In the 30 years since incorporation, Langford has seen a veritable stampede of stores and businesses make their way westwards.

But some businesses have been here since the beginning, or even well before that. Some have closed down throughout the years: Ma MillerB次元官网网址檚 Pub is older than Canada itself, opening in 1864 and serving its last pint back in January 2021. More recently, the Western Speedway waved the checkered flag on nearly 70 years of racing when it closed earlier this year.

The Goldstream Gazette spoke with the owners of three of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 oldest still-open businesses to ask them about how they did it, whatB次元官网网址檚 changed in Langford, and whatB次元官网网址檚 in the future.

SandyB次元官网网址檚 Auto Parts

Weyburn Auto Wrecking first opened in 1938 when Alexander (long for Sandy) Irwin opened the mechanicB次元官网网址檚 shop in Weyburn, Sask. The family spent a few years there until they moved westwards, setting up SandyB次元官网网址檚 Auto Parts on View Street in downtown Victoria in 1945, continuing on in that location until they moved out to Langford in 1981.

B次元官网网址淥ur yard used to be filled with Camaros, Firebirds and Fairmonts and now itB次元官网网址檚 Priuses and vans,B次元官网网址� said Wayne Irwin, grandson of Sandy Irwin and the current owner of the business.

A lot has changed in the business, said Irwin. SandyB次元官网网址檚 used to let people into the yards to pick their own parts and used to keep inventory on cue cards, but now health and safety rules and computers have put a stop to that. LangfordB次元官网网址檚 changed as well. Business has picked up as the city has grown, though the closure of the Western Speedway was a sad one for many people who come into the store.

READ MORE: Then and Now B次元官网网址� how Langford has changed over the past 30 years

Throughout that time, one thing has remained constant: SandyB次元官网网址檚 has been a family business.

B次元官网网址淢y dad was the boss from eight to five and at five oB次元官网网址檆lock, he was my dad. I always respected that. He was the boss, right or wrong. He was right. I was wrong. And then at five oB次元官网网址檆lock, he was my dad.B次元官网网址�

IrwinB次元官网网址檚 own son worked at the store from the age of 16 to 33 before opening his own business in Sooke. Mike Jones has worked at the store since 1981.

The company has six full-time employees and generations of satisfied customers.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e dealt with grandfathers, sons, grandsons, and their children. I used to be younger in the business and now IB次元官网网址檝e got to be the old guy and IB次元官网网址檓 only just about 60.B次元官网网址�

Irwin said SandyB次元官网网址檚 will keep its doors open for many years to come

B次元官网网址淭he people of Langford are very loyal to us. We try to help them out, we donB次元官网网址檛 turn anyone away. We try to get them whatever parts we can. Langford always treats us well, we donB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about theft or anything over the fences, and they respect us. WeB次元官网网址檝e tried to show that back to them and give them good deals on all the parts.B次元官网网址�

Cloth Castle

B次元官网网址淚f you go find a really old picture of Langford B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檒l be like, the train tracks and our building. ItB次元官网网址檚 quite funny,B次元官网网址� said Maria Ratcliffe, daughter of Cloth Castle owner Sylvia Ratcliffe.

Cloth Castle started from humble origins, as the Yarn Barn in 1969 when SylviaB次元官网网址檚 mother Ethel decided she wanted to share her love of knitting with the community. A few years later Sylvia and her husband Joe took over and rebranded, expanding their offerings in the process.

B次元官网网址�(Joe) kind of felt like he wanted it to be a place where people B次元官网网址� the community B次元官网网址� could come and make their clothes because itB次元官网网址檚 always expensive, buying good quality clothes. So that was the reason, theyB次元官网网址檒l need clothes as well as food and because clothes are a necessity.B次元官网网址�

For many of the loyal customers who come in, the store has gone beyond a place to get their necessities.

B次元官网网址淥ur customers kind of become part of the family B次元官网网址� share great things that are happening in their lives, if they need a shoulder to cry on or just a place to be because something is happening B次元官网网址� we just want to be that place because I think weB次元官网网址檙e missing that in communities. We donB次元官网网址檛 have those places anymore, where people used to hang out and get to know each other. ItB次元官网网址檚 all online. Not that online is bad, but we still need to communicate face-to-face.B次元官网网址�

Maria said while things like sewing bees have come and gone as time has passed, the store has been able to provide that hub for people.

Like SandyB次元官网网址檚, Sylvia says sheB次元官网网址檚 starting to see multiple generations of families come into the store interested in sewing. The store also hosts classes, many of them hosted by Bonnie Harper, SylviaB次元官网网址檚 other daughter who herself went on to become a professional seamstress.

Sylvia said four kids who took classes at the Cloth Castle have gone on to sew professionally, while people who have been coming into the store for years are now bringing their children and their grandchildren in.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 76 and IB次元官网网址檓 still coming in, I love the store. I love the people. I still love to come in and serve people and just love to be here and talk to them and stuff like that. ItB次元官网网址檚 better on my legs than sitting around all the time.B次元官网网址�

With both Maria (and her husband Michael) and Bonnie loving working at the store, Cloth Castle is set to stay standing for years to come.

Glenwood Meats

Rick Fisher has spent half a century coming into work in the same building.

Since he was 15, Fisher has been coming into the family business, Glenwood Meats. While there has been some change in that time B次元官网网址� the name changed from Glenwood Farms and the abattoir is long gone B次元官网网址� Fisher has been a constant feature, running the family business since 1981 when he took over from his father (the business first opened in 1950).

B次元官网网址淏ack then we were really in the bush. People didnB次元官网网址檛 have GPS or cellphones and they would get lost and they couldnB次元官网网址檛 find us because they thought, B次元官网网址楾hereB次元官网网址檚 not going to be a meat market way back there in the woods.B次元官网网址� But Langford has grown up considerably since then.B次元官网网址�

With more people have come more customers. The store has loyal shoppers B次元官网网址� Glenwood is also seeing multi-generational family shoppers B次元官网网址� but is also constantly seeing new faces coming in.

B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e in (Costco), and if you see someone who is a customer at Glenwood, and maybe theyB次元官网网址檝e picked something up at Costco, itB次元官网网址檚 actually surprising how theyB次元官网网址檒l see you and theyB次元官网网址檒l turn their buggy and go the other way because that they feel that they maybe cheated on you. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the loyalty that we have here.B次元官网网址�

Competing with the big-box stores is a challenge, but Fisher said customer service and taking requests has helped give them an edge. Many of the staff members have been working for decades, Todd Kendall is still cutting meat 36 years after he first started working for Fisher.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e a family-owned business and the struggles that you have. Then you hear of other small businesses shutting down. It bothers you to see that for sure.B次元官网网址�

The days are long of Fisher and his wife Bal consistently working seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., even when the store isnB次元官网网址檛 open. But he has no plans to stop anytime soon.

B次元官网网址淎s long as you enjoy it, you keep doing it. When people say, B次元官网网址榃hen are you going to retire?B次元官网网址� Maybe theyB次元官网网址檒l just pick me up off the floor B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 enjoying what IB次元官网网址檓 doing. I have no intention of retiring.B次元官网网址�

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