What's New PQB? (Parksville-Qualicum Beach)

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Spring 2025.

It's a time of renewal in the Oceanside communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

We're not talking about changes in the natural world, but in the Retail sector of our Vancouver Island community.

Some local stores are renovating, some closing, others opening. It's all happening at PQB!

Here's a list of current changes taking place for local stores and restaurants:

 

Transforming: 

Bradley's on Jensen > is changing to > Cafe Floresta, Italian Kitchen and Bar. Seems to be connected to the existing Craig Street Pizza.

Bradley's was our favourite place for a breakfast sandwich, so we're sad to see it go. Hopefully Cafe Floresta will still serve coffee and snacks during the day when they re-open in April. 


191 Jensen Ave E, Parksville



Bailey's in the Village  > is changing to > The Village Eatery,  coffee/pizza house
This iconic Qualicum cafe is under new ownership, following the Thomson's retirement. Set to re-open in April with coffee by day and pizza at night.  670 Primrose St, Qualicum Beach


 

 

 

 

 

 

Relocating: 

Petal and Kettle are moving from their "brick-and-mortar shop" in Parksville and will now be trading entirely online at www.petalandkettle.com 


 

 

 

 

 


Crafty's Crystals is moving across the street into the property vacated by Petal and Kettle at 122 Craig Street, and is looking forward to the "bigger beautiful space"


 








Renovating and re-positioning:

Pacific Brimm Cafe & Bistro, also on Craig Street at #123, has re-opened following renovations, and is now positioning itself as a restaurant, rather than a coffee house/cafe. 

Chloe is a little disappointed at this change, as we can no longer visit for morning coffee. However, other residents and tourists may appreciate this new venue for evening meals.


Opening:

Hook Seafood Store at 156A First Avenue, Qualicum Beach, opened this year. 
Selling local fresh and "always wild" fish and seafood. Hook is located just off Qualicum town centre: turn left at Munchy Business on Primrose street.






Closing: 

Fields, 102 Island Hwy, Parksville
Previously a division of HBC, many Fields Stores avoided shutdown in 2012, when taken on by FHC Holdings. Unfortunately, declining sales and changing shopping habits have contributed to the Parksville store's closure in 2025.

Lucky Loonies, also at 102 Island Hwy, Parksville (behind Fields)
Chloe is sorry to see her preferred Dollar Store closing. They were always happy to let her come inside and sniff around while we shopped.

LP Records, 182 Island Hwy
Always sad to see a local business closing. To be honest though, we have not purchased vinyl records since the 1980s, so perhaps this is just too much of a niche market to survive in a small town.


Let us know in the comments below if we've missed anything new in the PQB retail scene. We look forward to visiting all the new and re-newed local businesses!