There are old businesses like Crabby Bob's which began selling seafood in the early 1980s. The image I was able to take today was the first time I've ever been able to extract a smile - perhaps because he's finally decided to retire. Having said that, Bob has been selling the liveliest Dungeness crab and spot prawns, fresh oysters and perfect frozen (local) swimming scallops for decades his barge-like floating store anchored near the Pier Street Market. Bravo!
One of the new, totally neat shops is Cheddar and Co on Shoppers Row in downtown CR. The revitalization of the core is proceeding with lots of creativity and this shop could
easily be at home in any large urban centre. From the superb cheeses of Saltspring Island - David Wood's gorgeous goats milk concoctions to Over the Moon Dairy's artisan cheeses from the cows that each have names, owner Michelle sells the finest cheeses from across Canada. She also shops locally for her ingredients. She tosses freshly steamed prawns onto Patterson Farms stunning greens...her breads are from Cakebread Artisan Bakery in Courtney but all the rest of her baking is done in house by a lady simply named Madonna. How perfect. 