By Hazel Smith,
Bruce Peninsula Press
Peacock’s Foodland in Tobermory expects to move out of its longtime harbour location onto Highway 6, a kilometre south of the present Bay Street location, by spring of 2022. A grocery store has operated at the present site since around 1960. The Peacock family, Ron and Barb with son Rick, acquired the store in 1974 and have continually expanded operations, growing the store to its current 6,500 square feet. Rick’s son, Ricky is now a vital part of this vibrant going concern.
Foodland, a Canadian chain founded in 1985, is owned by Sobeys and its stores are typically located in rural locations at sizes somewhere between 14,000 to 32,000 square feet (372 to 2,973 m2). The new Tobermory store will be 25,000 square feet, quadrupling the shopping space of the current store.
Peacock’s acquired the new Highway 6 property 8 years ago and spent more than 6 years completing archeological and environmental surveys and obtaining various permissions, including from the Ministry of Transportation to install the new turning lane which was built last spring.
Finally after years of “hurry up and wait”, the first sign of real activity began this summer with site preparation. Actual building construction has at last begun with workmen on site preparing footings and foundation. Owner, Rick Peacock, is hopeful doors will open mid-June 2022. He says his staff of about 20 are “pretty excited” about the move.
Although he says he will miss the “life of the harbour”, it’s past time for the move — they have more than outgrown their current location. He adds, “Absolutely everyone is excited about increased parking.” Ninety spots are planned, as well as the prospect of wider shopping aisles, 6.5 feet compared to the current 4 feet.
With all the extra space, Peacock anticipates more product on the shelves, reducing the amount of time staff will need to spend keeping product available, and adding significantly greater variety to the range of goods they are able to carry.
Asked what other benefits he sees in the new store, Peacock adds the better economy of three-phase hydro and having all operations on a single floor.
At one time up to three general stores were located in the harbour area: Leslie’s (site of the Blue Bay Motel); the Belrose Store (the Trading Post building); and Golden’s Store (Peninsula Supply Ice Cream). Peacock’s represents the end of a long tradition and its move marks the end of a year-round retail location in the harbour area, long thought of as the heart of the village of Tobermory. Peacock says that downtown grocery stores are not viable as they once were and the influx of visitors in the harbour area has made their store inaccessible to many would-be shoppers.
While many long-time and year-round residents may miss the presence of this hub in the harbour area, most welcome the ease and convenience promised by a bigger store and the highway location.
When asked for his reaction to the new store, neighbour Stan Hofstrand says, “It can’t happen soon enough. I’ve been waiting 7 years for this!” He believes it will be very good for the community in general and will draw shoppers from the Dyers Bay and Miller Lake area to shop in the community now that parking won’t be an issue. Asked if he’s worried about increased traffic or congestion in front of his house, Hofstrand replied that he was excited when the turning lane was put in and believes there will not be a noticeable difference from current traffic levels.
New community members, Joel Griffin and Angela Lennon, owners respectively of the Dude Bro Potato Co food truck and Stonehouse Boutique & Aesthetics, are enthusiastic about the relocation next door to their businesses. Joel describes it as, “Awesome news, the best thing to happen in town in the past 5 to 10 years.” He says it will likely increase foot traffic for their businesses but also “grow the town” in general, pushing what is defined as the village southward considerably.
Long-time current neighbours, Dale and Susan Lyons (of Verna’s), are harbour residents who say they will miss the convenience of walking next door to shop on a daily basis but believe the new store and new location is a “much needed improvement for everyone for ease of access”. “We’ll certainly miss them,” says Dale Lyons, “we’ve always had a great relationship.”
Young professional, Tara Gibbons, Office Manager at Remax, is also “super excited” about the new store. At present she estimates she buys about half of her groceries locally either at Peacock’s Foodland or at Hellyer’s in Lion’s Head and the rest in Owen Sound. She anticipates the local percentage will increase without the hassle of finding parking.
Peacock says he definitely hopes the new store will encourage more people to shop local as the year-round population is very important to the overall viability of the store.
