Swan Lake Garden & Market on reopening day (Submitted photo/SLFG)

By Pete McIntyre

Swan Lake Market & Garden

Landmark store reopens with new look and new policies

Mar 18, 2021 | 5:00 PM

What’s old is new again.

Swan Lake Nurseryland, north of Vernon, is now called Swan Lake Market & Garden and under new ownership, and after a significant renovation, the store reopened to customers today (March 18).

“We have been pulling long days over the last few weeks to bring it all together, and while we may not be 100 per cent, we are able to open our doors to the public,” new owner Derrick Cooke told Vernon Matters. “Our first sale was this morning only minutes after opening our doors; people are eager to come in, which is great for us and testament to the legacy that Mike and the Swan Lake family have built.”

Cooke, a Salmon Arm resident, bought the business this year from the Kowaluk family, which had owned the legacy outlet since it opened as a fruit stand in 1959. Founder Mike Kowaluk passed away in February.

Swan Lake Fruit Stand, year not known (Submitted/Facebook)

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Cooke said in addition to the physical changes, there has also been a “fundamental shift” in operating policy toward more responsibility in the curation of goods and packaging in the market, along with making it a customer destination experience.

“All our grocery bags, produce bags and to go packaging are 100 per cent compostable, for example, and we are phasing out products that aren’t congruent with a healthy and environmentally responsible paradigm, from non-post consumer plastics and high sugar drinks,” Cooke explained. It will take time to shift personnel, vendors and consumers alike, but we are willing to take on the challenge to do our part.”

New branding (submitted image)

Colin Laidlaw is running the store as general manager.