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View Full Version : Downtown Hammerness 1 May 2012.

Dr Awesomesauce
May 2, 2012, 11:29 PM
1.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3466.jpg

2. Awesome clock and stuff.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3574.jpg

3.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3550.jpg

4. New bookstore etc.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3467.jpg

5. I’m happy something’s moved in here but it looks pretty lame.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3469.jpg

6. I don’t particularly care for themed streets.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3471.jpg

7.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3473.jpg

8. I don’t remember a time before Rock ‘N’ Tees.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3474.jpg

9. No more Le Chinois.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3476.jpg

10.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3477.jpg

11. Funky façade.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3479.jpg

12. A bit of a sprucing up for the Pagoda.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3481.jpg

13.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3483.jpg

14. How awesome is this? I can’t wait to see the ground floor done.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3485.jpg

15.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3484.jpg

16. A very well-behaved horse…not sure about the copper.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3490.jpg

17. This was always a gay bar ~ don’t ask how I know. Not sure what it is now.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3491.jpg

18.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3494.jpg

19.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3496.jpg

20. A tremendous addition to the core. However, three buildings were lost in its renovation, if I’m not mistaken.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3499.jpg

21.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3500.jpg

22. Irving’s is closing its doors soon. I once took in my trousers for a hemming and the old man completely buggered them. Oh well, still sad to see him go.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3501.jpg

23. Hamilton ‘Shitty’ Centre
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3503.jpg

24. I love gritty, old buildings but this one gives me a headache.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3504.jpg

25. I took this photo because I thought they’d made a typo. Upon closer inspection, it would appear they did actually mean it to say ‘Resortaurant.’ Weird…
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3505.jpg

26. Ummmm hello? Anybody remember the Tivoli?? Let’s get it fixed up already!
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3506.jpg

27. Speaking of fixed up. Wicked.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3508.jpg

28. The rear end.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3536.jpg

29. Next door ~ this old beauty was built for the local Order of Foresters.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3512.jpg

30. A vastly improved block.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3513.jpg

31.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3516.jpg

32. I love this building.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3515.jpg

33. After all the time and money the end product is underwhelming.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3523.jpg

34.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3521.jpg

35. It was hard to get a clear shot with all the trucks blasting by trying to hit that sweet ‘green wave.’
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3520.jpg

36.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3524.jpg

37. Name this alley.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3545.jpg

38.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3542.jpg

39. My favourite café.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3528.jpg

40. A new eatery on James North.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3529.jpg

41. Have you ever had to wash your underpants at three in the morning? I have.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3534.jpg
Frankenrogers
May 3, 2012, 12:18 PM
Cool photos. I remember when I used to walk downtown in Grade 8 (in 88) I would come down Walnut and on the corner beside where Modify Your Closet is there was S Lees clothes (suits etc). It always made me laugh that it sounded like Sleaze.

Nice to see Rock N Tees still going. Funny how that was a must-stop place for me in the late 80s and early 90s. It was one of the (if not the) first places downtown to get Doc Martens or Fred Perry shirts and I'd always pick up a $10 poster for my room when I got paid. I remember going there in 2002 or something and seeing the same old English Beat or Madness t shirts hanging in the same place with the dust settling on the shoulders haha.

Hopefully there will be a day when going downtown will be what kids do again or even what I want to do when I want to spend some time browsing.
SteelTown
May 3, 2012, 12:47 PM
Thanks for the awesome photo tour!
mattgrande
May 3, 2012, 12:48 PM
Some thoughts/questions:

9. When did Le Chinois close? I liked that place.
17. I think it still is a gay bar, but (no joke) you have to enter from the rear.
22. Sad news about Irvings. I've bought a few suits from there, and had many alterations done, and everything's been excellent.
25. I never noticed that it says Resortaurant.
32. Is anything ever going to happen with that building? It's a neat looking thing, but it's just full of boxes.
40. If you haven't been to Jack & Lois yet, stop what you're doing, and go now.
flar
May 3, 2012, 3:04 PM
Thanks for the tour :cheers:

Looks like the positives (renovations, construction, new businesses) are really starting to overtake the negatives (demolition, store closings) downtown.
matt602
May 3, 2012, 3:47 PM
Although it's true that the positives are taking over the negatives, I still can't help but notice the sheer lack of people in many of the photos. It's really unfortunate. That shot of the farmers market also looks a lot duller and less lively than the renderings of it looked, but I guess we've already been down that road. More trees really would have helped.
Duckyboy
May 3, 2012, 5:16 PM
Although it's true that the positives are taking over the negatives, I still can't help but notice the sheer lack of people in many of the photos. It's really unfortunate. That shot of the farmers market also looks a lot duller and less lively than the renderings of it looked, but I guess we've already been down that road. More trees really would have helped.

The thing about James N. is that it's not really a place for "daytime traffic". The area excels for night life.

My GF was thinking of opening her store there (kids clothing), but there just wasn't enough foot traffic during the day. She opted for Ottawa St.

I'm friends with the guys that own This Ain't Hollywood and they say the same thing; it's dead during the day.

I do hope this changes, as there are some really cool looking shops opening up there (Hansen & Lubbers? Nice...) it'd be nice to see this place turn into a "daytime shopping/nighttime nightlife" area... kind of like Robson or Granville in Vancouver (my hometown).

PS: Great, great pictures!!! Keep it up & post more!
Dr Awesomesauce
May 3, 2012, 8:07 PM
Some thoughts/questions:

9. When did Le Chinois close? I liked that place.
I had a little look and it's still Chinese so perhaps they've just changed the name in hopes business might improve.

17. I think it still is a gay bar, but (no joke) you have to enter from the rear.
Haha...awesome.

22. Sad news about Irvings. I've bought a few suits from there, and had many alterations done, and everything's been excellent.
Aside from Morgensterns, Irvings is really the last of the clothiers that once lined James North. Neighbourhoods change. People don't buy suits like that anymore.

25. I never noticed that it says Resortaurant.
I guess the idea is customers can forego their trip to Mexico and simply pop in for a burrito at a fraction of the cost.

32. Is anything ever going to happen with that building? It's a neat looking thing, but it's just full of boxes.
It's a great building, perhaps because it's so different from others on the street. That block has been fairly derelict for the last decade. There was an arson attempt a few years back that led to the demolition of one building. There's a Chinese/Vietnamese supermarket in that block that few people know exists and a shop called White Elephant. I'd heard not too long ago that somebody had bought the Leon Furs building but nothing's happened so who knows.

40. If you haven't been to Jack & Lois yet, stop what you're doing, and go now.
I most certainly will. It's got a cool retro vibe going on inside. I believe it's closed Mondays and Tuesdays but I'm not 100% sure.


I'll take some more pics soon if I'm not feeling too lazy. I know people don't come downtown too often and appreciate the tours.
Dr Awesomesauce
May 3, 2012, 8:33 PM
A couple extra pics.

1. Looks like Brownies has finally closed its doors. I always liked it but perhaps it was a bit much for the International Village.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3470.jpg

2. From crack house to cop shop?
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3475.jpg

3. Mills Hardware, The Golden Rail, Adult Entertainment venue…what next?
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3482.jpg

4.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3480.jpg

5. I’m happy somebody took an interest in these buildings. However, I’m not entirely pleased with the outcome. The MacKay building [right] is set to host the new Burrito Boyz restaurant.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3488.jpg

6.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3487.jpg

7.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3492.jpg

8. Must everything in this town relate to Steel?? Let's move on already.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3495.jpg

9. This Chinese joint at James N and Vine is being gutted out.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3507.jpg

10. Orange Order Hall. I wonder what they'd think about a Portuguese football club operating out of the ground floor space...
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3525.jpg

11.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3518.jpg

12. One of the younger Vranich’s buildings. BTW, has he raped anybody yet this year? We’re almost into summer so…
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3563.jpg

13.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3562.jpg

14. WTF?? Darko must own a stucco business. This is shite…
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3561.jpg

15. Birk’s clock.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/DSCN3573.jpg

BTW…somebody mentioned the lack of people in my photos and I should point out that I took these pics mid-morning and early afternoon on a Tuesday, so it's not the best time to people watch. Also, I tend to avoid taking people shots; I leave that to people with bigger balls than me.
Jon Dalton
May 3, 2012, 10:33 PM
Some thoughts/questions:

22. Sad news about Irvings. I've bought a few suits from there, and had many alterations done, and everything's been excellent.
25. I never noticed that it says Resortaurant.
32. Is anything ever going to happen with that building? It's a neat looking thing, but it's just full of boxes.
40. If you haven't been to Jack & Lois yet, stop what you're doing, and go now.

What was that about Irvings? I got a suit there recently, went in a few times and he was always busy.
Dr Awesomesauce
May 4, 2012, 12:12 AM
^I read somewhere recently that it was closing. We shall see.
mattgrande
May 4, 2012, 12:32 PM
Just thinking about Irivings, I know he does the suits for the fire department, and I think he does them for the police as well.

I can't believe Brownies survived as long as it did.
LikeHamilton
May 7, 2012, 4:14 PM
Irving's does the dress and speciality uniforms plus alterations and badges/cresting's for the Hamilton Police, Fire & EMS.
thomax
May 11, 2012, 4:59 AM
.
Dr Awesomesauce
May 11, 2012, 1:46 PM
Looks great. I really like the roof top garden idea.

I had a look in the front window recently and the ground floor space is filled with food / restaurant items. It would appear it's being used as storage for the Vietnamese supermarket next door. It's a shame.