Co-op style expansion planned for new downtown St. John's business venture

A downtown St. John's business is planning an expansion, but wants to preserve the heritage of the building its taking over.

PosieRow owner Anita Carroll is taking over the 123-year-old building that used to house the Pollyanna Art & Antique Gallery next to herDuckworthStreet shop.

He loved this building very much and he wanted it to go to somebody who would look after it.- Anita Carroll

The buildingstill contains its original tin ceilings, tin walls, mouldings and doors.

"We always wanted to bring more product in, but it was daunting when I decided to take it on because I didn'tknow what I could do with it that would save the building," said Carroll.

"It'spretty much intact from 1894 with the exception of one room on the top floor."

Carroll said she approached her neighbour years ago about possibly buying the building.

"Christmastime he came to me and said can we work something out, so we did," she said.

"I know that he loved this building very much and he wanted it to go to somebody who would look after it and take care of it."

Hoping to rent to independent businesses

Carroll has a plan for the venture: she wants rent out the top three storeys to other local business owners.

"It's kind of a co-op situation except everybody stands alone, they are individual businesses, they won't be having to make decisions on things as a group," Carroll said.

There will be some guidelines on how the businesses will run and the hours they'd be open, but otherwise she said the space will operate as any other landlord and tenant situation.

"There are a lot of young entrepreneurs right now in Newfoundland and Labrador, there are a lot of people making their own product," said Carroll.

"There's definitely a move back to simpler lives, where you can be self employed, you're not making a ton of money so you want to keep it small, and there are not very many venues especially in the downtown for people to rent that are affordable."

There's even going to be a room reserved for pop-up shops and special events.

"I wantto make sure the key features remain intact, letting them out as retail space seemed to be the most building-friendly thing to do," said Carroll.