Wednesday, March 18, 1998 ~ North Shore News - 17 north shors news _». BUSINESS Vusaia NEWS photos Mike Wakstield THE holiday-like atmosphere that prevails over North Vancouver's Edgemont Vitiage is a reflection of the attitude of both the area's merchants and their customers. Edgemont is a hidden treasure Robert Galster Mews Reporter robert@nsnews.com EDGEMONT Village is one of the North Shore’s hidden trea- sures. Tucked away in a pocket of commercial activity, the Village boasts a spectacu- lar mountain backdrop and a laid-back pace reminiscent of a town on a perma- nent vacation. And it may as well be because few, if any, of the mer- chants doing busin act ike they're wor The 3000 b Edgemont Boulevi.. . 2. any other commercial block in the area. It is raken up with a variety of enterprises, but unlike other nearby streets, it is divided into two distiner sec- tions representing the old and the new. About a vear ago half the block was demolished to make way for a new development. Today it fills its half of the block, while its alder, estab- lished counterpart continues on unabated next door, though with a larger setback from the street. John Kahlon has been sup- plying his customers with deli and Baked goods tor 15 years. He’s a man of few words, pre- ferring instead to let his actions speak for him. “It’s a business, what's there to tel” he asks with a smile. And has he enjoyed the his time in the village? “That's why Po here — otherwise T wouldn’t be here he answers gruffly. “15 years is a long time.” When Kahlon first opened up shop in the area, there was- n’t much of a village to speak of, but he doesn’t begrudge the changes around him. “Ir used to be not too many shops, not too many apartments,” said Kahton. “The Village is getting bigger, better.” That may be, but the area veteran wasn’t swayed for a second to move his shop to the new building filling the other half of his block. very nice building “sno question about it,” said Kahlon. “Bur this is solid, you can’t move it, it’s fixed, You cant just pick up just like that,” he added wave of the hand to runit that, if neth- se, indeed looks structed building. The fashion retailer made the move from Lonsdale Quay about a vear ago. Kerri Smith has worked at the store for three years and has welcomed the move which was her second, though the first time around it was certain- ly of more consequence: seeing, her move to Canada trom her native Britain tive vears ago. “T just came for a vacation and TU fiked Vancouver and I decided te stay,” said Smith. Interestingly, Smith said Edgemont Village is not unlike Yorkshire, home for most. of her life. “It's like a little community, it reminds me of home, a little village,” said Smith. “Its nice to be on the street too, You can see the mountains — when it’s nat cloudy.” As for those wondering if Yorkshire is the birthplace of the pudding, Smith confirmed it, adding she can make a great one. The secret, said Smith, is to use more water and fess milk. Ailson Fleischen, 19. has only worked ar the Basic Stack Cookware store for a few weeks, but she has already managed to isolate exactly what she likes about it. And, luckily for her, she hasn't come up with anything she dislikes. “It looked like 3 fun place to work,” said: Fleischen, “It's (cooking) one of my interests, it’s in the neighborhood and f can walk to work.” The first qwo months of the vear have been a little slow at the kitchen supply store, but Fleischen doesn’t expect thar to last forever, And with fresh stock currently coming in, kitchen enthusiasis will soon be crowding the aisles. Sussex Insurance oceupiss the southern corner of the street and although the village is asmall community, it never- theless shares its business with a competitor located almost directly across the street. According to Arlene DeLair, who nis been with the office for five years, the village artitude leads the pwo compa- Nies fo CO-EXIST IN peace. “It’s very faid back,” said Delair. “Although we have an insurance agency across the street, we're not really in com- petition with each other.” DeLair also pointed to the an of people who visit the area as being key to its uniqueness, “There are voung families starting out, to middle age. to seniors,” she said. The rest of the street is comprised of (north to south) Delany’s in the Village, ‘Twiga Ethnic Adornments, North Shore Credit Union and Little Caesars Pizza. Uf'vor have a business that is part of a unique block write to Commercial Avennes ¢/o Robert Galster at the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdair Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 2H4 or e-mail: robert@usnews.com KERRI Smith ARLENE DeLair