Dann's has Closed

Dann's, the bicycle and electronics shop on 176th Street has closed. I knew they'd been planning to close for some time and I haven't walked past in awhile but noticed tonight the big Dann's sign was gone.

I looked in the window and it appears to be a shop for antiques and/or second hand goods. No name on the store, but I did see a very faint outline on the door's window that might have read The Bowerbird Shop.

Dann's was the place where my parents bought my bicycles and accessories and the place we took appliances such as TVs and stereos for repairs.

When I was still young enough to be riding a tricycle my father came home one day with this battery operated device that he'd bought from Dann's and he attached to the trike. When turned on it made a noise like a motorbike. Interesting choice. My father rode a motorbike when he was younger so maybe it was just one of those things that he had to have - for his kid's trike.

Dann's was in Cloverdale for a long time. I want to say around 75 years, but I'm not sure exactly when they opened, long before I was born. The original proprietor passed the shop over to his son and the last time I saw him he was getting up there in age which may have prompted the decision to close up shop.

Playing at the Clova from July 3 to July 18, 2013

Playing at the Clova starting on Wednesday July 3 until the 18th is:

7pm - Despicable Me 2

Show lets out around 8:40pm. Seeing as how this is a premier release the Clova does not show a second feature and it runs for 2 weeks. The Clova is also showing 2 matinees at 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Playing at the Clova from June 28 to July 2, 2013

The Clova is still doing some odd showings. I finally found out that Thursday's missing movie was a private showing of the Hobbit. This week from June 28 to July 2, 2013 is:

7pm - Man of Steel

Show lets out around 9:25pm. No second show. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Starting on Wednesday July 3, 2013 is Despicable Me 2. See the next post.

Cloverdale Canada Day Party July 1, 2013

The City of Surrey and Cloverdale host Canada Day celebrations at the Millennium Park on the corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue. It's a free event from 10am to about 10:30pm or whenever the fireworks end. There will be entertainers and singers all day, amusement park rides, about 50 exhibitors/vendors, and food concessions.

The headline act, musical group Platinum Blonde, will take to the stage at 9pm, the last act of the night. When they're done the fireworks show starts.

For more information about the Canada Day celebrations, check their website http://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/default.aspx

Now on to the stuff people really want to know about - where to park and how to get around Cloverdale, or this busy intersection, especially once the fireworks have ended!

Free parking at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Enter off 60th Avenue at 177B Street. They open up the racetrack for cars to park there. Limited parking next door at Greenaway Park, about 20 spots, but by this time its a fair hike to get to the Millennium Park.

Don't think about parking at the old Cloverdale Mall on the corner of the Cloverdale Bypass between 57th and 58th Avenues. They're building there, or will be. So far only ground work done. There's a big fence around the property. Off 58th Avenue there's about 30 parking lots in 2 different areas that aren't fenced off.

Most people find parking spots on the streets, usually in the subdivision between 60th and 64th Avenues, and 168th and 176th Streets. In other words the area directly across the street and west of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds and Millennium Park.

The parking lot at Lord Tweedsmuir High School, on 180th Street, just north of 60th Avenue, is open and there are lots of places to park here. Mostly people park here in the evening to catch the fireworks show. The school's football field on the hill overlooking the park and fairgrounds, is prime viewing for the fireworks.

Whatever you do, do not park in the Cloverdale Crossing Mall, on the other side of the street from the Millennium Park on 60th Avenue. They have signs up saying no event parking and security guards on duty. They are watching people who park and if they leave the property they call in tow trucks. Don't take a chance.

Getting out of Cloverdale is a bit of a nightmare. Likewise for traffic who have no intention of taking part in Canada Day festivities and are just in the unfortunate position of driving along 176th Street after 10pm. Last year the police shut down 176th Street and/or the Cloverdale Bypass (depends which part of the road you're on what its called) between Highway 10 (56th Avenue) and 64th Avenue. Likewise they shut down 57th Avenue, 58th Avenue, and 60th Avenue for any traffic planning to drive down one of those streets and turn onto the Cloverdale Bypass or 176th Street. That was a smart move because two years ago they only shut it down at 58th Avenue and traffic ended up in subdivision hell, going in circles, and ending up at a police blockade and going back the way they came from.

The streets are shut down because 100,000 people are leaving Millennium Park and pedestrians are all over the road. Safety issues.

So don't try to do anything smart driving around the subdivisions west of 176th Street thinking you'll beat the crowds of traffic and get out of Cloverdale faster. 20,000 other drivers are thinking the same thing. There are cul-de-sacs, dead ends, and streets that curve and wind in these subdivisions, and don't get you where you want to go.

My best suggestion is wherever you are head east like you're going to Langley and get yourself at least to 184th Street and away from the mass bedlam of tens of thousands of drivers. From 184th you can turn north and get yourself to the Fraser Highway which will get you back to 176th Street, or a better plan is to drive south. Highway 10 won't be too bad an option, but if you're going to South Surrey or planning to catch Highway 99, drive down 184th Street to 32nd Avenue and from there turn west. People aren't thinking of taking the scenic route and going up to 184th, but its only 8 blocks or so out of the way. Going a couple of kilometres out of your way and getting out of Cloverdale instead of trying to stick within a couple of blocks of Cloverdale and snake through car-jammed streets of the subdivisions where everyone is looking for a fast way out, will get you home faster.

Now what about traffic that just happens to be on 176th Street at that time of night and are surprised by the roads shut down. If you are driving north on 176th, which is really the Cloverdale Bypass at that section, at Highway 10/56th Avenue the road will be blocked by the police. Turn left and drive to 168th Street. Don't be tempted to turn down 60th or 64th Avenue. Bad choice. The police are waiting and will turn you back where you came from. Try to stay on 168th as long as you can. If you're heading for Highway 1, I'd recommend staying on 168th until at least 80th Avenue or 88th Avenue and then turning right to get back to 176th Street.

Or when you hit Highway 10, you can turn right and go up to 184th Street. Turn left and follow 184th to either the Fraser Highway or stay on it a little longer until it dead ends at 80th Avenue, then turn left and make your way back to 176th Street.

Hope my information helps! Stay safe. Pack your patience if you stay at the Millennium Park until the fireworks end. It takes a long time to move all that traffic out of the Cloverdale area.

Cloverdale Supermarket (Shop Easy) Update

I still haven't figured out what is happening with the Cloverdale Supermarket, formerly known as the Shop Easy, on the corner of 176th Street and 58th Avenue.

They've had signs up on their window for a few weeks saying everything must go and all products 10 to 50% off. At the end of May a cash only sign appeared in the window. By that time there were no perishables left in the store.

I'm not sure if they're getting ready for inventory, doing renovations, or closing down for good.

They used to be open 8am to 8pm but I go past during those hours and they're closed. A week ago I saw a sign up they were closed for 2 days for inventory, but seeing as how I haven't seen them open all June I didn't pay much attention to that.

Last night (Wednesday June 19) I saw two 5 ton moving vans in the parking lot and men bringing shelving units out of the building and into a truck. When I walked past this morning the store is more than half empty inside.

A mystery.

Cloverdale Train Service

My father told me when he was younger that he used to catch a train from Cloverdale to Langley and watch the movies there. The train didn't return to Cloverdale so they walked home from Langley. Once the Clova was built that changed. The train station used to be behind the Co-op and feed mill areas on Highway 10 and 176th Street.

Train service is coming back to Cloverdale thanks to the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society. The run is between Cloverdale and Sullivan, 152nd Street and 64th Avenue. A railway station has been built in approximately the same spot, which now puts it behind the Clydesdale Inn and the west end of the Clover Square Mall.

The train schedule is Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Mondays from June 23, 2013 until October 14, 2013. First run is 10am and it runs every hour with the last train at 3pm. Cost is $10 and children under 12 are $5. The train does not stop in Sullivan, just turns around and comes back to Cloverdale. Takes about half an hour.

I spoke with some of the men operating the train this morning and got the scoop that on Saturday, June 22 at 2pm they'll be giving free rides just on the spur. In other words a scenic look at the backside of the mall.

For parking, they have spots available next to their barn, accessed from 176th Street, just south of Highway 10. There are also places to park on the road around there. It's my guess that train riders are going to park in the Clover Square Mall and take their chances at getting towed for leaving the property. There's free parking all over Cloverdale, so park on the street somewhere and walk over to the railway station.

The train is wheelchair accessible with a lift to the train.

For more information see their website http://fvhrs.org/

Playing at the Clova from June 21 to 26, 2013

This coming week things are a little different at the Clova. The following movies are playing from Friday June 21 to Wednesday June 26, 2013. There must be a private function on Thursday June 27. If I find out anything else - if it's open to the public and what's playing - I'll post it.

7pm - Quartet

8:55pm - Oblivion

Last show lets out at 11pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group, admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person.