Maison Birks is shutting the doors to its Government Street jewelry store March 26 after operating for 74 years in Victoria.

The Montreal-based retailer announced its withdrawal from Victoria last month, a move that followed the December closure of the company over 100-year-old location in Saskatoon.

The decision was made following a recent surge in online sales and renovations to BirksB次元官网网址� Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal locations, Birks Group CEO Jean-Christophe Bedos said in an email to Black Press Media. Birks clientele in Victoria is invited to shop online at MaisonBirks.com or at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 flagship store on West Hastings Street, he said.

B次元官网网址淲e continue to invest in both our physical stores and our e-commerce services.B次元官网网址�

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Jeff Bray, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, said, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 always a bit sad when an iconic store thatB次元官网网址檚 been a part of downtown decides to move or close.B次元官网网址�

Neither he nor Bedos could say who would be moving into the soon vacant corner space at 1023 Government St.

Bray is optimistic, however, that BirksB次元官网网址� departure marks a transitionary milestone for the neighbourhood, given the recent growth of downtown residential spaces.

B次元官网网址淚t used to be that downtown Victoria was office workers and tourists B次元官网网址� now youB次元官网网址檝e got 10,000-plus people living in the core. This is why youB次元官网网址檙e seeing a change in your retail, food and beverage services. WeB次元官网网址檙e catering to an after 5 p.m. crowd that maybe wasnB次元官网网址檛 here 15 years ago,B次元官网网址� he said.

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In the last decade, downtown building vacancies have been cut nearly in half, from 13 per cent in 2013 to seven per cent in 2021, Bray added. Continued residential development and approved buildings such as the 11-storey Telus Ocean at the corner of Douglas and Humboldt streets spell further optimism for the growth of downtown, he said.

B次元官网网址淭ech has emerged as leading the downtown sector. These (businesses) tend to have younger employees much more interested in experiential, food and beverage retail. YouB次元官网网址檙e just seeing that change in whoB次元官网网址檚 walking through the front door, which is why youB次元官网网址檙e seeing more independent, medium-sized businesses.B次元官网网址�

Do you have a story tip? Email: kiernan.green@blackpress.ca.

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