It has been a few weeks now since the shutters were closed at Humble Bean in downtown Castlegar; enough time for me to reflect on my three years’ worth of caffeine intake at an institution which truly helped me keep my head screwed on straight. Let me explain.
When my wife and I first moved here from Abbotsford three years ago, our welcome to town was a nine-hour power outage and 16 inches of snow. I trust this isn’t Castlegar’s typical “welcome mat” to newcomers, but it had us kind of wondering what we’d gotten into.
Fast forward three years, and we have come to love and appreciate a great deal about Castlegar: the culture, family, new friends and community, and as always, a good, strong cup of coffee.
A special thanks to Mike and Kim for my “urban fix” which helped ease the transition into Kootenay living.
It seems regrettable to me that a small-business landlord can choose to exact a rent increase of 41 per cent when, as a single-family-dwelling landlord, I am constrained by a two or three per cent increase for private tenants. Don’t get me wrong. We love our tenants. However, since small-businesses are the backbone of any city’s economy (and tax base, for that matter), one has to wonder if an increase of that nature is sustainable. Only time will tell.
We trust and hope for only good things for a “Humble Couple” that has their eyes set on a wonderful year ahead!
Gratefully (and humbly), your “urban addict,”
Peter Koteles, Castlegar, BC
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