By Dominic Abassi

Lantzville Market closing down

Jun 8, 2016 | 11:31 AM

It appears it’s the end of the line for the only grocery store Lantzville has ever known.

An employee of the store has confirmed she was told by management that the Lantzville Market will be shutting down, possibly within the next two weeks.

Lantzville Mayor Colin Haime says it’s always disappointing when any long time business shuts down.

“There is the economic reality, unfortunately, of Lantzville and its close proximity to Costco and Save On and that, it is a struggle for that sort of a business,” said Haime.

“And certainly within a lot of neighbourhoods, even within the city of Nanaimo, the days of the little corner grocery are certainly numbered.”

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The Lantzville Historical Society says the original building was built as a general store in 1923.

Haime says there are some struggles in the village core, with the gas station, which opened in the mid-20’s, also closing down recently.

“When it comes to commercially zoned property, it could be a situation where properties get redeveloped for something less reliant on the traffic that occurs, and more of a destination aspect, such as services or some other use.”

Haime says there is some potential for the site, at the corner of Lantzville and Dickinson Roads, which is commercially zoned under the Official Community Plan.

“If an individual chose to come forward and were looking to do some sort of a mixed development with some commercial on the ground floor and maybe some residential up above, it would be something council would consider.”

A request for comment from the store’s manager was not returned. The owner of the Lantzville Market is “not in Canada”, according to an employee of the store.