Tydel Foods is opening a second meat shop in District 1881.
The original meat shop on Patten Avenue will remain, while the new shop will be a quaint second location in the ever-evolving retail hub of District 1881 in downtown Chilliwack.
“We’re thrilled to announce we’ve signed the papers for a second shop in Chilliwack,” owner Brigida Crosbie posted on the Tydel page. “As always, our commitment to putting people over profit remains steadfast, and this shop will continue to serve our community with the same low prices.
Crosbie started Tydel Foods as a way of helping her community, especially those struggling with food security. She began years ago handing out food from the trunk of her car, then from a shared space in Sardis for a time, before settling into the storefront on Patten.
She’s been running the little venture on a mix of compassion, and her pension cheque, along with the crucial help of volunteers and her husband, Tony.
It all started when one senior told her she had enough food to eat for one day, but not for two. That did it.
It was during the pandemic, and Crosbie retired from working at the Chilliwack General Hospital, and opened the first shop.
Determined to help the hungry and hurting, she created a $100 seniors’ package program that hundreds of local seniors have signed up for and been helped by. The seniors’ package contains enough food to last one month.
She decided to focus on meat, and frozen prepared foods, because they’re usually the priciest part of a shopping list, especially for low-income households.
Sometimes the Patten location gets overwhelmed with traffic in the tiny shop, making it difficult for clients to access all the products. Having two locations will distribute the client load more evenly, Crosbie said.
It’s with solid support from the community, that the little business is in a position to expand.
“From our humble beginnings in a fifth wheel to embracing a townhouse in District 1881, this journey embodies our dedication to growth while staying rooted in our values,” Crosbie said. The new location is #104-45922 Thunderbird Lane.