With the recent acquisition announcement of several buildings adjacent to the JAG Hotel, including the current Gaze Seed Company building, The Seed Company says it’s not closing, just moving.
“Not to worry” said owner Peter Byrne, great grandson of original founder E.W. Gaze. “We have been planning a move for some time, and this is going to be a positive change for us.”
Byrne said in a news release the two biggest concerns received since taking the company back in 2014 had to do with the current downtown location.
“The lack of parking and street visibility have definitely been obstacles for us. Many customers tell us they had no idea we existed or that they hesitated to visit because there’s limited parking available,” Byrne said.
Despite these challenges, Byrne said the business has flourished and he would like to see the store stay in the downtown, or at least centre-city, area.
“We don’t want to try and compete with the big box stores. We’re a different kind of business, more personal and specialized. We like the downtown, local vibe,” he said.
There are some buildings the company said it’s considering as options, but doesn’t have a decision right away.
“We have six to nine months to make the move, so it isn’t a rushed thing. The opportunity actually came at the perfect time for us as we prepare for a busy 2019 season” Byrne said.
