Every year, Sam Baio looks forward to standing outside his store in a gaudy ski suit to welcome in Boxing Day customers.

The annual Boxing Day sale has always been a big draw at Valhalla Pure Outfitters in downtown Nelson, so much so that Baio wondered if his business wasn害羞草研究所檛 violating fire codes by having too many people inside.

害羞草研究所淚n the past I wasn害羞草研究所檛 sure if the fire department ever shut me down,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 really enjoyed the buzz of that.害羞草研究所�

But this year Baio has decided the buzz 害羞草研究所� and profit 害羞草研究所� isn害羞草研究所檛 worth the safety hazard of having a crowd downtown during a pandemic. So on Saturday, for the first time in 25 years, Valhalla Pure will be closed on Boxing Day.

Baio said when he weighed the draw of Boxing Day against the possibility of COVID-19 spreading on Baker Street, the choice was made for him.

害羞草研究所淚 have this bit of a moral obligation to think that a decision that I can make actually can change the amount of people downtown.害羞草研究所�

Laura Price owns Scout, a women害羞草研究所檚 clothing store in Nelson. She害羞草研究所檚 also closing her doors for Boxing Day, which she says will be a first in 15 years of owning a retail store.

Price said she considered the decision for two months before telling her staff they would get a break. Inviting in crowds of customers during a pandemic, she said, makes no sense.

害羞草研究所淚t just seems bizarre to do this, to do Boxing Day, when it害羞草研究所檚 a day when the store is packed,害羞草研究所� she said.

The holiday season is typically an important time for the city害羞草研究所檚 small businesses ahead of a usual drop in business in January and February, according to Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson.

But Thomson said this year, when the spring lockdown led to both temporary and permanent closures, has put many businesses in the position of relying on the holidays to help recover from financial losses.

害羞草研究所淛ust like in the summertime a lot of the accommodators and [restaurants] need to build up a bit of a war chest to get them through quieter times and the shoulder seasons, I think the smaller businesses need to do the same type of thing,害羞草研究所� said Thomson.

害羞草研究所漈hey need to have a really great November, December to carry them through the quieter months.害羞草研究所�

Baio said his business benefited this year by selling equipment for outdoor recreation, which the province encouraged. His online business boomed, and Black Friday in November also took pressure off his need to make sales on Boxing Day.

That has put Baio in a privileged position to close on Dec. 26, but he害羞草研究所檚 also sensitive to the needs of other owners who don害羞草研究所檛 have that luxury.

害羞草研究所淭his is when you put money in the bank and it carries you through slow times. So I understand that,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut I need to do this because I think I害羞草研究所檓 making a good point here and we draw so many people to our store on Baker Street.害羞草研究所�

Price also had a better year than expected. Her customers spent their money in the province this year, and have already supported her decision to sit out Boxing Day.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 totally excited to not be open,害羞草研究所� she said.

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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