Business that left downtown Vernon over crime, says it's time to come back

A Vernon businessman who left the city centre a year ago after multiple break-ins is back – and he says things have been cleaned up.

Bryce Wach packed up his Okanagan Skate Co. and moved to the Alpine Centre on Kalamalka Lake Road in December 2019.

That was after the 30th Avenue skateboard shop was broken into three times, merchandise was stolen and Wach had his tires slashed.

"There's a stigma, whether or not it's true, that people are scared to go downtown," Wach said at the time. "And that hurts our businesses in terms of foot traffic, and ultimately our revenue."

Now, he's getting ready to open up right across the street from his old shop.

He called a temporary closure at the beginning of the pandemic "a nice vacation," and now he's ready to come back downtown.

"It's important to keep attention on our downtown area. We don't want to lose our urban culture," he said Thursday.

"Downtown is where the action is ... it's nice to be back."

Wach credits efforts over the past year or so to house the homeless, along with government support payments during the pandemic, for a perceived drop in crime.

He's hoping to open next Friday, Jan. 29, and is currently stocking up the new store and receiving new merchandise along with updating his online store.