Video game bylaw driving owner out of business

The owner of a popular video game store in downtown Prince George says he's losing money because of a city bylaw intended to prevent the sale of stolen goods.

Since opening in September 2013, Game Quest owner Kelsy Polnik says the unique store has been a huge hit.

"We kind of planned for nobody to show up, but it's been quite the opposite," he says.

But four months ago, Polnik's business hit a snag.

A bylaw officer told him he was violating the city's "secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers bylaw," requiring the store to hold every item for 30 days before selling.

As a result, Polnik says he's losing money, and running out of storage space.

"Lots of frustrated customers. Beforehand, we were able to get items out, when they wanted them. And now I have to ask them to come back in a month."

Polnick estimates ten to twenty-five thousand dollars work of inventory is in limbo at any given time.

He's asking city council to work with second-hand businesses to amend the bylaw.