Suds and safety in the Village

As convenience stores shutter across Winnipeg, a Manitoba brewery is capitalizing on the vacant space left behind in Osborne Village to offer a new spot to grab a brew.

Farmery Estate Brewing Co. of Neepawa opened a bottle shop at Osborne Street and Roslyn Road last month. The Circle K convenience store that used to operate in that space didn’t renew its lease in September.

While the brewery had a location near Donald Street and Gertrude Avenue for five years, co-owner Chris Warwaruk said the move takes the brand into the “heart of Osborne Village.” He said he’d searched for an opening in the area for months.

“We just want to be an easy connection to the customers in the village that live there, and be an option to people that haven’t had a chance to try our brand yet, and I think that this is a good way for us to get exposure,” he told the Free Press.

Warwaruk said he’s taking security at the shop seriously, as safety has been a lingering concern in the area.

In early October, two people violently assaulted two strangers at River Avenue and Osborne Street close to the new shop.

Circle K’s closure joins the growing list of convenience stores shutting down due to increased thefts, including a North Kildonan 7-Eleven location set to shut down in the next couple of months.

To ensure the new store is safe for both employees and patrons, Warwaruk said all products are kept behind the counter, which has a clear plexiglass barrier separating staff from customers. He also said two employees always work in the store, and it has large front-facing windows so people can clearly see inside.

Farmery has also already co-ordinated with police foot patrols in the area and the Osborne Village BIZ, he added.

Warwaruk is no stranger to Osborne Street. He previously was in the restaurant business for 17 years, most recently operating South Osborne eatery Luxalune Gastropub, before closing the restaurant in 2016 to focus on the brewery.

Other craft breweries have also expanded their presence on Osborne Street this year. Nonsuch Brewing Co. opened a bottle shop at the corner of Osborne Street and Morley Avenue and Good Neighbour Brewing Co. now has a cold beer store near Rathgar Avenue and Osborne Street.

Zohreh Gervais, executive director of Osborne Village BIZ, said Farmery’s approach to security and selling its products can reduce any risk of thefts or negative impacts from having another alcohol store in the neighbourhood.

There are fewer vacancies in the area, as more foot traffic is returning to shops, Gervais said.

“It’s nice to see that the turnaround on these properties is getting quicker and quicker, and I think that’s a good metric to show that the village is a desirable neighborhood for doing business,” Gervais said.

Nick Kowalchuk, executive director of Gas Station Arts Centre, located at the corner of River Avenue and Osborne St., said it’s encouraging to have Farmery move into the vacant space.

“It’s a local business that I support and want to support,” he said.

The centre has made its own safety improvements, building a fenced-in patio in August. Those changes and the increased police presence have helped address security issues in the area, Kowalchuk said.

Glenn Denby is the co-owner of Sierra Cafe and Lounge at 160 Osborne St., which also recently moved into the community. The eatery opened on Sept. 24.

Denby said he already met with Farmery staff and is considering stocking its non-alcoholic drinks to offer local options.

He said new housing developments being built are making the area more attractive, and Farmery’s addition will further that progress.

“I find a lot more people are coming to the area. There’s no place in the entire city like it,” Denby said.

Newly-elected Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jeff Palmer said he was briefly concerned when the Circle K convenience store shut down, but was pleased to see Farmery move in.

“It’s really a great vote of confidence in the neighborhood. I do get excited when a local brand takes over a space that was occupied by a national chain. It’s a shot in the arm for our local manufacturers and retailers,” he said.

matthew.frank@winnipegfreepress.com