The Hock Shop has traded its downtown digs for a smaller space in another plaza.
After purchasing the plaza at 70 Front St. N., the City of Orillia put the business on notice. On Tuesday, the Hock Shop opened at its new location at 425 West St. N., Unit 9.
It wasn’t a move owner Dave Macneall wanted to make.
“We’ve been downtown for 27 years. We had three expansions in that location since 1992,” he said.
He looked at other locations downtown, but he wanted a space with ample parking and he couldn’t find anything. While there’s plenty of parking at the Fittons West Plaza, Macneall did have to settle for less space.
He has no hard feelings with the city, which has been “very co-operative” throughout the process, and he’s excited to see the downtown/waterfront redevelopment come to fruition.
“I think it’s a good, positive thing for Orillia,” he said, “but do I like the move? No. Do I like the expense? No.”
While there have been mixed reactions among customers, it’s been mostly positive, Macneall said.
“They like the area. Some will say it’s too far away, but the people in this area think it’s great,” he said. “It’s been really positive, except for the hassle.”
Hock Shop regulars will still get to see Beau, Macneall’s St. Bernard, who has been a fixture at the store, and they’ll still have the chance to support local animals.
Customers are often asked to donate cash for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA). Sometimes they’ll come in looking to pawn an item that has little value to Macneall, and he’ll instead ask them to donate it to the store, which will sell it and provide the proceeds to the OSPCA.
Over the years, the shop has donated more than $13,000 to the organization.
