‘Iconic’ Oxford Foods signs up for grabs by way of donation

Oxford Foods, one of the oldest merchants in Cook Street Village has been placed into the hands of another well-known grocer.

The Root Cellar, known for selling local produce in Saanich, will be opening by the end of 2021.

“Being a part of this village is just a beautiful fit for us,” says The Root Cellar owner, Daisy Orser. “The residents here really align with our values and we love that there’s grocery legacy attached to this building.”

Oxford Foods Owner, Ed Louie, sold the store to the Orser’s in 2020, as he was heading into retirement.

This is the first time The Root Cellar is expanding its business ventures to another part of Greater Victoria.

In an effort to preserve most of the exterior of the Oxford Foods building, its new owners struggled with what they should do with the landmark signs.

“They’re not just kitschy signs, they’re a community treasure as far as we’re concerned,” said Orser.

The Root Cellar has decided to offer these treasures to the public, by donation.

“It’s a piece of Victoria history. We have people stop us on the street and tell us they’ve been shopping here their entire lives,” noted Orser.

If you want to call one of these signs yours, you can get in contact with The Root Cellar on their website.

The money donated will go towards a charity of the Louie Family’s choice.

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