for the Chamber of Commerce’s Support Local, Stay Safe campaign last week. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Hey 2020. ABC-ya later

Part 1 of the Nelson Star’s alphabetical year-end review

  • Dec 15, 2020
It takes a village — If retail trends in outdoor soft and hard goods and motorsports are any indication, it’s going to be a busy 2021 in the West Kootenay backcountry. Ski and snowboard touring gear, snowmobiles, snowshoes — even snowblowers — have sold at a record pace. Local shopping support has been critical for businesses throughout town this year, including Main Jet Motorsports, whose staff posed for the Chamber of Commerce’s Support Local, Stay Safe campaign last week. Photo: Darren Davidson
Buddy’s wants council to expand its downtown maximum from two businesses to three cannabis businesses. Photo: Tyler Harper

Buddy’s Place to apply to Nelson council for permanent downtown status

Online presentation and survey will take place Thursday, Dec. 10

Buddy’s wants council to expand its downtown maximum from two businesses to three cannabis businesses. Photo: Tyler Harper
Nelson city council conducted an online resident survey about patios and food trucks and got over a thousand responses. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson council hears results of survey on patios and food trucks

A city’s online survey got 1,130 responses

Nelson city council conducted an online resident survey about patios and food trucks and got over a thousand responses. Photo: Bill Metcalfe