Drumheller will be welcoming some new businesses to the downtown area soon.

Although there may still be for lease signs in front of the properties on Centre Street and 3 Avenue West, they have indeed been leased. 

Bob Sheddy, Commercial Real Estate agent for Century 21, said the four properties with these signs are leased which leaves only one or two vacancies in the downtown core. 

“The other impressive thing is that I estimate another $100,000 of landlord renovations will be put into them to make them bright and beautiful,” he said.

“It is important for me to relay to my fellow Drumhellerites, that there are 60+ retail spaces in the downtown core so one to five vacancies in a recession is not unhealthy. Sometimes we focus on the empty spaces and don’t rejoice the entrepreneurship in the other 55 spaces,” he explained.

He told inSide Drumheller that downtown retail and office spaces are typically 1/3 of the cost of spaces along the highway. 

“I have to applaud the administration and Council a few years ago, for making the decision to strategically pave parking lots in behind our downtown main streets, allowing the shop keepers to park in the alleys and customers to park along the main streets,” he said.

Sheddy said that he is “confident that downtown Drumheller is not dying. Retailers find it hard to compete head to head with big box stores. The downtown retailers that survive think outside the box and provide a service or specialty product that big box stores do not offer. This is the true definition of entrepreneurship, finding opportunities in the market,” Sheddy said.

Susan Kolenz, owner and broker of Re/Max Drumheller said downtown is not dead.

“It’s struggling right now and I think more than anything it is just the global recession,” she told inSide Drumheller.

“I truly believe that the entrepreneurs and business owners of downtown Drumheller need to stay open and welcome business to downtown Drumheller,” she explained.

“I think we are going to be here for a long time. Drumheller has been through this before and we are going to go forward.”

A couple of the members of Goouch’s gang are hanging out in Drumheller today (Friday, July 31).
Rob Richmond, and his mom, are at Freson Bros. Drumheller selling raffle tickets for the 26^th annual Rumsey Ride for STARS taking place Sunday August 9.
The pair will be at the grocery store until about 6 p.m. selling tickets to raise money for STARS.
Tickets are $2 each, $3 for 5 or $25 for 25 tickets.
Prizes include first prize of a homemade quilt by Eleanor and JoAnne Richmond,  a second prize of $250 worth of Freson Bros. gift cards donated by Drumheller Freson Bros., third prize is two tickets for the steam train trip  donated by Alberta Railway Excursions in Stettler, fourth prize is artwork donated by Lee Cawiezel, fifth prize is a patio table set and pool donated by Angie and Rob Richmond and sixth prize is a $100 gift card for Co-op donated by Central Alberta CO-OP’s.
All money raised from the raffle ticket sales will be donated directly to STARS.