Quote:
Originally Posted by JHikka
Given its proximity to West side Saint John the lack of services in GBW really isn't that shocking.
|
While I can see your point, not everyone in GB-W or those who live in the upper SJ/Nerepis River Valleys want to always have to travel to the West Side for services. Same as why West Siders don't always want to have to travel East for everything. The population of the town has also been steadily growing albeit not at the same pace as Rothesay and Quispam.
The GB-W catchment are is actually about 7 800 according to this site on the GB-W home page:
http://www.town.grandbay-westfield.nb.ca/profile/p2.htm
If you have been to any of the stores in the town recently, they are filled to capacity and are crowded. Home Hardware, Guardian Drugs, and the former Co-Op come to mind. The Timmy's is very small and the Sobey's is an embarrassment, easily showing its date.
Glad to hear Sobey's does have plans for a new store as well as Home Hardware and Timmy Ho's.
Taking into account the current population and the surrounding catchment, I think GB-W could easily support the following:
-A new, larger size grocery store (hopefully Sobey's will deliver on this)
-A second bank
-Another drug store or a newer expanded one (Shoppers?)
-A stand alone family type restaurant (ideally not fast food, but we'd take what we can get). Try to find a decent place to eat in this town...
It's unfortunate the town has those infrastructure limitations for Col. Nase as this seems to be hindering the growth. There has been a sense in the town for a while, there are certain groups in the town who are not so much pro GB-W development due to wanting to maintain the "small town atmosphere", so I'm wondering how much of that is playing a role here...