The Steveston Museum and Post Office underwent a facelift recently.
A couple of weeks ago, the News took a tour of the new Steveston Visitor Centre with Tourism Richmond's visitor services manager, Lori Gelz.
"Tourism Richmond spent a year looking for a new year-round building," said Gelz. "When this building presented itself, we thought it was the perfect spot for our new hub.
"The post office stays, but it will now be run by Tourism Richmond."
Built in 1905, the heritage building was the village's first bank.
Upstairs, the dining room and bedroom were the living quarters of the earliest bank staff, who doubled as night watchmen and caretakers. Today, the upstairs has been converted into offices for Tourism Richmond staff.
What remains on the main floor is the recreation of a 1918 bank manager's office, as well as the caretaker's suite.
"We will maintain those two and the post office," said Gelz. "We hope to compliment the community by promoting tourism, as well as local businesses and a broad spectrum of restaurants.
"We can offer tourists suggestions for restaurants, accommodation and attractions all over our city."
Tourism Richmond CEO Tracey Lakeman is thrilled with its location.
"Steveston is a prime visitor destination so it's always good to reach visitors where they are," Lakeman said. "The whole idea is to move the visitors around Richmond, Vancouver as well as the province, and to provide them with the appropriate information to have a good time while they are here.
"We are thrilled to be a permanent Steveston business - we've been very well received by the merchants."
At some point, the visitor centre will expand by offering merchandise, such as key chains, pens and a small assortment of Richmond mementoes, explained Gelz.
"However, we are not here to compete with local merchants at all," she said.
"Although our main focus is Richmond, because we are under the umbrella of Tourism B.C. we operate across the province."
The Tourism Richmond Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 9: 30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
