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Read All Latest NewsPoke Shop Opening is a ‘Good Sign’ For Downtown Langford: Mayor
Langford has one more local business within its boundaries, pushing the city ever closer to its goal of making the downtown area a place to shop and do business in, instead of just a suburb.
PokeAye officially opened for business with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday (Sept. 7) attended by mayor and council, representatives from the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, and their new neighbours and fellow small business owners on Peatt Road.
“The previous council started working on this corridor down Peatt Road where we want businesses like this that are open on weekends, open late, creating that vibrancy, and we are slowly building that on,” said Mayor Scott Goodmanson. “It’s a good sign. These aren’t chains that are being supported by an international conglomerate, these are mom-and-pop businesses that are opening up. They put everything they have into it, and they are doing it because they trust the city to have the customers to support the business.”
Goodmanson said the city is continuing the work initiated by the previous council, which among other things strived to reduce red tape to encourage small businesses.
“A lot of people asked me why ‘Langford, why not downtown (Victoria)?’ That’s because I have lived in Langford for almost 10 years, and I have witnessed all of the development, the vibrancy,” said PokeAye co-owner Joshua Tiong, who also co-owns a location in Richmond. “But the food scene doesn’t have a lot of selection, especially later in the day after a long day of work when you don’t want to cook … we heard the calling in Langford, and here we are.”
PokeAye is now open at 103-2830 Peatt Rd.