Blue Nile, a corner store and a cornerstone in Lowertown, is closing its doors

When JC Amado learned the Blue Nile convenience store in Lowertown was closing its doors at the end of November, he decided to return to his old neighbourhood for a visit.

He didn't need anything from the little shop at the corner of King Edward Avenue and St. Andrew Street — he just wanted to see his old friend, proprietor Debalke Melaku.

"[Blue Nile] was just our regular go-to place for milk, groceries, little things that we were missing at the house," said Amado, who until recently lived with his family a few doors down the street.

It became much more than that, and Amado said his own kids came to regard Melaku as more of an "uncle" than a shopkeeper.

"Stores like this play a really big role in neighbourhoods in the city," Amado said.

After nearly three decades behind the counter, Melaku has decided to call it a day and spend more time with his family.

16 hours a day, 7 days a week

"I decided to shut down because I really worked for 28 years, seven days a week, 16 hours a day. It was hard," he told CBC earlier this week. 

"I never had time for my family, with my grandchildren, so this is time before it's too late to spend some time with my family."

Melaku was a diplomat with the Ethiopian government when he and his wife arrived in Ottawa in 1989. After rebel forces overthrew the government in 1991, they decided going home was no longer an option. 

That's when the couple decided to open Blue Nile Store. Melaku said the shop soon became a neighbourhood gathering place where anything and everything was up for discussion — "community ideas, family matters, all aspects of relationship."

Blue Nile was a place where neighbourhood kids could find not only chips and Popsicles, but also safety and, whenever needed, the help of a trusted adult.

Neighbourhood watch

There were many "challenging, stressful experiences" running the store over the years including shoplifting, break-ins and even gunshots, Melaku said.

Amado said as a near constant presence at the corner, Melaku has also played the role of neighbourhood watchman.

"Debalke, because he's around, will be the first to call the police and help us out with neighbourhood issues. So he plays a role above and beyond just like the service of providing food or groceries," Amado said.

Kate Laing, who's lived near the store for 26 years, called Melaku and his shop an "amazing" asset to the community — but also expressed concern about the looming closure.

"Lowertown is struggling right now, and here it's going to be another empty storefront," Laing said.

'A beautiful friendship'

As an avid baker, Laing said she was constantly running to Blue Nile to pick up missing ingredients. Like Amado, she soon found friendship and community there, too.

"What's grown in those years is a beautiful friendship and a very strong sense of family, and just an incredible sense of community here that this store really has become a hub for the people around King Edward and St. Andrew," she said. 

"It's like that for so many people here, and it's just been a wonderful experience living next door to them, and they're going to be missed hugely by our neighbourhood."

As much as Melaku is looking forward to his well-deserved rest, he said he will miss that community that has grown around his store.

"On one hand it's good for me, I will have time for my family, and the other hand is I'm going to miss my nice, excellent customers," he said. "This kind of relationship is not easy to forget."