WINNIPEG — An owner of a local pop-up shop is devastated after his clothing store in downtown Winnipeg was broken into overnight.
“They stole Christmas from us,” Eric Olek, owner of Friday Knights, told Global News.
On Thursday morning, Olek received a phone call from the police saying his store, located on Graham Avenue, was broken into and $4,000 worth of merchandise was gone.
“It’s a big hit… right before Christmas it takes away from any new sales of my merchandise I would have had and growing my business,” Olek said.
The clothing store is part of a pop-up program through CentreVenture, and has been around for three months.
“I think it is important for businesses to have cameras and insurance,” he said.
“Unfortunately we are only here for a three month pop up term and I didn’t have insurance or cameras so this is a direct hit on me and out of my pocket.”
He said he doesn’t want other entrepreneurs to be discouraged about being downtown because of what happened to him.
“I love working downtown. We have regulars and a lot of walk by traffic,” he said. “It’s been positive up until now. I have a lot of belief in this area.”
He is also asking Winnipeggers to be on the lookout for his products being questionably sold.
“If you hear of anyone trying to sell Friday Knights that isn’t me then get at me, let me know,” Olek said. “I would love to find out who did this, I realize its an improbability but I don’t want to let this handicap my business.”