The walls look different, and the store front name is different, but almost everything else about Mike’s Produce is just the same as it has been for the last 25 years.
Formally Paul’s Produce, the new owners are excited to don a new look that reflects both what Mike’s Produce has always been, and what it will become.
“It feels great to be at this place where we can now make this grocery store our own while maintaining what’s made it a favourite for our customers for so long,” said owner Mike Gomes. Three years ago, he and his wife Juanita bought Mike’s Produce.
Mike grew up on an orchard in Osoyoos and when attending college in Kelowna, he worked for a few months at Paul’s Produce. Years later, while Mike was working as a realtor, he came across Paul’s Produce for sale and decided it was time for a career change.
With a history of farm fresh produce, being a people person, and having a wife who comes from a local orchard family as well, it was easy to know what Mike and his wife would do when the store went up for sale.
“We still love it as much as we did three years ago so with the 25th anniversary it seemed like the perfect time to launch the new name and draw a bit of attention to some of the changes we’ve made,” said Mike.
One of the biggest recent changes is to the store’s aesthetic. Where the food market used to have the look of a traditional 90‘s grocery store, it now has the feel of an old fashion farmers’ market stand, complete with faux brick walls and a wooden barn roof awning.
“We wanted to give it more of a real market kind of feel—something that speaks to the local farms we get our produce from,” said Juanita. “Our customers have really enjoyed watching the updates happen and we’ve had lots of positive feedback.”