Check out Barton Village’s newest businesses

Hamilton's Barton Village neighbourhood has developed into a hotspot for trendy businesses. The Barton Village Shopping District runs along Barton Street East in downtown Hamilton, and features a growing swath of youth-oriented shops: according to the Barton Village Business Improvement Area, 17 new stores have opened in the neighbourhood since August.

Barton Village's latest offerings include a florist, a bakery, a communal office space and a bike store, all of which opened in March. Here's a bit more about the newest spots on Barton Street East:

Ela's Fleur - 399 Barton St. E.

This flower shop is owned by Kinga Ulazka, who named the store after her mother, Elizabeth, who is a florist and co-owner. The shop specializes in succulents and floral arrangements. Ela's Fleur does arrangements for special occasions, weddings, and funerals, and can cater to day-to-day floral needs. Patrons can also purchase monthly flower subscriptions, where a new bouquet of flowers will be delivered to their doorsteps each week. Ela's Fleur also offers do-it-yourself workshop on flower care and arrangement, and its space is available to be rented.

Bike Locke - 435 Barton St. E.

Bike Locke is a bike shop that opened this month in Barton Village. Bike Locke offers bike repair and service and sells parts. The Barton Village location opened this month, its third location after moving off of Locke Street in 2016. The shop shares a storefront with Dawson's Hot Sauce, which opened in December.

Mikey's Cream Pies - 775 Barton St. E.

Mikey's Cream Pies offers baked goods, made fresh each morning right in Barton Village. Their mouth-watering menu includes buttertarts, cookies, and an assortment of cream pies, including banana, butterscotch, and coconut. They also offer dream pies," which are filled with cream cheese and can be served with flaky, graham, or Oreo cookie crust.

Branch HQ - 301-286 Sanford St.

Located just off Barton Street East, Branch HQ rents out comfortable, professional office space. Private offices can be rented on a monthly basis and range from small", which is suitable for one to two people, to large", which fits up to nine people. Branch HQ also has meeting rooms, print rooms, crazy-fast" internet, and a concierge service for its customers.

KC Hoard writes about arts and lifestyle for The Hamilton Spectator. Reach him via mail: kchoard@thespec.com