MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County council has approved a development permit for the expansion of Irvine's Tack & Western Wear, an operation already billed by its owners as the largest western store in the world.
The property is located southeast of Carstairs on the west side of Range Road 292, about one mile north of Township Road 292, at SE 22-29-29-4 in the Wessex area of the county.
The $300,000 project involves the construction of a 7,200 square-foot expansion.
“This proposal is to expand the existing retail area by adding an additional 7,200 square-foot building to the south of the main building complex, near the area where the outdoor riding arena was located,” administration said in a briefing note to council last month.
“This expansion is the create a new main entrance into the book and clothes departments which will cater to customers who are solely shopping for apparel without having to go through the whole store.”
The expansion will also house a new 24-hour security office, “to become the eyes and ears of the community. With the increased growth along Highway 2, traffic and activity has increased in the area. The security office will provide additional security within the area.”
The existing parking at the site will be able to accommodate the expansion, council heard.
The property is designated direct control, meaning council is responsible for considering the development permit application.
The adjacent landowners within half a mile were circulated as part of the application and no inquires or comments were received, council heard.
The approval comes with a number of conditions, including that the “appearance, design, and construction of the addition to the existing western retail facility shall complement the design of the existing development.”
According to the family-owned and operated company's website, the Irvine family started the store in 2001 as a one-room tack shop "and have worked hard, with the support of their dedicated staff, to create what is now the largest western store in the world!"
Roughly 1,400 saddles are stocked at all times and
The store already has over 140,000 square feet of retail space all under one roof. Products range from apparel, animal health, fencing and arena equipment, feed and more.
