Originally from Rocky Harbour, Roberts became discouraged by the employment prospects that suited him in the west coast city.
When he and his brother, Shawn, set out to create a line of T-shirts a few years back, the idea quickly donned on them that their little enterprise might be more lucrative if they had the machine to do the shirts themselves.
The idea kept percolating. They put together a business plan and, with some help from the Business Development Bank of Canada, were soon off and running towards being in control of their product.
They opened Empire Atlantic, which sold a wide variety of licenced apparel and customizable clothing, in the Valley Mall in 2010. With Shawn’s keen interest in gaming, the store also sold toys and collectibles.
It wasn’t the only idea Roberts had. Seeing no one was providing hemp-based clothing, food or health and body products, he opened The Hemp Connection in the Goodhouse Building on West Street.
Besides the hemp products, Roberts also ran a sign-printing business out of adjacent offices at the West Street location.
Since opening, Roberts and his brother have been on the lookout for a building where they could house both businesses. Now they’ve done that, having recently set up both shops in the former More For Less bulk food store building on Herald Avenue.
Empire Atlantic recently landed a deal to create and sell official Corner Brook Royals merchandise. They have even produced the lion mascot for the team and are in the midst of conducting a contest for kids to name the mascot.
Now that they have loads of room to keep expanding, Roberts hopes they keep getting reasons to do just that.
“I’m taking a gamble on Corner Brook and it seems Corner Brook wants us,” he said of the support the businesses have been gaining.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Originally from Rocky Harbour, Roberts became discouraged by the employment prospects that suited him in the west coast city.
When he and his brother, Shawn, set out to create a line of T-shirts a few years back, the idea quickly donned on them that their little enterprise might be more lucrative if they had the machine to do the shirts themselves.
The idea kept percolating. They put together a business plan and, with some help from the Business Development Bank of Canada, were soon off and running towards being in control of their product.
They opened Empire Atlantic, which sold a wide variety of licenced apparel and customizable clothing, in the Valley Mall in 2010. With Shawn’s keen interest in gaming, the store also sold toys and collectibles.
It wasn’t the only idea Roberts had. Seeing no one was providing hemp-based clothing, food or health and body products, he opened The Hemp Connection in the Goodhouse Building on West Street.
Besides the hemp products, Roberts also ran a sign-printing business out of adjacent offices at the West Street location.
Since opening, Roberts and his brother have been on the lookout for a building where they could house both businesses. Now they’ve done that, having recently set up both shops in the former More For Less bulk food store building on Herald Avenue.
Empire Atlantic recently landed a deal to create and sell official Corner Brook Royals merchandise. They have even produced the lion mascot for the team and are in the midst of conducting a contest for kids to name the mascot.
Now that they have loads of room to keep expanding, Roberts hopes they keep getting reasons to do just that.
“I’m taking a gamble on Corner Brook and it seems Corner Brook wants us,” he said of the support the businesses have been gaining.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
