CORNER BROOK While some businesses in Pasadena have closing down or relocating to Corner Brook, Mayor Gary Bishop also sees positive change in his community.
Bishop said some businesses are leaving Pasadena because there isn’t enough land in the industrialized area to maintain their means.
“We don’t have the space,” Bishop said. “Our industrial parks are filled ... if we were to establish or develop another industrial park, it would be so people can use it too.”
Philly’s Cafe has closed, Superior Propane moved in September 2009, Good Buddy Sports relocated in May, Johnson’s Construction Ltd is moving this winter and Marine Contractors is moving its headquarters next summer.
“We have to expand our commercial base and in order to do that you have to have industrial areas where people can develop,” he said. “There’s no space available. We don’t have a block of land.”
Bishop also said Pasadena’s commercial space is inadequate.
Gary Warren, owner of Good Buddy Sports, says his business left because there is better retail opportunity in Corner Brook and, business is “different” in the city.
“Corner Brook is where everybody shops,” he said.
He’s not surprised some businesses are leaving Pasadena to relocate in Corner Brook.
“It seems like businesses are finding it hard to survive in Pasadena because most of the people (in Pasadena) work in Corner Brook or Deer Lake and support those areas.”
Meanwhile, a new Mary Brown’s franchise has opened at the Irving gas station, a new car wash with storage units will be located on Main Street and is opening in the spring, a new convenience store called Trudy’s has recently opened. Last year Shears Building Supplies opened up on Main Street, and a seniors complex is being built on Second Avenue. Bishop also said the town is growing through an expansion of the Canadian Trails which runs through Main Street, and there were 34 new housing starts this year.
Pasadena offers a five-year tax holiday for businesses that set up which do not compete with other businesses in the community.
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