By Staff
October 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
We have been politely corrected; our headline originally read 24 businesses when it should have been 23 – and that the list we provided lists just 22 businesses.
Kelly Arnott, candidate for the ward two council street let loose an interesting fact at the all candidates meeting sponsored by the Lions Club last night.
Some 23 businesses have left downtown Burlington said Ms Arnott. She added that that wasn’t what she would describe as a growing vital, viable downtown.
Tough part of town to do retail in? Consultants will tell the city just what it costs to do business in the downtown core and what it costs elsewhere in the city – and why.
Ms Arnott has operated a retail establishment in Village Square and has a keen understanding about just what it means to operate a commercial outlet.
There are new businesses opening up – a Butcher is going to open at the corner of Lakeshore and Brant and what was the Pier restaurant is now being renovated to become Table 34.
In the retail and restaurant world hope springs eternal.
But the record of 23 businesses moving out of the downtown core is disturbing. For the record, since January 2014, the following closed or moved out of downtown
Burlington Blooms
Nancy Brewer, accountant
Ya Man Caribbean Cuisine
Peaceful Intuition
Pearl St. Fine Shoes
Saltridges
My Girlfriend’s Closet
OTT Legal Services
Dr. Stevens
Lakeview Bakery
Girgnenti Window Treatments
My Closet
The Pier Cafe
Red Canoe
Massage One
Tryst Hair
PK1Studio
HiLite of My Day
Ontario Ministry of Community & Social Services–Disability Support Program, moved
ViewIT Technologies
MasterPlan Magnetics
Tweed & Hickory
Ouch!
I’ve read with great interest the commentary from everyone…I also know some of the posters, personally. I live in North Burlington. The one common sentiment that I always run in to, and am surprised by, when I’m downtown is the animosity between restrauteurs in the core. I understand competition but to actively disparage and character-assasinate the other owner / operators does nothing to make me want to come downtown. Maybe you guys should get together and try and solve the no-traffic problem. I don’t come downtown very often because I don’t want to drink and drive. Here’s a suggestion: sponsor shuttles from uptown to downtown for people like me to enjoy the nightlife downtown. You just may get more customers….This is just suggestion. The sentiment here is “innovate together for a better downtown”. 🙂
There are a great many intelligent comments on the rights and wrongs of the article published above. Pretty much every comment either places blame or demands action from the direct political and business support players in the core of Burlington.
So my question is how and why do any of you think that the whole global economic shift away from downtown cores (high streets) to box stores and malls is going to be changed by a ward councillor in Burlington?
I dislike my doctor and a favourite shop moving to Tansley Woods. But when the population growth expands in the way it has, and the property prices sky rocket in core areas like they have, there is an economic reality far and above ward 2 that is at play.
And please note, at least one of those businesses that closed I tried to support regularly but it was never open when it was supposed to be. Which is to say, lets not make sweeping comments that are at best not entirely accurate.
This article confirms that the current leadership has failed to acknowledge and identify that there is a real problem facing not only the business owners/operators in the downtown area but to residents as well.
The optics of the current situation downtown and leadership model are certainly troubling and the statistics all but confirm, in my opinion, that the current leadership is not up to the task. The failure to adapt has put the future and potential of the downtown area on a disturbing path.
The size of the problem and the associated failure of leadership is extraordinary. I can only hope that those who vote can identify this and make the right decision.
As mentioned before this is my opinion.
Respectfully,
Nate White
Mr. Baird:
The BDBA would like to respond to your most recent posting. You asked a number of valid questions. As the definitive resource for information on the downtown business community we are pleased that you turned to the BDBA for answers. Without too much elaboration please see responses below:
Q: How many members are there in the BDBA presently?
A: Presently the BDBA boasts a diverse mix of commercial entities, within the Council-approved boundaries of the Business Improvement Area (BIA). As of October 01, 2014 we service 381 members.
Q: How many members were there in the BDBA in 2010?
A: Our records calculate that the number of businesses, in the BIA, at the end of the year 2010 was 374.
Q: In the Core Commitment document you a referring to is there a BDBA business membership goal similar to the new residence goal of 2200 by 2031?
A: The short answer is no. Our primary goal is to better service our existing membership not necessarily to target additional members. With a strong focus on business retention the BDBA develops policies and programs that promote a healthy climate for small businesses to prosper.
Q: Would you mind explaining to everyone where the BIA levy / funds come from and what the BDBA actual mandate is for its membership.
A: The primary source of revenue for the BDBA is a “membership levy”. Property owners (and commercial tenants that pay a portion of the property tax within the BIA boundaries) are “members”. They pay the BIA levy along with their property taxes. The view is that this structure reflects the principle that all who benefit should be required to bear their fair share of the cost of the program.
This arrangement provides a secure source of funding for BIA activities. Those activities are guided by a strategic plan devised by our Board of Directors. Each Board Director is a levy paying member of the BIA.
In addition the BDBA undertakes modest fundraising to raise funds for special events or activities that will continue to animate the downtown and bring more customers, clients and restaurant patrons to the core for our members to leverage. Our recently completed five year Strategic Plan clarifies that our service to the downtown membership is premised on: member engagement, customer attraction, infrastructure development, and, stakeholder relations.
Finally, to your assertion, “politicians are supposed to be passionate about the issues they feel strongly about, wouldn’t you agree?”
We submit that our community undoubtedly benefits from “passionate” leaders who debate issues they feel strongly about. We have evolved as a politically neutral organization that looks forward to partnering with which ever elected officials populate the next term of City Council. The BDBA does not view it as our position to debate the electoral “issues” or pass judgment on what is an issue. It is however our mandate to market and promote all businesses in our defined area. We have been successful in locating and engaging partners that appreciate the value of balanced and accurate data. In the specific context of this article we assert that “informed” debate, especially involving the health of our downtown, is of paramount importance to the future of our community of business.
Jason Stoner/Brian Dean
BDBA
“With a strong focus on business retention the BDBA develops policies and programs that promote a healthy climate for small businesses to prosper.”
I work and live Downtown.
I think it’s quite obvious to everyone you have a retention problem, 23 (and more to come)
businesses closing in 9 months is a pretty clear indication there
is a serious problem.
I don’t understand why the Business Association is downplaying that there
is a major problem, why aren’t you doing something
about what is an obvious problem.
Mr. Parr:
The Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA) feels the need to comment on the present article.
Ward 2 candidate Kelly Arnott is factually correct in the statement that roughly 23 businesses have left the downtown Business Improvement Area since January of this year. In our belief that our downtown business community benefits from having an informed and forward-thinking leader representing our interests at City Council, we in fact furnished her campaign team with this balanced and accurate data including a complete list of the 23 businesses that have opened their doors downtown in the same time frame.
The BDBA is saddened that the candidate in question concluded that the Downtown is neither “vital nor viable”. Perhaps it is nothing more than a politically opportunistic conclusion but nonetheless disheartening and we did not want to sit idly by while the fortunes of our hard working members/entrepreneurs were being reduced to a glib sound bite.
We proudly boast over four hundred entrepreneurs in the downtown core – over half of them professional services and a cluster of personal services, restaurants and retailers. We are dedicated to creating the best possible environment for small businesses to thrive. Our strategies for retention are strengthened and informed by acknowledging the challenges associated with doing business in our Downtown. Instead of lamenting the losses we choose to work with our partners to deliver programs that will enhance the next generation of Downtown entrepreneurs.
Several contributors to this page have speculated on the “fragile health of the downtown” and its community of business. We submit that there are numerous variables (consumer preferences, real estate trends, competition and weather) that must combine, in precise measure, to perfect the recipe for an individual business and a healthy downtown. Further to that these factors are beyond the control of any one group. In addition to our dedicated staff, volunteers and members the true health of our downtown results from the coordinated efforts of many players: legislators, property owners, developers, community leaders, entrepreneurs and patrons, to name a few.
As a business collective we actively create events and activities as well promoting shopping and dining experiences. Our partners to help deliver a business climate that supports entrepreneurship and together we deliver on strategies that help us to build a “more complete downtown” that is livable, walkable, connected and inclusive. (Witness: Core Commitment, 2013)
The term “vibrant” is subject to wide interpretation. The BDBA does not subscribe to the myopic view that the number of businesses leaving is, alone, and indicator of our business community’s vitality/viability.
We put stock in the opinions of the real entrepreneurs that have chosen to do business here. When we reached out to get opinion from these enterprising businesspeople they spoke frankly and clearly about the risks and rewards of small business ownership.
One example is from the founding partners of the Village Cigar Company & Barbershop. They explained that their business is, “thriving and growing thanks in large part to like minded entrepreneurs willing to put in the time and effort it takes to connect…. (and that) success in business in Downtown Burlington is not just an idea, it’s a reality with a lot of effort, forward thinking and unique ideas”.
The owner of CENTRO Garden explains, “I believe it was the right choice to make in starting a business downtown 3 years ago. I could feel the shift then as I still do today. I’ll be the first to admit that running your own business isn’t always easy and some will fail. I have to always be moving and open to new ideas taking chances along the way”.
We will continue to strive to deliver the optimum mix of businesses, restaurants and services Downtown. Our businesses deserve much better than to be characterized by a manipulated summary of facts.
Respectfully submitted,
Jason Stoner (Chair) & Board of Directors, BDBA
Brian / Jason,
Would you mind clearing up a few facts for everyone
so we can have an informed debate. As discussed
over the phone last week I think it’s great these facts
are getting out for everyone to digest and comment on. The view
that you are upset in some way with the Arnott campaign
is really irrelevant, she is after all an aspiring politician and
politicians are supposed to be passionate about the issues
they feel strongly about, wouldn’t you agree?
1. How many members are there in the BDBA presently?
2. How many members were there in the BDBA
in 2010?
3. In the Core Commitment document you a referring to
is there a BDBA business membership goal similar to
the new residence goal of 2200 by 2031?
4. Would you mind explaining to everyone where the
BIA levy / funds come from and what the BDBA actual
mandate is for it’s membership.
Thank you in advance,
Sean
This issue is not new! If the City truly want to attract businesses to the downtown core they need to offer advice and incentives for new stores to open, relocate and remain open and attract shoppers to visit by offering the right mix of stores, providing adequate parking and removing unnecessary parking restrictions.
Unless we change, we get the same results!
I grew up in Burlington, I lived downtown for years and am now a supplier to many business in the downtown core. I find the fact that our representative is highlighting that businesses are replacing the ones that closed as a positive, that is skirting the issue. I deal with some of the new businesses she listed and I can tell you that they’re barely hanging on.The issue is that those 23 businesses had to close.
The rents have gotten out of control, parking is growing less and less as the months go on and the city continues to build giant residences with no change to the infrastructure. I agree that not every business is going to succeed but I don’t believe enough is being done to support the people who choose to start and continue to operate their businesses in Burlington. I think Mr. Rigby makes a great point as well, it should be a red flag for the city and our elected representatives that some of our long term staple operations are struggling to survive.
As a city, evolution and change is imminent, this I understand. Is our council really reviewing what types of development we are allowing to build in Burlington’s core. Admittedly the “retirement residence” business is booming but there are many studies that show that these residences are not good for local business. Many of them have on-site dining, shopping and recreation.
I think it’s time the City of Burlington stopped focusing on growth above the QEW and started looking at how they can help re-build a hurting downtown.
As a founding member of both the Burlington Restaurant Assoc. And The Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington I’m in a position to have dealt extensively with the service industry, Burlington’s arts community and City Hall, and from my vantage point, I have to agree with Sean and Rick, downtown Burlington is in serious trouble. Council has little to no understanding of the wants and needs of businesses in a rapidly evolving economy. They continue to view service and arts based industries as “lifestyle issues” as opposed to the economic drivers that they have become and continue to not take them seriously. I recently spent the last year and a half working with a team of highly intelligent individuals in the arts and culture industries, developing, at city hall’s request and considerable expense, a cultural action plan for the city in order to develop these lucrative industries in to a proper economic driver for the city. The plan we developed was unanimously passed by Coucil, only to have the very first recommendations almost unanimously voted down in the budget the month after the plans approval. These kinds of behaviours go to demonstrate the complete lack of understanding of the economic needs of the city in general and the downtown core in particular.
In addition to this, my partners and I have been working for the last several years on developing a multi-million dollar arts and hospitality centre in the city, which has required frequent dealing with council, until we were recently told that “perhaps we should look at a different city” for our project. This kind of short-sightedness and inability to understand the intricacies of what the community needs and wants, combined with the lack of support for homegrown businesses by the council, will continue to further the deterioration of the downtown core. I know most of the owners of those businesses that have closed. I know most of the owners of the businesses that are still open. Very very few of them are happy, and business in general is down across the board. Yes turnover of businesses is normal, sometimes businesses just have bad operators or bad business plans. Yes, businesses need to evolve, but when so many longtime operators are struggling to keep their heads above water in the downtown core, while business thrives in other parts of the community, it may be time to start pointing fingers elsewhere.
I grew up and work downtown, there are a lot of personal friends on that list. This whole situation makes me sad and when people minimize what is happening makes me angry.
What is the Downtown Burlington Business Association, Restaurant Association, Chamber of Commerce doing about this travesty?
I don’t understand how bringing forward an undisputed fact that so far in 2014 dozens of businesses have closed or relocated from Downtown Burlington is unethical, untruthful and shameful. Kelly has brought forward a truth that should be a major concern to all Council, especially the Ward 2 representative. Downtown Businesses closing en masse is a major issue for the City and more so for Ward 2 and should be debated as any major issue would be.
Just a few days ago while debating another issue Marianne sent me a personal email saying,
“I will ask you throughout the campaign to stick to the issues, and refrain from unfounded personal attacks which add nothing to a healthy democracy or respectful debate of the issues.”
Why the double standard re: personal attacks? Kelly has brought forward what might be an uncomfortable truth for Marianne who is the incumbent Ward 2 Councillor but it is the truth and I don’t think she is unethical to bring it forward as a legitimate issue in this election.
Dear Burlington Gazette,
I’m fortunate to be a Burlington Downtown business owner, operating and living in the downtown for the last 22 years. As a loyal customer to the downtown businesses, I have seen quite an evolution by way of store mix, quality and understanding of what consumers actually want.
In my professional experience, working extensively with businesses and business areas, I am seeing a revolution of change that is affecting the retail market environment. This change is bringing pressures such as rising costs associated with high land values, internet and foreign competition and rapidly evolving consumer trends and rising expectations. Simply, business is having to adapt like never before and it isn’t easy.
Consequently businesses in Canada that are unable to adapt, which find themselves no longer well positioned or not meeting the demands on them are closing or moving to operate in areas of lower costs of rent and labour. This is a natural and ongoing cycle but the reality is that it’s also important to have a modest turnover for the health of an area.
Though Burlington Downtown has seen a few of its businesses impacted by these new pressures, it has been resilient and wonderfully successful at attracting and retaining new businesses while building an energetic culture that is being celebrated by all of the GTA as a shining example of thriving resilience in the face of a tough climate.
Many of these new thriving businesses you can see from the street, but many more you don’t — they are professional businesses such as investment companies, lawyers, doctors, consultancies and boutique fitness studios. They aren’t noticeable yet their positive economic and cultural impact on the downtown is very noticeable.
In short, the Burlington downtown district has evolved positively over the years and is strengthening in an exciting direction that’s the envy of small to midsize cities all through Ontario.
So, rather than focusing on the succession, I think we should congratulate all the businesses that have worked to make this area so strong; paving the way and setting the high standards for this new round of business that we are all finding so exciting. Burlington Downtown is still where I want to be.
Barry
Barry are you saying a business closing every 12 days is modest turnover? I know a few of the restaurant owners that had to close their doors in recent months and they are devastated both financially and emotionally. There is a real and tangible human side to these business closings let’s not let that get lost or rationalized in this debate.
The hospitality industry downtown is suffering, I predict you will see more closures in the coming months and that has nothing to do with foreign competition etc… It is a result of not enough people downtown that’s it, not enough growth and growth taking way too long to happen compared to other parts of the city and compared to surrounding municipalities.
As you are probably well aware in business today you must grow or your die. Downtown is not growing so businesses will continue to die until it does.
Well said Rick! Downtown Burlington is a challenge for sure! Parking is a huge part of the problem. Why would anyone pay to park blocks away when you can pull up right in front of a business elsewhere! The parking costs are one issue. The speed of parking tickets being administered is another! No one can relax over a meal or visit a shop without clock watching in fear of a ticket!
The rate of businesses closing is mind boggling for me and like you, I see the devastation of real people and their dreams/finances to be very depressing.
A shake up of council is a good idea. We need people who see the human side of business along with developing a warm and welcoming sense of community in our core.
I personally think the fact that Lakeview Bakery should be a red flag for everyone! An established, seasoned, professional family business should be the most stable in a healthy core!
Kelly Arnott did what good candidates do, she surfaced an item, that started a conversation, that revealed some facts and better informed the readers. Burlington will be a better place because people like Kelly offer themselves to represent us and are willing to take risks to air issues in a positive way. My advice for the name-caller, get out from behind your keyboard and run for office.
Well said !
Marianne Meed Ward is a councillor I’d want representing me. She fights for all her constituents and is not a fake like Kelly Arnott. Honestly,. she is meant for politics and lives and breathes her job like no one else. She loves what she does and her passion is quite obvious.
Donald,
Going back for the past 4 years, all of your comments are heavily biased towards Ms. Meed-Ward. Your comments come across more as infatuation than objective insight.
You could omit the personal attack on Ms. Arnott. Calling someone ‘fake’ in print is libel. (a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation; a written defamation.)
Ms. Arnott has brought much business to Burlington through her business ventures. She is well respected by the business community. She has given her time and expertise on a volunteer basis to help build the culture of the City of Burlington, working with City Council.
Henri,
If having an honestly held opinion is defamation, then we are probably all guilty of it, but I don’t think it works that way. You may want to ask a lawyer.
I too am “biased” towards Ms. Meed Ward, who has an impressive intellect and works very hard; i.e., exactly what is needed in the city council.
When things are good businesses especially in the retail sector do not close, it is that simple. In my 25+ years of retail and food service business experience there is virtually no scenario whatsoever in which businesses, especially long term Downtown businesses like Lakeview Bakery, Tweed & Hickory and Red Canoe closing is a “good thing”. I have no choice but to question the business acumen and quite frankly the common sense of any individual that would argue otherwise.
Two dozen businesses closing or relocating from the Downtown Core in a 9 month span, which is a “loss” for Downtown on average every 12 days is a shocking statistical fact and a clear indication that Burlington Downtown is a struggling, if not an outright failing commercial district. This is further highlighted by the fact that some Downtown businesses, Ya Man and Heavenly Gourmet just to name a few, that were new and exciting merely a year or so ago have already ceased operating. I’m sure one could argue these owners may have had flawed business models however there can be no debate that businesses opening and closing in such a short period is ok. Business failings and empty storefronts no matter what the reason is very bad optically, especially for outsiders / potential investors.
I am involved is a sizable organization that includes retail / food service operations with a significant presence across the City of Burlington. In fact I believe the organization has business dealings of some sort (and therefore access to financial and other metrics) in every Ward in the City. Without going into specifics I can say, without hesitation, that the absolute fact is that the Downtown operations are, as a group, significantly under performing operations in other parts of the City.
In my professional opinion there are a few reasons as to why this is the case however I would say the #1 reason is the broad based DENIAL that there is a problem, especially at City Hall and more significantly in Council Chambers. Problems are fixable (I actually specialize in turning around problematic businesses), pretending there isn’t a problem or worse yet trying to hide / spin it is counter productive and will further contribute to the “one every 12 days” closing trend continuing.
Downtown Burlington can be a thriving commercial district (the facts clearly show it presently is not) for all types of retailers. However until the leadership and residents of Burlington admit there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed the hard work and tough decisions that need to be made to have a successful and “broad based” commercially viable Downtown will not begin.
It has been said thousands of times “the first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one”.
I hope the next Council especially the Ward 2 representative has the courage to admit there is a problem so we can all get to work resolving it and making Downtown Burlington what it has the potential to be, what it should be.
Respectfully,
Sean Baird
Marianne Meed Ward’s response makes it clear that the movement of some businesses out of the downtown core, which has only a 5% vacancy rate, is not an issue of any major importance. It merely reflects a normal ebb and flow of occupancy, rather than a structural or systemic problem as implied by Ms. Arnott’s reported opinion.
There will be continued turnover in downtown core businesses due to the natural state of bad decisions, hopeful entrepreneurs not doing their homework , product or service redundantly, and a host of other related reasons. Such is the nature of attempting to open new business. Failures oft times outweigh the successes.
The bigger picture however is simply that our community like every other one in ONTARIO is way way over commercially saturated! Our business for the past thirty years has taken us frequently into every downtown core, shopping mall and big box location in ONTARIO. With the arrival of Wal-Mart and more recently the highly competitive big box US and European retailers the dynamics of retail and other service related businesses has changed forever.
Though a much larger and more historic downtown KINGSTON ten years ago boasted a five year waiting list for businesses wanting to lease space. Today there are over 30 vacant premises with no tenants! Like BURLINGTON the West and East sides of their city have huge box store and Rio Can retail complexes. Once a major tourist destination their visitation is down dramatically since 9/11.
Check out our city on Appleby line North of the QEW. Ever seen so much retail! Why would any resident living within a few miles of that area have to use services and or shop retail downtown?
The modern consumers wants and needs have also changed. They are very comfortable shopping and frequenting the Branded and multi-franchised or corporately controlled businesses. Tim Hortons or Starbucks anyone?
Recently my wife and I visited Hisoric St.Marys ( west of Stratford ). For those who have never been a treat is waiting. All the buildings including the Opera House and Municiple Building date back to the mid to late 1800’s and have been beautifully preserved and recorded. You just have to pick up the small visitor book that pictures and gives historic notes on all the buildings. Nice little restaurants to satisfy anyone’s palate! Stopped in a small gift shop to ask directions only to discover that the building was the original dry good location for Timothy Eaton and his brother Jimmy. Remember them?
So let’s not get down when businesses come and go! It’s the nature of things. A five percent downtown vacancy is light years better than most communities in ONTARIO.
We need to see the hasty conclusion of downtown projects that appear to be stalled somewhat. Particularily the medical/ condo compexes at Caroline and Elizabeth and the retirement complex on Pine.
More people more business for the core thank you and the sooner the better.
Yes it is disturbing to see the list of business that have left the core. However it has also been a very hard two to four years economically speaking. I personally am feeling inflations cut and groceries alone are eating up a lot of my spendable income.
I may enjoy a walk downtown but I can’t afford the high end stores…I was sorry to see Lakeview Bakery close but how can they compete with the major food stores and their specialty bakeries. Plus I would bet their equipment was outdated.
Out of curiosity I goggled Oakville, guess what, I’m reading the same thing about Oakville that we are talking about for Burlington. Sales declining dozens of stores closing, calls for free parking, owners working stores not staff. All retailers indicated traffic was down. Complaints about parking and low pedestrian traffic, only 1/4 reported good or positive sales, sales down 10 to 20% and the list goes on.
Unlike some I cannot say what would make things better aside from the economy in general improving and people having more expendable cash.
Personally for me it would be stores that carry items in the mid to low price range
Inclement weather is always hard on main street retailers but we have no control over that. It seems to me when weather is nice downtown has a lot of walking traffic, but maybe I just happen to be out at peak times.
I would like to know how much money is parking revenue and if parking was free would that mean more sidewalk traffic therefore more shopping, therefor more tax revenue. (Parking needs to come with a limited amount of time to stop 9-5 working people from parking and taking up all the parking spots).
I looked up and phoned some of the above stores that are reported as leaving but some have just relocated else ware in Burlington and in some cases it’s for parking and some it’s for space. I believe it’s something that has to be addressed but there is no magic bullet and when people say they can make it happen I would like a lot more detail about just how that would be, otherwise it’s just more banter.
We just relocated to the downtown core a month ago to fullfilll our dream of giving up the cars, houses with stairs and conducting the majority of our shopping all within walking distance in locally owned shops. Walking around exploring the core I am dismayed at the large number of vacant storefronts with For Lease signs in their windows.
Yet Burlington continues to grow in place with the installation of monster developments in the core. I ask were will all those people shop?
This is not a good signal that we are achieving the goal of being a walkable and sustainable city. Downtown has changed so much in the last 5 years since I first moved to Burlington from Oakville. We chose Burlngton over Oakville knowing we would eventually have to give up a house dwellng lifestyle and move into apartment dwelling as we age. 28 story highrises are much too tall for our city core. Since business are already leaving the core who will fill the new retail spaces being built?
Kelly pointed out that 24 businesses left the downtown core area. I ask why? As a former business owner I once had offices in Burlington, Waterloo, Kitchener and London, all of these locations were closed or moved for a variety of reasons, changing business conditions, growth and retraction, more preferred location in terms of customer demographics, better lease cost, better parking for my customers, I always preferred locations with free parking, finally I retired. So my question to all the candidates is, do you know enough about the reasons for each of the 24 business closures/relocations to come up with a strategy to permanently fill those spots? If that’s even possible?
It’s an interesting statistic, but not very useful without further explanation. I would like to know:
– what percentage of downtown businesses does it represent?
– what is a typical number; i.e., how does it compare to last year? The year before? 10 years ago?
– why did they locate downtown in the first place?
– why did they leave? (e.g., are property taxes or rents too high?)
– why did all the other businesses stay?
– if there was a single reason for leaving (or set of reasons) that was given more frequently than others, what was it?
– what would it have taken to prevent them from leaving?
– is there anything that the City could do to affect the decision to leave downtown?
– If the City has not asked these questions, why not?
The candidate only knows half the story because she hasn’t done her homework. If she had, she would know that many of the businesses have been replaced by new businesses who can’t wait to come downtown
Just some examples: Ya Man Caribbean will now be a corned beef restaurant; Girgenti Windows is going to become the new Brant St Butcher (yahoo! – a welcome addition to the downtown); The Pier Cafe is rebranding as Table 34; Downtown Digital is becoming Rawlicious; Heavenly Gourmet’s space is coming a Poutinerie; and the Tweed and Hickory site will soon see a new tenant, after the landowner had multiple offers for the site. Burlington Blooms had a storefront on Pine but needed warehousing space because of a change in their business model and clients, and found that on Legion Road – still in Ward 2. There are also new businesses that have come to Village Square including: The HIVE, Son of a Peach (which just expanded because business is so good), the Quilt Shop, the Stinson House and Blyth Academy (bringing 76 students to downtown!)
In total 23 new businesses have moved into downtown since 2014 – data comes from the Economic Development Corporation.
The 2014 vacancy rate for the Burlington downtown business area is less than 5% – this is well within the industry standard definition of a “healthy downtown”.
If you want to know about the health of downtown, talk to the businesses who have chosen to locate here: watch this interview with Shaun Pennell of the HIVE about why he chose downtown Burlington, including the stores, bars, waterfront, restaurants and,transit. He’s drawing entrepreneurs from outside the city attracted by downtown’s energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoOOIbpLig
Watch this interview of Ellen McWhinnie of the Brant Street Butcher about why she chose downtown Burlington; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFcujWpUp78
Watch this interview with Kim & Bart from Son of a Peach about why they chose downtown Burlington and are now expanding because business is so good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuSzD9AYYUs
There will always be turnover of businesses in a downtown (or anywhere in the city); in fact, in a recent conversation I had with a member of the Burlington Economic Development Association, she said a certain amount of turnover is actually the sign of a healthy economy – because it allows for businesses who should be downtown and contribute to our foot traffic and vibrancy to find space to locate here.
Compared to 2010 when I first joined council, our team of people including the Burlington Downtown Business Association, our local businesses and residents, have turned the downtown around, and great things are still to come. The candidate has not participated over the last four years in any of these efforts.
Throwing out a little bit of information is irresponsible and misleading. My commitment is to continue through my monthly newsletter and elsewhere to do solid research and provide the full story to residents.
Why do we pay $1.75/hour for parking when Hamilton only charges $1.00/hour?