Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
Well, I don't mean to be unduly alarmist but I don't know how anyone could look around downtown today and not see a stark decline compared to 2 years ago.
People are gone but I'm not sure it's a given they'll all be back once our vaccination numbers hit a certain point. And even when they do come back, it doesn't change the fact that the only department store is gone for good, along with the only bookstore, Staples and who knows how many other retailers.
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It definitely sucks to have lost the Bay and Staples, but I was commenting more on the idea that downtown was degenerating into a "more hostile" environment. Maybe that's happening way up by Waterfront & Higgins, but I'd hardly even call that downtown. Here by Portage I don't notice any change in the vibe, again aside from the overall reduction in activity, and I don't feel any less safe when out and about.
I also haven't noticed much of a loss in retail and restaurants, aside from the obvious big ones (the Bay and Staples). Otherwise, all the stuff I love downtown is still here. In fact, Mottola Grocery opened during the pandemic and I've shopped there way more than I ever did at the Bay, which was more of a symbolic asset than a useful amenity. You mentioned bookstores -- we still have Bison Books, Book Fair, and Red River Books, which beats a generic Coles anyway.