The Hawk Shop of Owen Sound closes for good Tuesday, after 27 years in business.
Owner Laurie Kirkpatrick says the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't the reason for closing, “I've been saying for over a year now that I was going to retire.”
In fact, the Hawk Shop was busy despite the pandemic, “My sales were better this spring than they were last year,” says Kirkpatrick, “It was just like Christmas down here, everybody was getting their CERB cheques no body could go do anything, so stuff like TVs, movies, video games, video systems…you would have sworn it was two weeks before Christmas for the first month and a half.”
Kirkpatrick hopes to fix up and rent out the apartment in the top part of his building as well as the retail space at street level.
The Hawk Shop spent its first eight years on the West Hill before it moved to 2nd Avenue East downtown.
He says over his 27 years in the business, some of the most common things people hawk tend to be video game systems, musical instruments and jewellery.
“But you never know what's coming through the door next and if it tickles my fancy, I'd be interested in buying it and you get some weird and wonderful stuff,” says Kirkpatrick, remembering things like a set of gold teeth.
Kirkpatrick, who is 67 this year, doesn't have a specific plan for retirement, but says he'll keep busy, “I've never been bored. I've got a cottage that I spend a fair bit of time at, there's always something to do there. I've got a house to maintain, I've got a son who works out on the Great Lakes so I try to look after his grass and stuff in the summertime when he's away working. He's got five acres. I've never been stuck for finding something to do.”
Kirkpatrick says his wife plans to retire sometime soon as well.
“It's been fun, it's been great,” says Kirkpatrick, the Hawk Shop closes the afternoon of Tuesday July 28th.”
