Locke Street

[SteelTown]

Street to un-Locke potential Plan under way

Lisa Grace Marr
The Hamilton Spectator
(Dec 15, 2007)

By next summer, Locke Street will offer even more to the discerning shopper and restaurant connoisseur.

That's the promise of Tony Greco, Locke Street BIA's chair. To help fulfill that promise, the city has hired a consultant to help the fledgling BIA with a marketing strategy and development plan.

But already there are signs the commercial district is growing: bright red banners herald the BIA's entrances, new storefronts are going up and properties are in the midst of being bought and sold and renovated.

In addition, property owners between Alexander and Melbourne streets have expressed an interest in joining the BIA. Greco said he hopes to have a meeting to discuss extending the BIA boundaries in a few weeks.

David Bernstein is convinced there's no better street than Locke. The 26-year-old entrepreneur is opening a new cafe in January.

The Courtyard will offer fair trade and organic coffees and espressos, muffins and crepes for the early-morning takeaway crowd. Much of the food served at the restaurant, beside the Gallery on Locke, will be made with ingredients from Bernstein's family farm in Flamborough.

Bernstein's optimistic, even though there are already about three other cafes down the street and strengthening rumours about java king Starbucks locating in the old Robert David store.

"It's the nicest street in Hamilton to do something like this."

Starbucks rumours have swirled for weeks but yesterday a spokesperson with the company said nothing could be confirmed without a signed lease agreement.

Greco, owner of Mister Tony's hair salon, said his understanding is that Starbucks' arrival on Locke is imminent, and he thinks there's lots of room for everyone. Bernstein agrees.

"Starbucks will appeal to the after-six crowd. We're not concerned about a Starbucks." He said the street has a mix of stores and restaurants that makes it a great place to do business.

"It's like a mall but more natural ... it's got great shops, antiques ... all the things that keep people coming back."