G'Mornin', Howard!
Yes, I knew Garnett, though I knew his dad better. Can't recall his name ... a
sign of age, I suspect.
Garnett's Dad was indeed wise to buy the building.
When I first started, my dad had been on the same corner for nearly 40 years.
But, our lease had only a few years to go. In 1970 dad suggested we buy a small
building diagonally across from us, at a cost of just $17,000, as "insurance"
against losing our lease. But I owed my dad over $100,000 (the equivalent of
nearly a million dollars, today). I'd bought the business with a dollar down
and I borrowed the dollar! I was just 20 and could not face the thought of
more debt, so we passed on the deal. Three years later, we lost the lease and
had to move.
That was the biggest mistake of my life, for I bought my own building, 12 years
later, in a less desirable location, for $180,000!
In the end, my business gave me a living, buy my building gave me a retirement.
For many years after I'd closed the shop, I'd go back to Victoria for a visit
and run into old customers. They'd invariably complain that there no longer a
decent place to buy a stereo, in the town - a nice compliment. The next
question was always a given. "Do you miss the store?" I'd tell them the
truth ... that I miss the people. Most of them were great. But, I miss the
business, with its long hours, the 6 1/2 day weeks, the worry about finances
... the same way I miss intestinal flu!
David.
HI David,------
Thought you would know the store. Do you know Garnett? His Dad was very
smart to purchase the building when he did.
I'm sure the store would have been gone years ago if they didn't own the
building. Anyway sorry to see it go.
Howard
From: David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:50:39 -0800
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Shaver Hobbies closing
Hi Howard!
Thanks for making the trip. And giving me one down memory lane!
BC Shaver is an institution in Victoria! Over the years, I purchased
several Austrian-made "Payer-Lux" shavers from them and know the place
well!
As I first remember them, they were in a smaller location further
towards Douglas, but still in the 700 block of Fort St., and my first
two stores were just up the street, at 794 and then 784 Fort St.
In 1989 they took over Aubrey Kent's much larger store, at 742 Fort,
when "Kent's TV" became vacant, after the fellow who bought it from
Aubrey suddenly left town with a bunch of cash, a lot of missing
inventory and a number of debt collectors, hot on his heels!
Your photos are excellent. They show the place just as I remember it,
mezzanine and all!
Thanks again! :->
David.
