Celebrating a Second Anniversary With the Celtic Treasure Chest
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - Steve and Lil McVittie, owners of the Celtic Treasure Chest on Dunbar Street celebrated their second year in business on August 4. I dropped in to speak with them about their vibrant business and the exciting new inventory they've added to their treasure chest.
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STEVE AND LIL MCVITTIE, owners of Celtic Treasure Chest Store in Dunbar.
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One of the first things you notice about the store is the spaciousness - the wide aisles are very accommodating for people in wheelchairs. This is also a comfort when you want check out some product on a lower shelf...you don’t have to move to let other patrons around you.
The amazing thing is that with all that spaciousness, and with four to five times more inventory than a year ago, the shelves are not cluttered, which speaks volumes for good merchandising.
Like many family-owned businesses, the McVitties take great pride in their store and put in long hours while thriving on the challenge. Steve is full of enthusiasm about the merchandise in the store and equally excited about the containers of overseas treasures they are expecting for the Christmas season.
“We have 50 different varieties of bulk teas”, he said, “Irish, Scottish and have just added Welsh tea. We started with three shelves of tea, now we have three sections.” The Celtic Treasure Chest has one of the largest supplies of chutneys anywhere.
Our eccles cakes fly out of their deli and another very popular item is the Dutchie biscuits. They stock a full range and size of meat pies, and carry 14 different types of bacon, and 28 different kinds of sausages, along with sausage rolls, kippers and haddock. There is also a good supply of the popular Golden Wonder, Tayto and Walker crisps.
I was amazed to see that along with all of the British groceries and food items, there is a good selection of souvenirs, candy, toys, mugs and Celtic jewellery. Steve said, “that’s why it’s called the Celtic Treasure Chest.”
A new shipment of Irish merchandise will be arriving in October, just in time for the Christmas season. Steve advises customers to place their orders now and avoid disappointment at the last moment.
For the past two years, Steve has also performed an outstanding job as the parade marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Vancouver. In the first year, 20,000 people crowded into the downtown area on Granville Street for the parade. Last year, it is estimated the crowd doubled, to about 40,000 spectators.
“The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is unlike any other parade in Vancouver”, said Steve. “Usually people leave the downtown area as soon as the parade is over, but with the St. Patrick’s parade people stay downtown. There is music with various Celtic bands playing throughout the area and Irish dancers on every corner.
“It’s great for the merchants along Granville Street – the restaurants, pubs and shops are full to overflowing. The City of Vancouver also loves the St. Patrick’s Day parade and has given full co-operation and support for the event. There is no trouble...it’s a family day filled with lots of fun, music and dance.”
Steve is looking forward to serving his community as the parade marshal once again for the upcoming 2006 St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Vancouver.
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The Celtic Treasure Chest is located at 5639 Dunbar Street in Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 261-3688, or visit: www.celtictreasurechest.com.
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