From spicing up cuisine to spicing up men鈥檚 wardrobes, two of Courtenay鈥檚 newest businesses have added to the city鈥檚 already-distinctive downtown flavour.

Walker 24 Menswear and Ceylon Cuisine & Spices have been embraced by the downtown business community and promise to draw even more customers downtown by offering their own unique products and other offerings.

鈥淎s a business owner, it鈥檚 important to surround yourself with great people, and we just can鈥檛 say enough about our location and wonderful neighbours,鈥� says Doug Walker, who recently opened Walker 24 Menswear with his son Brett. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so happy to be here on Fifth Street.鈥�

The owner of a local Mazda dealership for 20 years, Walker understands the importance of location in the success of a new business.

鈥淲e like the unique vibe of downtown and wanted to create that same warm, welcoming atmosphere in our store,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where a guy can not only get top-end clothing, but also feel comfortable just coming in and hanging out for a while.鈥�

Also excited to be downtown are Manoja and Sudeera Gangodage, who opened Ceylon Cuisine & Spices on Duncan Avenue just a few weeks ago. With a successful food truck business already popular at the Comox Valley Farmers鈥� Market and local festivals, Manoja and Sudeera had been considering opening a storefront for a while. Being able to have a presence downtown, though, was key in the decision.

鈥淧art of what we love about being at the market is that sense of community,鈥� explains Manoja. 鈥淲e knew that by setting up downtown we would feel part of a new neighbourhood. Already, everyone has been so supportive and friendly 鈥� it鈥檚 just a great environment.鈥�

At Ceylon Cuisine & Spices, the Gangodages offer a variety of authentic Sri Lankan delectables, including dairy- and gluten-free frozen curries, pickles and chutneys, as well as their 鈥淭rue Cinnamon,鈥� for which they鈥檙e renowned. Manoja says she and her husband hope to prepare light meals on-site in the near future, and to carry products from other vendors they鈥檝e met through the market.

Up Fifth Street at Walker 24 Menswear, Walker invites customers and passers-by alike to stop in for a coffee and a chat while perusing both the sports memorabilia on display and the latest men鈥檚 fashions, from basic chinos to decidedly upscale Allen Edmonds shoes.

To learn more about either of these businesses, and for a calendar of upcoming events, visit www.downtowncourtenay.com.