A business which has been a fixture in downtown Sidney for 15 years is closing.
Alan Mayfield, owner-operator of the Victoria Lavender Store on Beacon Avenue, said he is closing the business because he is tired, but the business will remain open until all product has sold.
B次元官网网址淚 have been trying to retire for about three years, and failed miserably,B次元官网网址� said Mayfield, who is 74 years old. The store B次元官网网址� along with the Lavender farm that he owns B次元官网网址� requires a lot of work and one of his two staff B次元官网网址� herself 65 years old B次元官网网址� asked him several months ago about retirement, said Mayfield. B次元官网网址淪o it sort of all came together at the same time,B次元官网网址� he said.
That said, business has been going strong. B次元官网网址淭he business has been great,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f ever you wanted to have a lavender retail store, the best place for it, as far as I know, is Sidney, just because of the demographics. Our typical customer base is the more mature lady, and obviously, we have loads of them. It worked out very, very well.B次元官网网址�
Overall, Sidney has been B次元官网网址渧ery, very, very goodB次元官网网址� to the business, said Mayfield. B次元官网网址淚n the 15 years, we have made money every single year.B次元官网网址�
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Mayfield purchased the store 15 years ago while he was shopping for an apartment. B次元官网网址淚n fact, I wasnB次元官网网址檛 planning on having a store here,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 came to Sidney and went to look at a vacant apartment in the Landmark building, and as I went up with the realtor to have a look at the apartment, that little shop that we have was vacant and for lease. So I took them both.B次元官网网址�
Even if Mayfield is closing the store, he plans to retain his lavender farm along the Pat Highway near the Sidney Visitor Centre.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 my home, and I intend to live out my days here on the farm,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he will continue to farm and harvest lavender. B次元官网网址淭hat is a six to eight-week-job every year,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he rest of the time, it will just be my home. Lavender is a perennial. Bushes will grow back every year and we will just harvest them.B次元官网网址�
Last year, Mayfield closed his lavender farm to the public because of the work involved.
But Mayfield plans to retain a presence in downtown Sidney with a portable stand during SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Thursday Night Market. B次元官网网址淭hat will be my way of being able to stay in touch with the community,B次元官网网址� he said.
Mayfield started to grow and sell lavender after a lengthy career in the provincial lumber industry. Following back-to-back heart attacks in 2000 and 2001, Mayfield retired from the lumber industry and eventually found himself working with lavender, which meshed well with his family background in farming.
B次元官网网址淟avender has a long history, and it is associated with peace and relaxation, and totally de-stressing you,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought, if I was going to do something, that would be a very good thing to be associated with following a couple of heart attacks.B次元官网网址�
Mayfield had no idea about growing and selling lavender when he started, said he could not have been happier with his choice, and with the way the community has responded.
B次元官网网址淚 love our community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 intend to stay here forever, and IB次元官网网址檓 very grateful to Sidney for the support that they given to us over the years.B次元官网网址�
nick.murray@peninsulanewsreview.com
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