Downtown business owner says he’s had enough

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“My first location had three break-ins and four broken windows. My second location, someone started the building on fire. And then our current location (across fro Towne Theatre) has been broken into and been a heavy target for theft from street people,” said Wach in an interview.

Secondary Dwellings

Coldstream considering more housing on agricultural lands

1h ago

Wildfire Risks

Okanagan's Fire Danger Rating already up to Moderate

23h ago

Structure Fire Response

VFRS undertaking annual structure fire training

Apr 23, 2026

Wach hopes to find a new site by March or April.

“I will be moving out of the downtown region in hopes of finding a spot with some parking and alittle bit better accessibility for people.”

He feels the safety of people downtown is not being addressed:

“With the children’s consignment store (nearby his shop) recently being broken into along with my chiropractor around the corner, I feel the message is not getting out for the city to do something to protect the businesses downtown.We do have to be empathetic to the problems some people in the downtown have, but I believe the mental health of the business owners is also being ignored.”

Wach said on the video, he’s probably lost $40,000 over the five years, and it’s not economically feasible.

He also feels people are not coming downtown this Christmas because they’re scared.

“There is a stigma, whether it’s true or not. I can tell you from experience, things are bad and they’re getting worse,” said Wach.

“These are bad things that are happening.Things are getting worse. And unfortunately, that’s why we have to pull our shop out of downtown because economically it doesn’t make sense. And maybe if we pull our dollars it’s the only way the City of Vernon will step forward and do something about all the dangerous stuff happening.”

The store sells skateboards, shoes, hats and men’s apparel.

Wach is getting support in comments on social media.

“What a shame. This is such a nice man, and I enjoyed his shop when shopping with my kids over the years, but he speaks the truth. Downtown has changed. Even going to my dentist is sketchy now,” said one woman.

“Sorry to hear about the shop but you’re 100 per cent right. The only way to make them change it is if you hit their wallets. If more stores start pulling out of the downtown strip you’ll likely start seeing a change,” said a man.

Vernon Matters reached out to the City of Vernon for comment.

Christy Poirier, manager of communications and grants with the city, said it would be most appropriate for the RCMP to speak to anything related to questions about crime, but she was able to speak to the resources the city has, and will be providing, to assist with safety and security across the city and specifically in the downtown core.

“Safety and security are paramount for our entire community. Both the city and the RCMP are actively addressing concerns that have been identified and have engaged multiple community partners to operate programs that are making a difference,” said Poirier.

She adds the city has provided several resources to respond to undesirable behaviour within the community and have seen these resources hard at work.

“Earlier this year, city council extended the Bylaw Compliance Seasonal Enforcement Program to focus on the downtown core, parks and public places (the program was scheduled to end November 1, but council extended it to December 15). The city has also provided the RCMP a considerable addition to its resources and the RCMP has used that opportunity to increase its presence in the Downtown area with the Downtown Enforcement Unit.”

Poirier went on to say the city works closely with the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA) and has created the Folks on Spokes program and provides opportunities for businesses to receive training and resources in order to understand safety vulnerabilities and what they can do to increase crime prevention.

“Our Community Safety unit has been working hard in this regard, specifically through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) studies, which are conducted free of charge.”

Poirier says looking ahead, several items have been approved for the 2020 budget to address safety and security in the downtown.

“Council has approved continuation of the Bylaw Compliance Seasonal Enforcement Program, Folks on Spokes (with an added education component) and the downtown clean-up program. Funding for overnight seasonal security was also approved.”

The DVA will be receiving funds next year to run a grant program to assist with the installation of security cameras Downtown.

“The city encourages all businesses in Vernon to take the necessary steps to help increase crime prevention and to contact the RCMP immediately if undesirable behaviour takes place. It is important to file these incidents with the RCMP, ” concluded Poirier.