Greenwood, 'Canada's Smallest City,' sees run on businesses

Greenwood, B.C. calls itself "Canada's Smallest City;" but it might be getting bigger soon.

Outsiders are buying up properties in the tiny, historic town close to Grand Forks.

After spending years on the market, almost half the businesses in town are sold.

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Greenwood Mayor Ed Smith says outsiders are beginning to notice just how affordable his town is.

"I think they are gonna bring new ideas and I know they are gonna bring more people. It's gonna make the city grow," he said.

For the price of the smallest apartment in Vancouver, you could get a 10,000 square foot, century-old brick building in Greenwood with a thriving restaurant.

One family from the Lower Mainland just bought a restaurant, hotel and grocery store, and another from the Okanagan snapped up a heritage apartment building.

"It kind of puts us on the map on the coast and gets people thinking," said Board of Trade president Jim Nathorst who just sold his restaurant. "The air is clean, water is good, real estate is pretty inexpensive, so I think it's great news for Greenwood."

The town of just under 700 looks like a movie set from an old western movie — but it's unknown if it'll keep that look with so many new buyers.