Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/02) - The high cost of downtown rent has forced some Yellowknife entrepreneurs to use their imaginations. And their new home in Igloo Plaza is all the funkier for it.

Canadian Arctic Diamonds owner George Bundan works on a piece of his original jewelry. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

"It's nice to have more retail. More than just offices," said Babylon Hair Design's Gina Mclean. She has been styling hair in Igloo Plaza for nearly a year. "Now it's going good here."

Women's up-dos are her specialty but she also does body sugaring -- a method of hair removal. She makes the sugaring formula herself out of sugar and lemon juice, a technique that came with her from Kuwait.

After six years in business, The SoapBerry Shop moved from Centre Square Mall to Yellowknife's newest retail mall. The reason was the same as with some of the plaza's other new tenants: "The cheap rent," said the store's new owner, Honeylet Robertson, who had been with the company under the previous owner since it opened.

"My boss kept saying, 'Take over, take over,'" she said, but explained the high cost of rent in the previous location kept her from taking the leap. So when the spot came open in Igloo Plaza she thought she might be able to pull it off with financial help.

 

Canadian Arctic Diamonds opened its Igloo Plaza doors just before Christmas. Owner George Bundan sells local diamonds at a wholesale price. The jewelry he designs and constructs glitters in the store's showcases and a customer can watch him working on the beautiful pieces.

 

Bundan moved into the location for one reason: "Good rent," he said. The part-time welder pays $250 per month for his cozy retail space.

The most recent move-in to Igloo Plaza is Anna Tesar and her store, Stoked. She opened her funky, little shop Jan. 10. She previously sold styling clothing, giftware and jewelry on streetsides and at festivals.

"The price was right and we have the leeway to do what we want to do," said Tesar, who described the vision of her store, Stoked, as slightly gothic.