By Pepper Parr
October 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Kelly Childs opened up a cup cake shop on Brant Street in 2013
With exceptional marketing skills she managed to turn it into a destination that frequently has people lined up outside to get in.
Kellys Bake Shop serves as a back drop for a display of antique automobiles on Brant Street.
Childs says she gets thousands of customers a week and has had people fly to Burlington from Buffalo to savour her cupcakes.
Her operation was seen as a local success story that grew beyond Burlington and included an upscale cupcake recipe book that was as much a coffee table item as it was a cook book for the gluten free people.
The first few years of operations were great – the name Kellys was splashed on the side of buses; Child used social media to great advantage – there was hardly a promotional angle that she didn’t find a way to use. The cookbook, interest from financial interests in Dubai was talked about – the only thing that wasn’t mentioned was plans to franchise the operation.
Childs was one of those serial entrepreneurs who always has something on the go.
Kelly Childs addressing a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Right now she has what one can only call a crisis in front of her. The owner of the property she rents has sold the building to a developer who wants to have shovels in the ground within the next 24 months – even though there is not as yet an application before the Planning department that is public.
The block on the east side of Brant from James Street to the Brant Street parking lot opposite the Queen’s Head has been bought by Reserve Properties.
Burlington has become a hot spot for developers who seem prepared to put a high rise wherever they can assemble enough land. Brant Street, John Street and Lakeshore Road are ripe for the pickings.
Which creates a problem for Childs – she has nowhere to go.
Her lease was for five years but she is apparently going to have that lease bought out from under her.
“There is very little in the way of commercial space available in the downtown core” she explains. “What there is, is owned by the developers and you can’t get much more than a five year lease.”
Childs is far from a quitter but brick walls tend to be difficult to get over. She will be meeting with the Mayor, talking to the people at the Economic Development Corporation.
Childs will tell you that there will be street level space in the new buildings going up but she adds “they want twice what I am currently paying in rent.”
Childs is thinking through the options that might be open to her and is going public and asking people if they know of a location in the downtown core that she can move into in the next 24 months.
The issue that Child faces is one that every retailer that doesn’t own their premises faces – there just isn’t the commercial – retail property that is needed.
The Brant Street public parking lot is undergoing an upgrade to accommodate the Elgin Street Promenade that will skirt the building. The location is basically ground zero for the Downtown Mobility Hub. Why do this work now when the city knows that the block is going to be redeveloped soon soon?
And for those that who do own the property they are located in – the prices that are being offered by the developers are at times too good to take a pass on.
Childs would like to find something with 25 to 26 thousand square feet – what she is seeing in front of her is a location that would amount to 8000 square feet which she doesn’t feel will meet her needs.
“I’m thinking of creating a petition said Child but she wasn’t clear on who the petition would be addressed to and what it would achieve.
Someone is a going to have to do some serious in-depth thinking to find a way to maintain a vibrant retail life in the downtown core.
Village Square would be perfect for Kelly’s! With the Bridgewater development being completed in
the next year and another condo on Elizabeth Street being build the Village Square area will become
very vibrant and lively.
I’ve been on about this problem for 5 plus years now. The city staff do not realize the difference between high quality commercial space – flexible unit sizes, commercial venting, delivery access etc. and 100 square foot offices.
Why can the zoning code not be toughened to create high quality commercial spaces? It can, but the staff do not at present care.
The word on the street is that Kelly will be moving to Village Square. Any truth to this?
I moved my flower shop to the Lakeside Plaza last year. I couldn’t be more happy. It is a wonderful community which started to support me from the moment I opened the door. There is a few empty units there with different square footage. I am sure that Kelly’s customers will follow her wherever she will go. Kelly, if you’re still looking, check out Lakeside Plaza, I’m sure it’s worth checking it out. It’s on the border with Oakville, so you’ll get new customers.
I wish she would bring her cupcake business to Lakeside or Skyway Plaza on Lakeshore at Hampton Heath. The mall has lots of space where Swiss Chalet used to be and all the space where the theatre used to be. Plenty of free parking. New street lights going in. Across the street from the Lake, park, walking distance to Bronte too. Walkway along the Lake, Playground for children, etc. Ward 5 could sure use a new business. There is a wine shop too so many possibilities. Perhaps some young people would like to open a healthy restaurant or café too.