Freak Lunchbox closing in city

Revenue down 60 per cent

A popular downtown Charlottetown retail store is closing due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on P.E.I.

Jeremy Smith, the owner of the Freak Lunchbox on Grafton Street in Charlottetown, said the hardest part was telling the four local employees that the store is closing.

"We're very grateful for all of their hard work," said Smith on Monday.

Smith also owns four other Freak Lunchbox stores in Atlantic Canada – in Halifax on Barrington Street and in Bedford at the Sunnyside Mall, in Saint John, N.B., and St. John's, N.L.

Freak Lunchbox was founded in 2001 in Halifax. The Charlottetown store opened about five years ago.

Smith said the other Atlantic Canadian stores are doing financially well. In fact, he's opening a Freak Lunchbox pop-up store in the Halifax Shopping Centre on Friday.

But revenue at the Charlottetown store was down 60 per cent compared to last year.

The Charlottetown store is having a 40-per-cent discount sale on its bulk candy and Jelly Belly candy. Other inventory items that don't sell will be moved to other stores. Smith expects the Charlottetown store's last day will be around early December, but it could be sooner if it is able to sell its bulk candy sooner.

Once the store closes, Islanders will still be able to make purchases online, he said.

From a business perspective, Smith said the Charlottetown store was challenged by a lack of weekday customers and a slow tourism season.

"P.E.I. was the only one that relied on tourism. So, we made some money in the summer, and it kind of sustained us for the slower months of the winter. But I think it's tricky in P.E.I. with the population."

Also, the current store is near the end of a lease, which helped with the business decision to close.

However Smith said the store could return next summer at that spot or elsewhere as a seasonal store.

"We're not done. We're looking for new opportunities. It is sort of a progression forward, but it is sad for the employees at that location," he said.

"It's harsh, but I don't think anyone is surprised in such a small population. We're just really grateful for the support, and hopefully we'll be back."