The largest Red Barn Market yet, coming to North Saanich, has an opening date in sight.
Part of the new Sandown Park Shopping Centre, Red Barn Market is tentatively set to open July 31, said co-owner Russ Benwell.
"We're feverishly working away," he said. "A little bit of construction still to go, but if all things go well, by the end of July we'll be open."
At just over 10,000 square feet, one of the new location's highlights will be its large sandwich bar, catering to the clientele of the industrial park area in which the mall is located. Red Barn Market sits beside Canadian Tire, and is close to Dollarama, a liquor store, a pharmacy and a pizza shop.
Benwell said it'll also have a larger smokehouse section. "For those that like our bacon and sandwiches, we'll have everything that our other locations have to offer and then some."
As per new features, Benwell said it will expand on the local side of what Red Barn does.
"We'll really look to promote local products, gluten-free products, healthy natural products, local vendors within our community and at just over 10,000 feet, it gives us a little more room to operate. A few of our locations are a little smaller but we'll try to have that same feel just with a bit bigger of a footprint."
Another perk will be the 191 parking stalls.
The new location, at 10330 McDonald Park Rd., is on the site formerly known as the Sandown Racetrack.
The first Red Barn opened in 2002 with a philosophy to support Island grown, Island raised, Island made by providing fresh, locally sourced food when possible. Benwell said there are no plans yet for a ninth location but there has been request from residents out towards Sooke.
"We're always looking and there are a few communities that we'd like to be a part of down the road," he said.
