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OUTLOOK: Maple Ridge attracting unique new businesses

New businesses from Vegas Donuts to The Patch Brewery show vibrant community

It can be taken as a good sign that a one-of-a-kind doughnut shop has chosen Maple Ridge as a place to open a new store, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Brothers Mike and Steve McBean of Vegas Donuts will bring their unique pastries to the heart of downtown at 22361 Lougheed Highway, just a few doors down from the junction of the highway and 224th Street.

These doughnuts have toppings like pickles, roasted marshmallows, and caramel corn, and are based on family recipes – their parents had a shop in Sin City during the 1960s. The grandsons revived the concept in Vancouver last May, and now Maple Ridge. They are planning a grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 8, with Elvis, Mayor Dan Ruimy and free doughnuts.

"Them coming from a downtown (Vancouver) location and choosing Maple Ridge is pretty cool," said Kristy Maier, CEO of the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce. "It's shows this is a great place to do business."

The new business owner brings a unique product.

"Our donuts are handmade fresh daily with quality ingredients and unique retro flavours featuring a different fritter flavour every day and several cream-filled donuts such as tropical, cherry, pineapple, chocolate, blueberry, maple, ube (a species of yam), orange, banana and several others," said Mike. "Vegas Donuts is a brightly lit, fun and colourful old fashioned doughnut shop that's great for families and the community."

Maier loves to see the city gaining diverse businesses, so people can stay in their home town and access a variety of goods and services.

The business booster sees a lot of entrepreneurs opening up shop here, and cites Mueller and Co., on Dewdney Trunk Road as a good example. Selling items promoted as "curated pieces for home and closet," Lori Mueller opened her store in mid November.

"It was a good time to open, and the community has been super supportive," Mueller said. "And they love shopping local, which is great."

She chose her home of 16 years to open her first business, and said the community has been welcoming.

"The response has been fantastic," she said. "They like that it's unique, that we have some different products."

Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill recently opened at Maple Ridge Square. The Patch Brewery sprouted from the Laity family farm, on the street that bears their name, and is a "spectacular business."

"I was there for their opening, and they were lined up out the door," said Maier.

Coming soon is a new wine and pasta spot on 224th Street, in the former Silver Valley Brewing location, which will be run by local entrepreneurs Rayne Beveridge and Christopher Janowski. They're best known for running the Sunflower Cafe in Maple Ridge, which is a farm-to-table restaurant, where the tables are literally set up at the farm.

It's a fast-growing city in terms of population, with a sense of pent-up demand for products and services, but more commercial space is needed to keep up to the demand for new businesses, she added.

Maier said it's the chamber's job to advocate for businesses in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and admits they do face some challenges – similar challenges to every downtown business in the region.

"It couldn't be more important to shop local," said Maier. "Costs are going up, and businesses are already finding it hard."

There are already many excellent boutique, exclusive, family businesses, and Maier hopes they attract more of the same.

"We have a thriving community, one of the fastest growing in the province, and that's great for business."

The collective impact of the entrepreneurial spirit is huge. Small businesses make up 98 per cent of all businesses in the province, and provide 55 per cent of all private-sector jobs in B.C.

The City of Pitt Meadows is also working hard to attract business investment.

“Pitt Meadows offers a business-friendly climate, with a strong sense of community and excellent connectivity,” said Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “The city is supportive of business growth, and provides a welcoming environment to help business thrive.”

She said the city is working to advance the North Lougheed Area Plan at the corner of the highway and Harris Road, has a Complete Communities Project to create a vibrant town centre, and further development at the Pitt Meadows Airport creates more opportunities for business.



Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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