Biz Buzz: East-end shop Rebelz closes their doors and other business news from across Hamilton
For whom the train rolls
It's been a long time coming, but Rebelz Fashion Wear Outlets (1403 Main St. E.) is finally closing up shop after owner Chanan Ram Verma sold the building to Metrolinx two years ago. He's been at the location, at the corner of Main and Kenilworth, since March 3, 1987.
In 2016, he told The Spectator he was hopeful about the promise of light rail despite potentially losing his shop. (Since then, the LRT has been cancelled, although the premier has hinted in recent weeks it could be revived.) These days, Mr. Verma says he feels sad to leave the building. It brought me a lot of money from the roof," where he leased space to a billboard company and a Bell Mobility transmitter, he added. He's been told Metrolinx plans to demolish his building and the one next door.
At age 75, he is not looking to relocate and expects the store's final day open to be a big Boxing Day sale Dec. 27 - but he'll close sooner if inventory dwindles before that.
Clean your chompers
Hamilton dentist Christopher Sims is hosting free dentistry day" at Century Stone Dental (684 Main St. E., near Sherman Avenue South), on Dec. 12. That's exactly what it sounds, Sims confirms - free care targeted at people who have a hard time affording dentistry.
2020 hasn't turned out to be the year we were all expecting," he said in a video posted to Facebook mid-November. No judgment for anyone who walks in the door, whether you're a single mom, student, between jobs, or just someone who needs a break."
The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. We are going to do treatment that will take less than one hour in order to help as many people as possible (one tooth per patient)," Sims told The Spectator. We will be doing pretty much anything needed with the exception of replacing missing teeth and cosmetic work."
A feast of mutual benefits
As the pandemic dragged on, Julie Freeman started worrying the restaurants she loves might not be able to stick it out. I want them to stay open long enough for me to be able to go and enjoy them again," said Freeman, who works in clinical informatics at Hamilton Health Sciences. I usually try to donate a little money or food at this time of year and when I started thinking about that, it occurred to me that I could do that in a way that benefits restaurants as well as local families."
Freeman has since launched Feast in the Hammer," collecting donations to buy full-priced meals from local restaurants for families in need (families in shelter situations, families that access local food banks and, if I run out of those, families of front-line health care workers," she says). Merk Snackbar, One Duke and Duke's Pub are among the restaurants on board, and are putting together special menus for the project. Freeman is accepting donations through GoFundMe.
A scrapbook in a pear tree
Pear Tree Treasures (1813 King St. E., near Kenilworth Avenue South), a new craft and scrapbooking supply store, was supposed to open April 1 - but the pandemic had other ideas. Joke was on me," says owner Monica Partridge, who used to work in construction, operating a tower crane. I started my lease in January so I could be opened by March, but who knew this darn COVID was coming? I certainly did not."
She eventually opened June 15, and says her saving graces have been an increase in crafting that came with people spending more time at home, and very kind landlords. If it was not for them helping me by lowering the rent, I really do not think I would have made it past the initial opening." The shop is also online at shop.peartreetreasures.ca.
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