The Downtown Scene – April

By Bill Hallman
Chair of the DBIA

Welcome to April. Warmer weather (no more snow storms… right), more daylight, and Downtown merchants and shops are ready to welcome everyone to enjoy our slice of heaven. There is a visible bounce in the Downtown merchants’ step as we pull ourselves out of the Winter doldrums and prepare for patios, sidewalk sales and picnic tables lining Pitt Street. Not to mention new and returning events that will shape the entire Downtown for the Summer ahead.

Make sure you check out:

Do What I Want Store – A unique retailer just moved from Cornwall Square to 156 Pitt Street. Cornering the Downtown market on skulls, crystals, incense, jewelry, & more.

Birchwood Restaurant – Upscale dining with Downtown pricing for this gem at 119 Sydney Street. The menu will make you think that you’re dining in Old Montreal while their aperitifs will make you believe you’re dining in some of Europe’s finest establishments. Make sure to hit their patio up when the weather allows it.

DGvintage – Dana and her award winning business have people flocking to her location at 5 First Street East. New, used, upcycled or handmade, whatever clothing you find in store, it will always make you feel good you stopped in.

Downtown Musings:

So long to Co-lab space MellowBrew. Digital Marketers Karine and Katy received an offer they couldn’t refuse and have turned their downtown space over to another company who promises to tell us soon what their plans for the space.

A pat on the back to Suzanne and the team at Echo Trends. Not only are they officially open for business but they put on a street party back in March that made the locals flock to her Pitt Street location. The Grand Re-Opening celebration lead to one customer winning a trip to Paris. Congrats.

Where does the time go? Congratulations to Amanda Gaucher on 25 years with one of downtown’s newest additions, Floral Expressions. While the world was downloading music with Napster and panicking about Y2K, Amanda quietly began her business that is still going strong today. Well done!

Wishing quick justice for Matt Coleman and his family at Coleman’s Mod & Repair on Pitt Street. It was the target of a brazen theft last month. Matt is proving to be a talented investigator and already generating leads on the alleged criminals. A reminder for us all to be vigilant against crime at our business or home at all times.

Thanks to Mayor Justin Towndale for clearing up some confusion on a Saturday in late March. A confused By-Law officer was issuing parking tickets on a Saturday when in fact parking is free Downtown. A couple of messages to the Mayor cleared up the confusion and we can confidently say that Parking will continue to be free for folks on the weekend Downtown for a long time to come.

Here’s what you next day downtown should look like…

Pick up your prescription along with some odds and ends at Pharmasave in Times Square at 106 Second Street W.

Grab a late breakfast or lunch at Spinners Restaurant at 118 Pitt Street

Get great lash care at Lashpro at 315 Pitt Street

You can reach me by email anytime at [email protected] Bill