Don Kasner and his family have been providing glass to the area for 17 years. He and his wife Dagny started D&D Glass in 1983 over in the industrial area of Cranbrook. They had a sealed unit plant and were wholesaling manufactured sealed units that were distributed to the East and West Kootenay.

“We slowly worked our way into the retail end of it and changed our name to Cranbrook Glass in 1987,” Don said. “We still manufacture sealed units, we also do commercial glass, rock chip repairs, windshields, shower doors and glass table tops. Pretty much anything made of glass, we can help people with.”

Cranbrook Glass moved to a location in Gold Creek in 1990 and was out there until it moved to its new spot on Second Street North just off Van Horne Street.

“We thought it was time to bring the business into Cranbrook and saw an opportunity to do that,” Don said. “We opened up in our new spot on March 15. We love it, it's a great location, and we've got great neighbours. We've enjoyed serving Cranbrook the last 27 years and I think we'll just do a better job here at this new location as it's more central.

“We're excited to be here and offering easier access and better location for existing and new customers.”

Don bought the lot the business is on from Paul Askew. The building Cranbrook Glass is in used to be home to Cranbrook Paint and Body Shop Ltd., the business Verne Askew (Paul's father) and Roy Webb started in 1946. They bought the building and land from Cranbrook Sash and Door. Cranbrook Paint and Body was one of the first independent auto body shop in the Kootenays.

Also on the lot was Reekie's Machine Shop, which was in business from 1954 to 2010. Verne and Paul bought out Webb in 1982 and ran the business together until Verne passed away in 1991. Medical reasons forced Paul out of the auto body business in 2005 and he sold the property to Don in March of this year.

The building Reekie's Machine Shop was in dated back to the early 1900s, was too old to be used and was torn down after Don bought the property. The area will be used as a parking lot.

Cranbrook Glass is a family business, Don's son Jordan works in the shop and his two daughters help out with the book keeping and computer work.