Downtown Stoney Creek commercial district gearing up for big change
A major change is on the horizon for downtown Stoney Creek.
A stretch of storefronts, spanning nearly an entire block on the north side of King Street East, is set to succumb to the wrecking ball in the coming months to make way for the development of an eight-storey, mixed-use building.
Several of the spots are already empty, with some donning signs pointing to an eviction from an out-of-town developer, and others noting they've moved to a new community all together.
Some of the businesses still remain - however, their days left on the main drag are numbered.
Take the long-standing Picture Palace, a fine art and custom framing shop that's been operating in the community for more than four decades. In the front window, owner Joanne Wynhofen has posted a sign thanking residents for their patronage over the years.
Set to close her doors on July 31, Wynhofen told The Spectator that she plans on moving the business into her home in Burlington. If that doesn't work out within a year, she'll try to move the shop back into the community.
I love it here," said Wynhofen, who got emotional talking about her departure. The people are great, my customers are fabulous. They made my life perfect."
Downtown Stoney Creek is one of more than a dozen Business Improvement Areas (BIA) dotting the city. Spanning from Lake Avenue to New Mountain Road, it's one of the smallest in Hamilton, said executive director Tracy MacKinnon.
It's one of many commercial districts - not every neighbourhood has a BIA - that has seen changes amid the pandemic and perhaps now, a return to pre-pandemic buzz as life in the city transitions to a new normal.
The Spectator visited downtown Stoney Creek earlier this week and spoke to a handful of small business owners to get their take on how the pandemic affected the area and the changes they're going to see in the coming months and years.
Sandy Pavao, owner of Cake Empire, told The Spectator that she credits her move to the neighbourhood in spring 2020 as one of the main reasons her shop managed to survive the last two and a half years.
The location has better visibility and more foot traffic than her last location on Highway 8 - but it's still been a hard, long road," she noted.
As the pandemic rolls out, I feel like I finally am seeing the full potential of this location," said Pavao.
The bakery is one of a handful of businesses that have opened on the street since the pandemic began, according to MacKinnon.
Some of those new ventures include Bleach Please Hair Studio, La Sana Yoga, Bosphorus Donair, MDP Accounting Firm, Safari Children's Dentistry and The Lucky Gem.
MacKinnon noted that the number of new businesses opening in the community has been restricted by the limited amount of available retail space.
We've had a lot of businesses wanting to move here, but there just isn't the space," she said.
The planned development will have dedicated retail space on the ground floor, which Wynhofen fears will be unaffordable for small businesses to rent.
However, both Pavao and MacKinnon expressed an excitement for the residential portion of the development, which they hope will result in support for the surrounding local shops.
I think in the long run, it will be a good thing," said Pavao.
And with summer in full swing, pedestrian traffic is starting to pick back up," said Yagmur Kara, whose family owns Bosphorus Donair, located inside their Mediterranean grocery store, Bosphorus Market.
The BIA hosted its annual Strawberry Folk Fest in June, Jazz in the Creek returned earlier this month and a pumpkin festival is planned for the fall. There is also a weekly farmers' market.
The events definitely help us to get some customers," said Kara. But it's not as busy as we expected."
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com
The Spectator's shopping list
When The Spectator visited Downtown Stoney Creek earlier this month, we got a taste of what you can find at a handful of shops on the strip. Here are some of the highlights.
Comic 1 Books
At Comic 1 Books, you can find graphic novels detailing the adventures of anything from Spider-Man and Batman to Hellboy and the Fantastic Four. The comic book shop also sells specialty books, collectibles and back issues as well as posters, apparel and toys.
Trinity Botanical Boutique
At Trinity Botanical Boutique, customers can purchase incense, natural food products, tarot cards, supplements as well as tea, crystals, essential oils and natural cleaning products. The shop also has an online store and offers other services through the Trinity Natural Health Centre.
Cake Empire
At Cake Empire, customers can pick up cupcakes, scones and sugar cookies as well as ice cream and coffee. The shop also offers custom cakes and party favours for celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and baby showers.