By Steve Hubrecht
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For the first time in a long time the part of Invermere’s downtown around the arena is bustling with local businesses.
Earlier this fall, several new business set up shop on the stretch of 13th Street that runs east from the 13th Street’s-7th Avenue intersection (commonly known as ‘Disfunction Junction’ because of the offset way the streets intersect) to the arena, the old rodeo ground and the small inuksuk park. The opening of these businesses — including Copper City Physical Therapy, Bosley’s by Pet Valu, and The Brick — marks the first time in more than a decade and a half that this ‘downtown’ part of 13th Street is not marred with multiple vacant storefronts. The area has long been hailed by concerned residents as evidence of the ‘death of downtown’.
Those worried about the issue say the smaller, unique, boutique retail stores that give downtown Invermere its distinctive mountain town character cannot survive, let alone thrive, in the current economic climate, and that much of the commercial activity taking place in pedestrian-friendly downtown Invermere will inevitably be forced to shut down or move to the bigger spaces and cheaper rents of the crossroads, where a big-box-store-with-large-parking-lot aesthetic dominates.
Invermere mayor, Al Miller, is particularly close to the issue, since it was his decision to move Invermere’s Home Hardware (which Miller is also owner of) to the crossroads in 2005 that kickstarted the forecast of doom for the downtown. The building once occupied by Home Hardware has been at least partially empty since the move, and Miller is delighted to see it completely occupied once again.
“It’s the first time since 2005 that 13th Street has been full, or at least very close to full, in terms of commercial spaces,” Miller told the Pioneer. “I’m especially pleased to see that part of town full, and in my mind, quite vibrant.”
He explained that starting in 2007, not long after Home Hardware moved to the crossroads, Invermere went through “many years of touch economic times” which played a big role in keeping storefronts on 13th Street vacant, and the old Home Hardware building empty.
“I always thought it would be made into smaller commercial spaces. That never happened, then the crash of 2007-2008 hit and it took many years for the local economy to recover. There just weren’t the retailers to fill the larger spaces,” said Miller, adding the local economy has changed remarkably in the past two years, since the COVID-19 pandemic started, which has resulted in multiple new businesses opening in Invermere.
“So, for instance, more and more people have been getting pets during the pandemic, so there is a need for more pet supplies. And somebody saw that need, and opened a pet supply store. Then somebody realized there’s a lot of new people moving to Invermere during the pandemic, and so decided to open up The Brick, which offers home furnishing and appliances,” he said. “All in all it’s a good sign that the economy in Invermere is doing reasonably well. Other retailers look at that, these stores opening, and realize the downtown could be a good place to do business. It helps make the downtown core that much stronger for everybody.”
Does it put to bed the ‘death of downtown’ argument for good?
“I keep hearing the crossroads will kill downtown and I have to disagree with that. Some stores, and we at Home Hardware were one of them, really do have a need for the bigger spaces at the crossroads, but the downtown is beautiful, it’s great to walk around, and there is so much there,” he said. “I always knew it would fill back up with retailers. It just took some time. I’m happy to see it back.”
