Since Small Business Week was celebrated last year, Kamsack’s business community can boast that a new small business has opened, or dramatic changes have been made to an existing business, at an average of almost one a month.
Looking through copies of the Times since October 2015, one will discover that at least 11 small businesses have either opened or changed dramatically.
The list begins in November 2015, when Eugene and Joan Tataryn opened Penny’s Liquidation in the former SaskPower building on main street. It is a store that handles new liquidation-type products, garage and estate sale used items and antiques.
At the end of November, Mitul Kakadiya and Nirav Petl of Yorkton purchased the Kamsack Subway restaurant from Dan Davidson, who had opened the 1,400 square-foot restaurant in May 2015. The partners, who were each 25 years old, were the owners of Subway restaurants in Tisdale and Langenburg and share ownership with another partner in a Dollar Store with More in North Battleford and a gas station and liquor store in South Carolina.
In December, Hillary and Aaron Walter, owners of the Kamsack Family Pharmacy, acquired the assets of the former Norquay Drugstore from May Chan who had operated the Norquay Drugstore for 36 years and had retired with her husband Henry to Saskatoon. After renovating the store the Walters re-opened it as the Norquay Family Pharmacy.
A Cote Siding couple, not shy with their praises for the district’s beautiful scenery and outstanding opportunities for outdoor adventure, announced in January that they had decided to share their home in a new accommodations business. Warren and Brenda Andrews of Cote Siding made alterations to their home in order to accommodate up to two adults in a business they call Mountain Garden Accommodations.
In February, Sarah Monaghan, a woman with 20 years of experience as a massage therapist, opened a massage therapy and counselling practice called Soulward Bound. The business opened in Room 200 at Crowstand Centre.
Kerri Bletsky, who had operated The Flowr Mill in Canora for three years, opened The Flower Mill and Home Décor Store in Kamsack in April. Bletsky, who said she has had a knack for design her whole life, opened the store on the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street. Occupying 1,150 square feet, the shop includes a cooler for fresh flowers, a workbench, a dramatic entrance, display shelves loaded with interesting products and walls covered with attractive home décor items. The business is currently being expanded to occupy an adjoining building.
In May, it was announced that a numbered company owned by Jason McDougall, the CEO and major shareholder of the Fields chain of stores, had purchased the Kamsack Shopping Plaza from Craig Tysowski. At the time of purchase, McDougall said that he was looking to fill the mall with tenants.
During the summer, Jeff Airriess placed an advertisement in the Times, announcing that he was doing business under the name Airriess Construction and was interested in work infoving roofing, interior and exterior renovations and residential and farm building construction. He offered Telehandler services and custom built log cabins.
In August, Tim Derwores of Kamsack purchased the drain cleaning portion of Kurt the Plumber’s business from Kurt Moritz, who had left the community. Derwores said he had decided to continue to provide the service under the business name of DM Drain Cleaning and would include “roto-rooting” equipment that uses a camera that allows him to see inside pipes without first having to dig them up.
In September, Chris Bear, a journeyman electrician, returned home after having been away for about a dozen years, and began a business called Chris Bear Electrical Solutions. He said that if it’s anything to do with electrical, he has the solution.
Brittainy Spence, who recently moved to Kamsack from Melville, has announced that at the beginning of this month she will be moving into the former K Café building on main street which she will have converted into Brittfit Fitness, a women’s only fitness studio.
