Building a new home for growing hearts

After five months of busy construction, the new Heartstrings is open for business, with all the love under one roof.

It all started when Slim Goodacre approached Sherry and Tim Matthews about the prospect of a new building for Heartstrings. At the time, the economic downturn was only just beginning and contrary to what the rest of the country thought, it was the right time to start thinking about a new building. By the time summer rolled around, the new site was full of labourers and contractors rushing every which way to meet the Thanksgiving deadline.

“We had to open by November second in order for the Christmas season, because it is a horrendous job moving a store, and expanding it at the same time. So John Van Veen, our general contractor, guaranteed us it would be done on time, because we said if it’s not done on time we’ll have to wait until January, and he did it. So we are very grateful that Goodacres gave us this opportunity to expand our business.”

Like many businesses in Smithers, it was also a family affair. Matthews explained that both their families were instrumental in putting the new store together.

“Our fantastic staff really pulled together to set up such a wonderful place,” said Matthews.

Construction was in full swing at the beginning of the summer, giving a lot of people a lot of work during a time when the economy wasn’t at its best. However, if you were to walk by Heartstrings at any point during the summer you had to wonder “what economic downturn?”

“It was quite a different process. A lot of people didn’t want to bid on the project because it was so big. But we made it work and finished on schedule. The downturn didn’t have any affect, there was lots of work for contractors,” said Van Veen.

With the new building, Heartstrings is expanding the business to new heights. Before Heartstrings was separated by two buildings, offering gifts and decor at one location and furniture at another. Today it is under one roof, offering customers a new and improved shopping experience making Heartstrings a one stop shop.

Now that the building is up, it’s time to get ready for the busiest season of the year.

“We’re gearing up for a busy Christmas, and there seems to be quite a bit of optimism in the community,” said Matthews.

As most of us know, Smithers is a very supportive community and when it came to the new Heartstrings, it was no different.

“We are so grateful to the community for all the support in helping us move,” said Matthews. “It’s really about the people.”

As it was before, Heartstrings remains a community staple and as the doors open to their new home they will undoubtably be welcomed as one of the family.

“It’s a new beginning for us,” said Matthews. So now it’s the new and improved Heartstrings.”

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