City Surplus reopens in new location on Notre Dame

City Surplus completed its move out of downtown recently, opening in its newly renovated spot in the Flour Mill.

With a crowd of a few dozen gathered outside Thursday morning to take advantage of opening-day sales, Bruno Gauthier and his family cut the ribbon on the store, as Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann looked one.

In June, Gauthier told Northern Life that the business outgrew its current 128 Cedar St. location a decade ago, and was looking for the right spot to move.

“I've been actively looking for a property for that long,” he said. “You don't move just for the sake of moving, because commercial real estate doesn't come up every day. It's got to be the right mix. We've found the magic property.”

Gauthier said the new building has 12,000 square feet, up from the 5,000 in the downtown City Surplus building. With the move, the business owner said he'll expand his inventory and double his staff from 12 to 25 people.

“It's a win-win-win-win situation for everybody involved,” Gauthier said. “We are doing our part in employing as many people as we can, moving forward.”

City Surplus has a long history in the city. The family business has its origins in Harvey's Surplus, a second-hand store started by Gauthier's grandfather, Harvey, in 1944.  The store was purchased by Bruno's father, Reo, in the late 60s. He began selling outdoor equipment and work wear in the mid-70s, and changed the business' name to City Surplus.

In 1996, Gauthier became the third generation to own the business, when he purchased it from his father. Over the years, the store has occupied various storefronts in the downtown and on Notre Dame Avenue, although it's been in its current location — next to what's now the downtown bus terminal — since 1981.

For more information, visit www.citysurplus.ca or phone 705-674-9675.