A watch and clock business originally founded in India 50 years ago decided that 2025 was the right time to open in Abbotsford.
The Watch Avenue, located in Highstreet Shopping Centre, opened its doors in March and brings with it a rich tradition of dealing with timekeeping.
Sehajbir Singh is a third-generation watch and clock proprietor and told The News that he is following in the original footsteps (or timestamps) of his grandfather. He stated that his grandfather Avtar Singh left a comfortable government job in 1975 to pursue his passion for repairing timepieces.
"One day he successfully fixed a clock for someone in his community, which sparked the idea of turning his skills into a full-time business," Singh said. "With a strong belief in his abilities and a spirit of entrepreneurship, he took a leap of faith and opened our first shop in Ludhiana, Punjab, named Avtar Sales Corporation. Over the years, through hard work and commitment to quality, he became one of the top three wholesalers in Punjab."
The business continued through his father Ranbir Singh and the business continued to expand and grow. Singh said his father had a dream to expand the family business to Canada and they started that dream when they moved here in 2019.
"While immigration and legal processes took time, we remained determined," he said. "And now in 2025, after years of planning and preparation, we’re proud to say that we are officially open."
Singh said that Abbotsford has welcomed the new store with open arms.
"The response from the community has been heartwarming," he said. "Customers are loving our personalized service, skilled repairs, and curated watch collection. It feels amazing to see our name begin to circulate in the local market, just like it did back home. We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful to bring our legacy of craftsmanship and care to a new generation of watch lovers in Canada."
The Watch Avenue is an authorized dealer for brands like Casio, Citizen, GShock and Seiko. They also sell wall clocks, offer repair and sell accessories. There are more than 100 designs to choose from in-store.
The store can be found at Unit C145, 3122 Mt. Lehman Rd. at Highstreet. For more information on the store, follow their Instagram page – @the.watch.avenue.
