Businesses that will not re-open post pandemic

[J.OT13]

My buddies and I use to go to Real Sports a few times a year, and it was always packed.

That sort of bet works once in a while, but in this case, they've lost more than they will ever gain, unless the next big ticket tenant sticks around for at least 10 years.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My buddies and I use to go to Real Sports a few times a year, and it was always packed.

That sort of bet works once in a while, but in this case, they've lost more than they will ever gain, unless the next big ticket tenant sticks around for at least 10 years.

I always thought Real Sports was a welcome addition to market. Something that all downtown entertainment districts typically have. (Usually with more than one option, actually.)

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I always thought Real Sports was a welcome addition to market. Something that all downtown entertainment districts typically have. (Usually with more than one option, actually.)

It was pretty corporate and a Leaf bar, so I had trouble getting 100% behind it, but it was somewhere that I would find myself from time to time. No idea what would fill that space - probably a bunch of sub-tenants.

Still waiting for something like that to appear at Lansdowne, which seems like the perfect place for it.

[Acajack]

Real Sports was never blatantly a Leafs bar though, was it?

I know it was a Toronto-based chain but they weren't stupid. I never really paid attention but from what I recall the colours were Senators/Ottawa colours (red and black) and if any team logos were visible it was the Sens'.

Anything else would have been suicidal. (As in, I doubt that the reason it failed was that they tried to shove Leafs fandom down the throats of Ottawans.)

Chains adapt all the time for this stuff. When the Habs played the Bruins in the playoffs, all of the Boston Pizza places in Quebec crossed out Boston on their signs and became "Montréal Pizza" for the duration of the series.

[J.OT13]

RealSports isn't just a Toronto-based franchise, but owned by the Leafs. That said, no I don't remember them displaying their affiliation with the Leafs.

Not sure why they closed, but I don't think it was a revenue thing. It was very sudden the way it happened. Too bad, it was a good addition to the Market, even if it was owned by the Leafs.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

RealSports isn't just a Toronto-based franchise, but owned by the Leafs. That said, no I don't remember them displaying their affiliation with the Leafs.

Not sure why they closed, but I don't think it was a revenue thing. It was very sudden the way it happened. Too bad, it was a good addition to the Market, even if it was owned by the Leafs.

Yeah it was the Lead ownership that tainted them. I always preferred the Senate.

[sleye]

Real Sports has been closed so long you guys must have forgotten how dead it was. It didn't have a lot of street presence so they didn't attract crowds entering the market. Even on game days it wasn't attracting the crowds. Could have been a hit with the Raptors this past year, but they were long gone.

The space was under renovation for a Chinese restaurant right before COVID hit. I don't think that will be completed any time soon now (if ever).

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by sleye

Real Sports has been closed so long you guys must have forgotten how dead it was. It didn't have a lot of street presence so they didn't attract crowds entering the market. Even on game days it wasn't attracting the crowds. Could have been a hit with the Raptors this past year, but they were long gone.

The space was under renovation for a Chinese restaurant right before COVID hit. I don't think that will be completed any time soon now (if ever).

Yeah my impression was the same. High end Chinese could be a nice addition to the market. Was it a chain? PF Chang’s or something?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by sleye

Real Sports has been closed so long you guys must have forgotten how dead it was. It didn't have a lot of street presence so they didn't attract crowds entering the market. Even on game days it wasn't attracting the crowds. Could have been a hit with the Raptors this past year, but they were long gone.

The space was under renovation for a Chinese restaurant right before COVID hit. I don't think that will be completed any time soon now (if ever).

The lack of street presence is the developer, and the City's fault. The surface parking lot in front is a travesty!

[kwoldtimer]

Where in the Market is/was this? Real Sports rings no bells for me.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Where in the Market is/was this? Real Sports rings no bells for me.

In the bottom of 90 George. Just west of the Giant Tiger.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Where in the Market is/was this? Real Sports rings no bells for me.

90 George. 2012 to 2016

Map:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/90...!4d-75.6909195

Street View:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4274...7i13312!8i6656

[CityTech]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

A lot of times yes. Or at least it used to be. Look at Real Sports in the market. That spot was empty for a couple of years and then deep pocket chain showed up and probably paid great rent. Not sure why it didn't last. Probably Ottawa too cheap to over-pay for drinks because TVs are bigger and wait staff hotter. That's a Toronto thing. Now it's been empty again for years. Chasing another big moneyed chain. That dream is now dead. Do they steal a hot young chef who is overpaying somewhere else and get some revenue or leave it empty? My money is on empty. Probably they own 20 other locations in the market so have an incentive to not let anyone in a prime spot for less rent.

IMO, this why we need to start enacting vacancy taxes in urban commercial districts. In fact, I would even go so far as to create an eminent-domain type system where any commercial property vacant for more than 1 year goes on a register of "underused properties", and any "underused property" can be subject to forced-sale to any public or private entity. So if you want to open a new business, and you find an officially designated "underused property", you have the right to force the owner to sell it to you, as long as the proposed new owner opens a new business within a reasonable amount of time after closing.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by CityTech

IMO, this why we need to start enacting vacancy taxes in urban commercial districts. In fact, I would even go so far as to create an eminent-domain type system where any commercial property vacant for more than 1 year goes on a register of "underused properties", and any "underused property" can be subject to forced-sale to any public or private entity. So if you want to open a new business, and you find an officially designated "underused property", you have the right to force the owner to sell it to you, as long as the proposed new owner opens a new business within a reasonable amount of time after closing.

Most of these businesses are in buildings that do something else (condo, apartment, government, office). Those entities no doubt want to maintain some control over who rents the commercial space.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The lack of street presence is the developer, and the City's fault. The surface parking lot in front is a travesty!

I assume this is all zoning. It matches the other properties on the street. It's not like the developer wouldn't have preferred to have the 10 surface parkings spots to building to the edge of the property line. A full patio would have been nice similar to the pizza place on the corner. I wonder if that would have been allowed? It's prime outside real estate for a restaurant in current environment.

[Multi-modal]

This is very local - just one story of many - but Cafe Nero in Ottawa South (Bank & Alta Vista) closed for good last week. They were a long-standing coffee shop in the neighbourhood, and will be missed.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Most of these businesses are in buildings that do something else (condo, apartment, government, office). Those entities no doubt want to maintain some control over who rents the commercial space.

Many of them yes, but then we have to Magee and Somerset Houses of the world. And the row of abandoned buildings on Murray.

I agree we need more power to remove negligent owners and those who abandon entire buildings and those who keep retail space empty for long periods of time because their rents are too high.

More regulations, but one size does not fit all.

[Abe Simpson]

Palki Cuisine of India on Ogilvie Road is now permanently shut down. Just noticed the sign today.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Many of them yes, but then we have to Magee and Somerset Houses of the world. And the row of abandoned buildings on Murray.

I agree we need more power to remove negligent owners and those who abandon entire buildings and those who keep retail space empty for long periods of time because their rents are too high.

More regulations, but one size does not fit all.

I don’t think either of those are landlords holding out for more rent, they are owners who are stubborn but lack financial resources. Both should have been expropriated by the city years ago.

[Glenlivet Ave]

Wave of Store Closures to Hit Canada in the Summer of 2020

https://www.retail-insider.com/retai...summer-of-2020

Including many that we have in Ottawa's downtown malls and suburban malls.