A well known local downtown business will be moving its operations to Callander later this month.
Vested Interest, which relocated back to downtown North Bay in the former Nutty Chocolatier building back in 2017, will be closing its doors permanently on Saturday, October 10.
"Our North Bay location will close in six days," stated co-owner Jennifer McNutt-Bywater in a social media post this morning.
"After considerable deliberations, we have made the business decision to permanently close the Vested Interest storefront located in downtown North Bay."
Store officials say there will be no layoffs.
"We have decided to focus our energy and our resources on our flagship store in Callander to be able to provide our clientele with a superior experience, whether in-person, curbside, or digitally," said McNutt-Bywater.
McNutt-Bywater says they recently hosted a book signing for a local author along with an ice cream fundraiser for #NoahStrong which is something that no online services like Amazon or EBay can provide locally.
"As everyone knows, the global pandemic has created a myriad of challenges for local retail businesses," she said.
"Now, more than ever is the time to support local businesses if they mean something to you personally or you feel they add value to your community.
"Consider what your buying power, your support, can do to keep local businesses viable. Local businesses support the local community. Local businesses can not do that without your local support."
See related: City fire crews on scene at Main Street fire
See related: Vested Interest returning to downtown
Vested Interest has had other challenges in the downtown as well, when their shared location with Lefebvre's Source for Adventure burned down in early January 2012.
The closing out sale will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday until Saturday.
