Introducing The Rail Yard Market on Shoppers Row

The City of Campbell River (the City) is excited to announce the official opening of The Rail Yard Market (formerly the Campbell River Micro Market), in the heart of downtown Campbell River. Following a soft launch a few weeks ago, the City and market vendors are excited to welcome you to an event marking The Rail Yard Market’s official opening.

Event details:

• Date: Friday, September 13, 2024
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Location: The Rail Yard Market, 1235 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, B.C.

Honouring the historic logging rail lines and steam powered locomotives that revolutionized the logging industry—ushering in growth, innovation, and building our community—The Rail Yard Market supports today's entrepreneurial spirit to help drive Campbell River's modern economy.

The Rail Yard Market is intended to serve as a launchpad for micro businesses, offering new retailers an opportunity to scale up operations, build their customer bases and test their concepts in a supportive environment. One of the standout features of The Rail Yard Market is its affordable, short-term lease rates. This flexible approach provides an opportunity for emerging businesses to establish themselves without the long-term financial commitment typically associated with brick-and-mortar locations.

The market is home to four promising new retailers who are eager to make their mark: The Mossy Coast (www.themossycoast.com), Maggie’s Treats (www.maggiestreats.ca), The Tin Can Pottery Shop (@emmaheitzmannartstudio), and Sinfully Delicious (www.sinfullyd.com). Each business brings a fresh perspective and unique offerings to the community, enhancing the local retail landscape and showcasing the breadth of talent and innovation in Campbell River. All four of the new businesses will be participating in business training provided by the Rural Island Economic Partnership. This training opportunity will be extended to up to four additional entrepreneurs.

“The Rail Yard Market is a fresh, bustling addition to the heart of downtown Campbell River. The City of Campbell River would like to acknowledge the City of Langford for providing the inspiration for this project through the success of Langford Station,” says Mayor Kermit Dahl. “The Rail Yard Market provides opportunities for small and home-based businesses to learn, grow and scale up to permanent locations, while adding diverse retail options to locals and visitors alike. I encourage everyone to get down to Shoppers Row on September 13 and throughout the year to support these incredible local businesses.”

Funding for The Rail Yard Market is provided by the BC Government, Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation – Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), the Island Coastal Economic Trust – Capital and Innovation Program and the City of Campbell River.

For more information about The Rail Yard Market, visit https://getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/the-rail-yard-market.

Apply to become a vendor at the City’s Micro Market, opening downtown this summer.

The City of Campbell River (the City) is accepting applications for four retail spaces in the new Campbell River Micro Market, opening this summer on Shoppers Row. With its prime location and vibrant atmosphere amongst all the downtown programming, the Micro Market is set to be a hub of creativity and community engagement.

The Micro Market will feature a variety of offerings, creating a dynamic shopping experience. Located in the heart of downtown Campbell River, on the corner of 13th Avenue and Shoppers Row, beside the Campbell River Art Gallery, this retail space offers vendors the chance to showcase their products to a diverse audience of locals and tourists alike, at an affordable rate. The Micro Market will provide mentorship and guidance to help vendors grow their businesses and navigate the challenges and maximize the opportunities of entrepreneurship. The micro-units offer short-term leases for 12 to 36 months on a rotating basis.

Residents of Campbell River and the surrounding area who are looking to set up a new retail business are encouraged to apply. Emerging businesses with unique product offerings that are locally sourced or produced will be given priority.

“We are excited to launch this new initiative, which reflects our commitment to supporting local talent and fostering economic growth in our community,” said Campbell River Mayor, Kermit Dahl. “The Campbell River Micro Market is not just a place to shop — it’s a platform for entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration, and we’re excited to explore the new offerings that will feature there this summer. Apply today!”

For more information and to apply to become a Micro Market vendor, visit the City’s online engagement platform at getinvolved.campbellriver.ca/micro-market and download an application. Submit your completed application to invest@campbellriver.ca. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and shortlisted applications will be reviewed by a committee for final selection.

Funding for this program is provided by the Provincial Government, Island Coastal Economic Trust and the City.

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Contact: Rose Klukas, Director of Economic Development and Indigenous Relations | 250-895-0667 | rose.klukas@campbellriver.ca

Community engagement, including a survey, pop-up, and focus groups, will take place this month.

The City of Campbell River (the City) is developing a micro market in Campbell River’s downtown core and is looking to the business community and residents for input on the design of the outdoor retail market. This is a new project investment with funding from Island Coastal Economic Trust and the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program delivered through the Province of British Columbia.

The feedback survey is available now at Get Involved Campbell River, the City’s online engagement platform, and the deadline is November 21, 2023. Focus groups and other engagement activities will take place in mid-November, including in-person engagement on November 17 and 18, 2023.

The micro market looks to increase local business vitality and stimulate visitor attraction and resident engagement. The project will involve small and medium-sized businesses that are home or market-based and are looking to grow their businesses into a permanent retail location.

Micro-units offer short-term, affordable lease rates for 12 to 36 months on a rotating basis. They support entrepreneurs and artisans as they grow and establish their business within the first years of operation. Successful applicants will also participate in entrepreneurial programming provided by the City’s Economic Development Department.

“Moving this project forward with the support and valuable insights of the business community and residents in Campbell River and the Strathcona Regional District is incredibly exciting,” said Leah Knutson, Economic Development and Tourism Manager. “Feedback from the businesses that will use this space and the residents that will frequent it will provide direction for the units, surrounding infrastructure and amenities, that will make this a space a vibrant community hub.”

Planning Process

Community engagement will provide insights that will guide the planning and design of the micro units, as well as surrounding infrastructure and amenities for the market area. The planning process will consist of three phases:

Phase 1 – Collecting background research, including case studies, economic, environment, and information on how businesses, organizations, and the general public use the area.

Phase 2 – Exploring community vision, identification of key issues, opportunities and priorities to realize the vision for the micro-unit retail market.

Phase 3 – An architect develops and delivers a design concept to the City of Campbell River for a micro-unit retail market based on information gathered in phases 1 & 2.

The project team will present a What We Heard report and design concept to Council in early 2024.

For more information on this project, and to take the survey, visit Micro Market | Get Involved Campbell River