The Gazette is excited to introduce a new segment highlighting the latest businesses that have opened their doors in the area; and also bid farewell to those that have left our community.
If you know of a new business that has just arrived, or one that has recently shut its doors, please let us know by emailing [email protected], with "Business Buzz" as the subject line.
Real estate bird’s eye-view
Woodpecker Drone Services opened its doors in July providing urban-residential aerial images to realtors or homeowners.
“It’s all about aerial imaging, whether it’s photography or video,” said Robert Bruce Specht of his one-man operation.
Operating a drone began as a hobby in the winter of 2020. Taking advantage of St. Albert’s hot housing market, Specht is developing name recognition with local realtors checking infrastructure or requiring promotional material.
The home-based business is available at 780-913-3142.
Warmth of wooden homewares
Power engineer Scott Johnson has turned his wood crafting skills into SJ Woodworking. The self-taught craftsman creates high-end custom woodwork specializing in charcuterie boards, chopping boards, and memory boxes.
“It was a hobby to start with and then I decided to make a little money on it,” Johnson said. “There is something relaxing about feeling the grain of raw wood in my hands after a long day at work.”
Information is at the online store www.sjwoodworking.ca
The Latin corner store
St. Albert expanded its network of specialty stores when Tienda Latina opened in June. Owner-operator Adriana Villeda grew up in Mexico City and arrived in St. Albert via Montreal.
Located on Gervais Road, the small grocery store carries assorted food products from Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Villeda’s most popular sales are fresh tacos, pupas, and tamalas, cooked daily.
“They are Mexican fresh tacos. It’s not El Paso. Canadians love Mexican flavours,” she said.
Tienda Latina is located at 1000 Tudor Glen Place.
Supporting commercial door needs
Mike Zary, founder-owner of Doorwest Services, retired this year after providing commercial door installation and maintenance for 35 years.
New owners, Terry Chevalier and Daniel Juthner, took over the business in July and provide services for a variety of commercial operations. Specialists in heavy lifting, they work with aircraft hangar doors, rolling steel doors, sliding steel doors, and air curtain doors found in grocery stores, to name a few.
“Our focus is to keep the business going. It was founded on honesty and integrity, and we will continue that,” said Juthner.
Doorwest Services is located at Bay 13 – 30 Chevigny St.
