Problem with sewer shuts down Wellburn's Market grocery store, barbershop

Wellburn’s Market, a grocery store at Cook and Pandora that's been downtown for more than a century, was forced to close its doors Friday morning after a sewage line problem in the building.

Customers were being turned away at about 10 a.m. after a notice was posted, according to one customer who said the sewage system in the building’s basement had collapsed.

A barbershop next door was also forced to close. The building also has living units on the upper floor.

The City of Victoria said the problem is not with the municipality’s system, and no other buildings are affected.

Wellburn’s had intended to close its doors sometime in 2020, and a redevelopment of the site is expected.

The grocery chain Save-on-Foods opened this year at Pandora Avenue and Vancouver Streets.