Downtown Update

[HAMRetrofit]

The Feds are too busy with arctic sovereignty and tar sands to do anything for cities like Hamilton. Tar sands are their new money pit. It really think Ontario is going to get royally screwed by this eventually.

[RePinion]

Did you read the budget? The Feds don't have any new money pit. That's the big problem. They aren't spending much on anything (except debt reduction and of course politically motivated projects like increased transfer payments to Quebec). $1b for urban infrastructure across the board is paltry. Ontario is going to get screwed for sure, as it has been getting screwed for decades.

[DC83]

So I noticed this morning that the Tim Horton's at John/Jackson is being reno'd.
It's such a shame the city isn't making Tim's push the store up to the streetfront. It's just getting a new interior (I believe).

I guess that means my hopes of that store eventually being pushed up to the street will never happen.

[highwater]

Originally Posted by RePinion

Aaaacccchhh ... more stucco. But at least they look clean. Not the sort of aesthetic I'd be promoting on King Street though, looks hopelessly cheap.

And hopelessly uninviting with those nasty little windows. People like to see and be seen. The food would have to be pretty amazing before I could screw up the courage to storm that stucco fortress.

[raisethehammer]

word on Locke St today is that this company

http://www.lululemon.com/home

is opening a store in half of the Trident Variety store across from the Bad Dog. The variety store is already moving all of their stuff into one half of the space and then the store will be divided into 2 spaces with lululemon occupying the new 'half'.

[SteelTown]

^ If that's true Locke Street is definitely on the up swing.

[fastcarsfreedom]

Lululemon at least in the short run is an honest-to-goodness destination store--that will drive retail traffic onto Locke.

[SteelTown]

Locke Street is getting pretty tight already. I wouldn't be surprised now that we start to see retail owners making bids to buy out current owners to take their spot away.

[SteelTown]

Another thing Lululemon usually are in shopping malls so this is a good trend. I personally would love to see a fashion district, Main St W just isn't going to work. Perhaps in the future Main St W will get the spill out effect of Locke St.

[raisethehammer]

also, Starbucks opens Wednesday and on a sad note, the new owners of the Bad Dog have ruined the place.
instead of a 'Cheers' type atmosphere, laid back and friendly, now it's like an 80's niteclub at 8:00am. Don't get me wrong. I love the 80's, but not at 8 in the morning when I'm trying to read the paper or chat.
Also, rudeness seems to be the new operating motto. I've been in touch with a bunch of the old 'gang' that used to congregate at the Dog most mornings to see if I was losing my mind or in fact things have gone downhill...sure enough, everyone has already moved on looking for their new relaxed spot - Bailey's on James North is picking up some of the business based on a few folks I chatted with...also, the Courtyard a block up the street is winning new customers from the cast-off Bad Dog crowd.
There may never be another cafe like it in Hamilton...it was a fun ride and one of the most unique social phenomenon I've ever seen spring up in a small, hidden-away cafe.
So long Bad Dog...it was real.

[thistleclub]

Locke South is tight on the half-kilometer south of Hunter but airy on the other side of the bridge, so spilling onto Main West might be a way off yet. Even within the current cluster, there's room for more businesses, especially ones with built-in consumer cachet. Locke has always seemed to embrace turnover, reinventing itself as much as somewhere like Westdale has, probably more.

[SteelTown]

Where extactly is Courtyard? I tried to find the place for the crepes but couldn't find it. Ended up trying that new Mexican/Italian place instead.

[highwater]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Locke has always seemed to embrace turnover, reinventing itself as much as somewhere like Westdale has, probably more.

Way more. Westdale has a ways to go. It's having a bit of an identity crisis at the moment, IMO. It can't decide whether to cater to students with tanning parlours, computer stores, and fast food joints, or court the professionals, academics, and tree huggers with cafes, bistros, and unique shops. It's an uneasy mix.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

also, Starbucks opens Wednesday and on a sad note, the new owners of the Bad Dog have ruined the place.
instead of a 'Cheers' type atmosphere, laid back and friendly, now it's like an 80's niteclub at 8:00am. Don't get me wrong. I love the 80's, but not at 8 in the morning when I'm trying to read the paper or chat.
Also, rudeness seems to be the new operating motto. I've been in touch with a bunch of the old 'gang' that used to congregate at the Dog most mornings to see if I was losing my mind or in fact things have gone downhill...sure enough, everyone has already moved on looking for their new relaxed spot - Bailey's on James North is picking up some of the business based on a few folks I chatted with...also, the Courtyard a block up the street is winning new customers from the cast-off Bad Dog crowd.
There may never be another cafe like it in Hamilton...it was a fun ride and one of the most unique social phenomenon I've ever seen spring up in a small, hidden-away cafe.
So long Bad Dog...it was real.

Well now that your mornings are free, maybe you can find yourself a job.

[the dude]

there was so much confusion regarding the bad dog. i didn't think anything was going to change. too bad. sounds like a bizarre-o remodel.

[SteelTown]

I saw Mayor Fred and his posse today at Mohawk College, they were walking and talking together down a hallway. Perhaps Mayor Fred is trying to push a Lister Block deal with Mohawk.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I saw Mayor Fred and his posse today at Mohawk College, they were walking and talking together down a hallway. Perhaps Mayor Fred is trying to push a Lister Block deal with Mohawk.

SteelTown, I love you and all, but sometimes your speculation is a huge stretch. You have to be careful because people sometimes actually take what you say and run with it.

[SteelTown]

He was talking to the Dean of the Communication Department, which we all know needs space as the portables aren't doing it anymore and currently house at the F wing, which was built to be temporary (been well over 15 years now lol)

[DC83]

Interesting news, Steeltown!! We'll have to keep our eyes peeled to find out more. And to be honest, I LOVE ur enthusiasm & excitement u bring to this Forum!!
... Hamilton needs more 'Steeltowns' who get excited over what's going on in our awesome City.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by BCTed

SteelTown, I love you and all, but sometimes your speculation is a huge stretch. You have to be careful because people sometimes actually take what you say and run with it.

you, on the other hand, never have to worry about that.