Crampton’s moving to Headingley

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This article was published 13/07/2018 (2845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shoppers in Waverley West looking for locally sourced meat, veggies and grocery staples will have to head farther afield next year.

Crampton’s Market, located at the corner of Bishop Grandin Boulevard and Waverley Street since 1997, is being purchased by T&T Seeds in Headingley, with the intention of moving the business to 7730 Roblin Blvd.

Erin Crampton, co-owner of the market, said the land her retail store, bakery and greenhouse is currently located on is leased from Manitoba Hydro. The Crown corporation declined to renew her lease because of a policy change and safety concerns, Crampton said, prompting the search for a new location and sale of the market.

Crampton said it’s unfortunate they have to leave the area but change happens and she’s excited about the next chapter.

“We have people from Waverley Heights who have been shopping with us for 20 years, people who stop in on their way home, and suddenly this city the size of Brandon pops up behind us,” Crampton said.

“The population around us has really grown and flourished and I feel very badly for the local population because we’ve become the summer staple for all the people in the neighbourhood.

“Manitoba Hydro is kicking us out of this spot. We would be a store without a home,” she said.

Crampton took over the business from her parents in 1999 when she was 21 years old, and runs it with husband Marc Degagne. She recalls building the business up gradually.

“When we first opened, people came to look for a deal and a bargain,” she said, adding that some customers thought the locally grown produce offered at Crampton’s Market was too expensive.

She said the game-changer was The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating book, published in 2007, that preached the benefits of eating locally grown and raised food products.

“We’ve worked to connect Winnipeggers and local producers,” she said.

Crampton’s now features fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, preserves, baking and dry goods grown and made in Manitoba by 100 producers — a network that she has developed over the years.

The new market locale, next to T&T Seeds at 7724 Roblin Blvd., is currently occupied by a house that will be completely renovated to make way for the new store and bakery.

“I’ve always had plans to develop the property into something more than what it is,” said T&T Seeds president Jarrett Davidson. “We’re redeveloping the property and turning the entire property into Crampton’s Market.”

Crampton and Degagne investigated leasing land in the same area, but felt the expense would be too high to be sustainable for their business, which operates from May to October.

“If we change the location, we had great concerns about changing the nature of the business,” Crampton said, adding that they didn’t want to have to supplement locally grown produce with imported goods in order to extend their season.

Davidson said a newspaper article about his acquisition of T&T Seeds in 2016 from former owners Brian and Kevin Twomey drew Crampton’s attention. And she contacted him to see if he was interested in adding Crampton’s Market to his current catalogue seeds sales, nursery and retail garden store operation.

“It was the right fit for her and I,” Davidson said.

Having an additional retail focus on food as well as garden products will prolong his business’ busy season from May to the end of October, with seed sales starting early in the year.

Crampton said she and Davidson share a commitment to supporting local farmers, as well as similar business ethics.

Davidson has received approval from  Headingley council to expand his business, and will double the size of the current store and triple the size of the parking lot. Gravel and soil piles are already being moved to the back of the 40-acre property which stretches well to the south.

Davidson said work on the house will begin later this summer and he’s planning for a grand opening of his gardening and food destination centre on May 1, 2019.

“We’ll be offering the full slate of products that Crampton’s has now,” he said.

In fact, it will be Crampton herself staying in touch with all the local producers as she and Degagne plan to work with Davidson for the next year or two.

“I’ll still be in the back with a phone in my ear,” Crampton joked. “The next year and a half will be a transfer of knowledge.”

Crampton’s Market will close on Oct. 7 and the business transfer will take effect on Oct. 9.

Davidson said he hopes to expand his current seasonal staff of about 45 and permanent, full-time staff of 18 to include some of Crampton’s seasonal staff as well as hire local students looking for summer jobs.

— with files from Danielle Da Silva