City council unanimously gave the OK to a developer to build a 10,000-square-foot Dollarama store east of Extra Foods at its regular meeting on Tuesday night.

Merritt Mayor Susan Roline told council the store will not compete with the locally-owned Dollar Mart located just up the hill as the store’s owner, Missy Stewart, is planning to close it.

The investment into the community is significant, planning and development services manager Sean O’Flaherty told council, and represents over $1 million in new construction.

One of the requirements of a new building going in at the city’s “gateway” area is landscaping and tree planting parallel to the highway right-of-way.

Brain Drain extended

Art fans have one more chance to meet and speak with Eric Drane at the Courthouse Art Gallery this Saturday, as his show has been extended until Feb. 1.

Brain Drain showcases Drane’s brand of neo-alchemy art, comprised of virtual scenes the American military veteran builds using a computer program and freeze-frames.

Drane has also published two books of his artwork and donates a portion of the proceeds from their sales to two children’s hospitals, the Canadian Legion and the Disabled American Veterans Group.

The Courthouse Art Gallery is open Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.