For the past 23 years, Gerry Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick’s Christmas Trees has sold trees in a lot across from the old Zellers building on Third Avenue. With the sale of the building earlier this year, Kirkpatrick has had to find another location for his retail business.
So this Saturday, Nov. 20 he will open a new retail lot in the Canadian Tire Garden Centre, on Johnston Road.
Kirkpatrick’s U-cut tree lot opens this week too. His is the first tree lot on the right as you go to the Alberni Valley Regional Airport.
Moving is a bit stressful and a bit bittersweet, said Kirkpatrick.
“We’re not abandoning downtown. That was still my plan was to stay there,” until the new owners let him know someone else would be moving into the building.
Kirkpatrick also wholesales some of his trees to other locations on the Island, and this year has arranged for some to be included in Winter Wonderland at the AV Multiplex.
Kirkpatrick has listed his Christmas tree farm for sale, this year with a realtor. “I turned 65 this year. I want to retire,” he said.
The U-cut lot is open every day at 10:30 a.m. The Canadian Tire lot will be open every day until Dec. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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