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Life with Marv & Community Futures

Life with Marv & Community Futures

Black Diamond

Marv’s began its life in Black Diamond in 2000 as Diamond Treasures Antique Mall. This operated for several years and the antique business began to slow. The store slowly graduated from antiques to a candy store and ice cream shop. From there it started to become more food oriented. I needed to expand the kitchen and was on town council at the time. I had heard of Community Futures Highwood through council so I thought I would give them a try.

Our business now has become a staple of Main Street Black Diamond, attracting tourists from around the world. Because of our dedication to preserving mid-century history and our authentic soda fountain has become known in many countries. A steady customer for us is someone that makes the trip here once every year or two. 11 years ago, we started a car show, Marv’s annual Rock & Roll Classic that has grown that from 35 cars to over 300 this past year and attracting crowds of two to four thousand every year.

I have been involved with Community Futures Highwood on an ongoing basis for some 15 years and that is one reason we are still in business. As this is a seasonal boom or bust business there have been some bad years with floods, highway and underground utility repairs and numerous other setbacks, I have needed their help on several occasions. They have always been there when I needed them.

The recent opening of a nationwide competitor has hit the street pretty hard so we are looking at introducing new products previously not available in Black Diamond to help us survive the winter. We have introduced our own brand of Old South Fried Chicken in hopes it will fill the void once the summer traffic is over. There are and always will be obstacles to overcome, but with Community Futures Highwood’s help we have survived and life is getting better.

www.marvsclassicsodashop.com

marv

Contact Us

14 McRae Street
PO Box 1599
Okotoks, AB  T1S 1B5
P: 403-995-4151

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Communities Served

Aldersyde, Blackie, Carmangay, Cayley, De Winton, Diamond Valley, Foothills County, High River, Kananaskis Improvement District, Lomond, Longview, MD of Willow Creek, Millarville, Milo, Mossleigh, Nanton, Okotoks, Priddis, Vulcan, and Vulcan County.