[kevinbottawa]

Bank Street BIA in midst of rebranding campaign

BIA hopes to attract new businesses ahead of competitors at Rideau Centre and Lansdowne Park

CBC News Posted: May 27, 2013 8:22 AM ET Last Updated: May 27, 2013 8:30 AM ET

The Downtown Bank Street Business Improvement Area is in the midst of a rebranding campaign to attract new businesses and shoppers from the competition as the Rideau Centre is being expanded and Lansdowne Park is being rebuilt.

The BIA is offering real-estate brokers $5,000 each if they land retailers from a hotlist that includes brands such as Lululemon and Farm Boy. And they're asking residents to come up with a dream list of shops they'd like to see along the street.

There are currently six open retail spaces along the street, which boasts more than 50 landlords.

The BIA is hoping they'll be filled with things like hardware stores, women's clothing shops and butchers instead of massage parlours, pay-day loan offices and pawn shops.

"New Look. New Stores. New Attitude," the marketing campaign boasts, rebranding the street the "Intersection Of Everything."
Aiming to attract more people in their 20s, 30s

They're hoping to attract more men and women in their 20s and 30s, who already make up most of the surrounding population and who they expect will be buying many of the new condos being built downtown.

"Have you seen Bank Street lately? It's a mess," said Ian Capstick, a member of the BIA's board.

"We've got a whole bunch of … mixed signs and that's happened because it's evolved over the past 30 or so years. So it's natural that a spot like Bank Street is going to need a little bit of a pick-me-up every now and then," he said.

"So with a brand-new logo, taking away that 1960s, 1970s Bank Street Promenade logo, plus a new focus on attracting extremely relevant retailers to the street, is going to be the key to Bank Street's success."

Several BIA open houses for businesses were held last week. An open house for property owners and real-estate brokers is set for Monday, and the new campaign officially launches Wednesday.

People can stop by the BIA at 226 Bank St. to see the new logo, tag line, promotional plans and programs for this year, and to make retailer suggestions.

Video at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...s.html?cmp=rss