Wolseley’s pop-up Christmas tree shop

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This article was published 11/12/2017 (3084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wolseley, already known for its rich tree canopy, will have a few extra firs in the neighbourhood this season.

On Dec. 1, Pete Scott and Mark Neufeld opened up Wolseley’s first Christmas tree shop on the corner of Chestnut Street and Westminster Avenue (beside Chestnut Grocery Fine Foods at 775 Westminster Ave.). The small boulevard lot, called Pete’s Trees, features cultivated Christmas trees imported from Quebec, as well as wild Manitoban trees in all sizes.

Scott grew up in the neighbourhood, and after spending six Decembers selling trees in New York, he’s happy to be back home.

“New York is an interesting place to go, and it was kind of an eccentric job—get paid to travel and do something weird, and it was just fun,” he said. “I was absent from all these holiday gatherings here, so I think people, all my pals were very excited that I was home and doing this thing here.”

The neighbourhood in general seems very happy to have a tree lot they can walk to, Scott says.

“Overwhelmingly that’s been the realization, that it’s so Wolseley,” Scott said. “It just fits with the self-image of the community, so people are really willing to support it I think. The support has been amazing. People are so pleased, full of compliments, they come and hang out, it’s great.”

Scott says real trees will always have an appeal over the fake ones available in stores.

“It’s like night and day. A plastic tree is just another hunk of plastic in your house, whereas a real tree is a piece of the forest. I think that part of the reason people bring trees into their home is because we miss spending time in nature.

“People come here and smell all the trees and stand in the lot and they just light up. It makes them so happy.”

Scott said the price point is higher than box stores — about $120 for a large Fraser or balsam fir — but those on a budget may be interested in the wild spruces, scotch and jack pines. They range from knee-height to six feet tall, from $10 to $25.

“They’re wild so they’re sparse, they’re not like the big full trees,” he said. “But you can get something that’s cool and big and for a really good price.”

Pete’s also offers handmade wreaths and ornaments, as well as a fire pit and teeter totter for families.

Open from 3 to 8 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

Find them on Instagram for more information.