Down to Ottawa Street today, and one of my favourite buidlings on that stretch. Located on the corner of Ottawa and Moy, the Liquidation World building, is truly an underapreciated art deco gem.
Built sometime after 1937, the building still sports the “W” of the original owner Woolworth’s tiled into the floor in the doorways. The buiding is a throw back to the days when everything you needed was located in your neighbourhood.
My favourite parts of this building are truly in all the details, like the original monel metal showcase windows frames…
To the ventialtion grates and and black grantie cladding…
Or the stepped deco stone door surrounds on the Moy side.
I would love to see what’s under that cladding. I bet there’s a beauty hiding under there…
Amazing to look back and see something from a time when even dime stores had style. When did the Woolworth’s name come down–not that long ago? I know it did a stint as a Woolworth-owned Bargain! Shop before becoming Liquidation World.
Funny enough, I went down Ottawa Saturday morning….My shot looks very similar …..I agree…wonder whatis being covered up under the sign there?? It was a great weekend to get out and take some pictures…
There are a few old brick gems on Ottawa street covered by fugly aluminum facades and canopies. The recent past has been cruel to Ottawa street, not just downtown. 🙁
Ottawa has loads of potential to be one of W’s best neighbourhoods and strips if the economy turns around and a little gentrification takes place.
Funny how gentrification in Windsor is a good thing because it needs some, but in Toronto it can be too much at times.
Shawn, I was shocked when, on the weekend prior to Christmas, when my wife and myself dropped in at the Rockhead for lunch. We had our pick of any one of several open parking spaces directly n front of the pub. The sidewalks were almost empty. Just days before Christmas. What is wrong with this picture? Yet people were getting into fistfights over the last parking space in the Back 40 at Devonshire Mall. Granted there isn’t the same complement of vendors on Ottawa as there was thirty years ago but there is still Windsor’s largest men’s clothing store, a large shoe store, one of Windsor oldest hardware stores, some discount/dollar shops, several banks, specialty stores, jewelry, cafes/diners, etc. Where was Windsor during the biggest shopping crunch weekend of the whole year?
You are right Ottawa st. has the potential but I would go one step further and say it is already half-way there and yet no one is taking advantage of it. No wonder there are still so many vacant properties. We are a city addicted to the mall / big box shopping experience. Vendors know that and are reluctant to invest in neighbourhood commercial properties. Sad.
Knowing a few vendors who are currently on Ottawa Street, when I asked them why a street with so much potential still looks so disjointed, the phrase I get is “tired blood; unimaginative people”. Not them, but the merchants who have been around for years and have neither the energy nor inclination to do anything. Part of my childhood was spent on that street as my grandmother used to do her shopping along Ottawa Street and she took me in a stroller. I can remember Brotherhood, Gray’s Department store, Teppermans of course and I think the current Canada Salvage was a Dominion Store. My dad used to take me to Armando’s where Fred and Armando cut hair which was originally on Gladstone. Hell, even Gilligan’s in the early 90’s had a charm to it that the place on Walker Road never had.
John, one christmas before I moved I was proud of have done all my shopping either downtown or on Ottawa. It can be done.
A model might be Hess Village in Hamilton. Ottawa Street is bigger, and Hess is maybe a little too yuppie and too entertainment oriented, but along with the Wyndotte Walkerville strip to the south, it’s the kind of thing that could be so wonderful if some new cafes, shops and nice bars came in. Ottawa’s urban form is still intact, and doesn’t suffer from the bad bars that downtown endures.
There are 5 million people in Detroit with very few proper urban strips to visit. Of course, it’s one of the harder hit places in the US in terms of the economy as well, and Americans don’t like to leave their country as much anymore, unless it’s to drink under 21 or see naked ladies.
Very true, Ottawa St. is the closest thing to nieghbourhood retail that there is in this city. While it’s far from dead, it is a little tired. When I first moved to Windsor, Ottawa St. was still a happening place. If you look back though, the “big” stores that closed through retirement haven’t been replaced. Marvin’s and Ordower’s leave a big retail hole on the street, and so does the loss of Rocco’s Fine Foods. I remember when Rocco’s was a viable grocery alternative to the big stores.
I think that there isn’t enough empashis on local grocers anymore. Outside of La Stella on Erie and Gigglio’s on Wyandotte near the University, I can’t think of any more small local stores anymore.
I think John hit the nail on the head that we are big box obsessed. The area within one kilometer of Ottawa street is probably one of the most densley populated areas in the city. The population base is there to support a retail revival, but there isn’t the desire of the shopping population to see it happen. I think that a small grocery and one or two national retailers could do quite well on Ottawa st. and probably help lead a revival.
Right now in my opinion it’s only Freed’s that is holding the area together and relatively stable. It is enough of an anchor to still attract some shoppers to the area, but our “parking lot” mentality need to change.
When something breaks at home, I would rather go to Canada Salvage any day of the week. Yes it’s disorganized, and hard to find anything in there, but I can drive there and get in and out in, and get back home in a fraction of the time it would take me to get to Home Depot. Once it moves from the mall area, it will be even worse to get to, and less of an alternative.
I plan to make 2008 a year in which I try to support small local businesses as much as possible.
Also – I’m pretty sure it was still a Woolworth’s when I moved to Windsor in 1989…
Also give credit to Gilligan’s for staying in the area when they moved. Maybe the new location is kind of souless, but they stayed true to their Walkerville roots.
Yes Andrew you are correct, it was still a Woolworth’s when we moved to Windsor in 1989, complete with a lunch counter. One of the ladies who ran the lunch counter, bought the lunch counter equipment and opened a breakfast/lunch place across Moy on the corner. I used to shop a lot on Ottawa Street and now there is not much left. We keep hoping that there will be a revitalization. We love Walkerville, but there are really no buyers for the houses now. This whole area would be a gem anywhere else. Along with the big box store mentality, there is also a bigger, better house mentality as well. Most people don’t know what they are missing.
I’m sorry…I have a really dumb question I think…lol…but wasn’t this store once a bargin bargin…or is liquidation store the same thing?….Thanks Guys…
Before I go, i’d just like to say that I too wish things were the way they used to be, you know like 15 yrs or so ago….when we could shop downtown windsor, or on ottawa street…it’s a shame, all these big box outlets are forcing our mom and pop shops to close, and often times, in my opinion, those are where you’d get the best customer service, and deals at!!! There was just an article recenty in the star, about how local stores are being forced to close due to this construction on walker road…it’s a shame!
ok dumb question number two…is this store going out of business or something??
“I plan to make 2008 a year in which I try to support small local businesses as much as possible.” This is a pledge that every one of us must take and implore our families and friends to do the same. Everyone writing here is pretty much dead-on in their assessments of Ottawa Street and the importance of supporting local independent retail. I think people are just starting to realize that with the big-box stores, they are just part of an economic equation, but shopping on “Main Street” makes you part of a community.
Rocco’s (I believe) grocery store was one of the last to survive (it was just around the corner from TDCanada Trust on Moy) but disappeared a couple of years ago leaving The Market and Shoppers the only place left to get produce and paper products.
I love Ottawa Street, and know it’s only a matter of time before the area improves. T’Dye For Salon just moved onto the street and did some extensive renovations, so there must still be some appeal to the area. Yes, it’s tired but the bones are still there for area residents to spend money there and put some meat back on the bones.
The two neighbourhoods tha treceive little attention but I feel have some of the most potential are Ottawa Street and Drouillard Road. Talk about neighbourhod assets that are just languishing waiting for the “prince” to arrive.
Ross, yes I believe you are correct that it was a Bargain, Bargain. Your second question. No it is not. The store takes merchandise from liquidations and sells them at a lower cost.
Chris we will be waiting until doomsday unless people change their mentality. I like Andrew, would rather shop at Canada Salvage or Angeliri Lumber (yes a Rona but still locally owned) than drive out into traffic hell and walk around a football-sized store to find a tube of caulking. I also go to Home Hardware on Tec. East & Crawford. Another decent store though the employees are something to be desired.
The problem with Ottawa Street is not big box stores, but pay parking. Ottawa Street has a lot of business that can compete with big box stores. There`s the dollar shop, Canada Salvage (some stuff is cheaper than Home Depot, some costs more, but you have to compare), Liquidation World (a lot of stuff costs more than Big Box for some reason, so you have to comparison shop), Freeds, used books stores and consignment shops. They can all beat big box stores on price on certain items. But, most people just don`t want to pay the parking meter or pay lots (like the one behind the featured Liquidation World) when parking is free at the mall or the Big Box stores. I always cringe when I have to dish out a couple bucks to put into the meter to shop when other areas of the city are free. You`ve gotta offer something free to get people to visit and shop even if it`s something as token as free parking. It`s just like when a saleperson gives you a free set of no obligation steak knives or space pens to listen to them for 5 minutes. You might even buy something at the end of presentation, but if the salesman is like pay admission first before you hear what he has to say, you`re like don`t waste my time. Get rid of the damn parking meters and pay lots and you`ll see the area significantly improve. There`s no recession in this city if Devonshire Mall and the Big Box stores are all packed with cars. The problems like the one on Ottawa Street is all due to the city`s meddling like putting up parking meters.
Back in the 50s every teenager used to hangout at the Ding Ho, Franks Lunch or the pool hall across from Lanspeary park and Paul Martin Senior was shaking hands every Sunday on the Catholic church steps across from Walkerville Collegiate and needless to say Pops was a biker haven on Erie. I guess they are all gone now.
I think you’re going to get the “There’s No Such Thing as Free Parking” speech from Shawn before the day is done. 😉
But seriously, the parking meter chasing people away theory is penny-wise pound-foolish. I don’t think I’ve very had to feed an Ottawa street parking meter more than a few quarters. It’s not like you are spending the afternoon there. Furthermore, even with the most fuel efficient vehicle you are still going to burn several dollars in gasoline driving out to the Mall or Big Box Heaven (never mind the time you lost if you are on Walker road during rush hour). What’s more, the whole idea of a shopping district like Ottawa street is to get away from our car-dependent “go to the outskirts” shopping habits. As Andrew pointed out, Ottawa street is hemmed in by some serious population density. It’s a very walkable destination for thousands of people. It’s also on a bus route. There’s no reason why parking meters are a significant cause of loss of business.
Yes, but this is the Auto City, not Toronto. Cars and driving around in them is the pride of joy of an automotive city. It’s part of the culture of Windsor to drive around in Windsor, just like it is to buy a gourmet coffee in Toronto. You ask anybody what’s the pride of Windsor and they’ll say it’s the automobile. You ever wonder why a metropolitan city like Detroit with over 2 million people in the 1950s in downtown never had a subway system? It’s because the automobile is their pride. You can’t ignore that and think it’ll go away. People are just going to go to different areas of the city which are more automobile friendly.
So, what’s your explanation then? Have you been to Ottawa street businesses lately and comparison shopped? Prices are better in certain respects, yet where are all the people? Why is it that the free parking plazas and malls have so much activity?
The “auto city” monikor is a *dying* reference to our past manufacturing base which was strong in the auto sector. But in terms of getting around, this is just another big Canadian city and the average family owning 2-3 cars is not unusual in London or Kitchener or wherever else.
And you are correct, David, this is not Toronto…..or Detroit. Their issues are unique to Toronto and Detroit respectively and have nothing to do with Ottawa street. Both do have parking meters in areas where parking is at a premium though. There is a reason for that in any community.
If you believe that 50 cents is standing between success and failure on Ottawa street, you’re entitled to your opinion though.
Personally I see a future in Windsor with strips like Ottawa street as a walkable neighbourhood retail destinations again, with or without parking meters.
Interesting comments about the parking fees. I personally resent paying for parking but I really believe that in areas such as Ottawa Street it should be as accessible as possible and free parking, in my opinion, would help.
For example last year I went to Erie Street and parked at a poorly lit, small parking lot with a badly worded sign and received a $30 ticket on an evening where barely anyone was around anyway. I contacted the BIA and they told me it was a real problem for Erie Street and caused a lot of people to stay away. I was told that many people complained about tickets after meters ran out.
Our parking meter pals have got to be some of the best in the business. Many people and merchants that I know on Ottawa Street often complain about their zealous behaviour. If the City spent as much energy on making things work as they do on enforcing the parking the City could be a better place. (I don’t blame the enforcement people, they are amongst the most productive city workers I bet!)
Yep, that’s kinda how I used to look at it, but … sometimes someone comes along and presents a compelling case that changes one’s mind. In my case, this was it –
http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?id=072
This blog article has been linked here before, I’m sure.
RE: Me,
Thanks for the clarification, It’s been so long since I’ve been in that store, though now that you have mentioned what they carry, I might take a gander in there to see what’s new!!..
Now for my two cents, I’m a young guy in case you guys are wondering where my perspective comes from, but I TOTALLY agree with David, and VP, it’s the parking. I drive a big vehicle, time, and convenience make or break my decisions, and big box stores are convenient. Ottawa street, simply put, isn’t!! At Wal-Mart I can pull in, park somewhere off to the back, and not have to worry about my mirrors being taken off because someone can’t drive on Ottawa, I don’t have to pay to park. I can leave my truck, and not worry about it being ticketed, scratched, backed into ect… I hate street parking!! I don’t agree with having to pay to shop, it’s all about saving a buck, so why pay, when you can park free at the big box stores? Furthermore, I often shop with a gang of people, me and some friends, and there is just not enough space for everyone to park on Ottawa, we make an afternoon out of it, and eat, shop, and chill. I do however agree that with the Home Depots, and Wal-Marts, your sacrifice is customer service, DEFINITELY!
Yeah, I mean cummon, doesn’t the city rake in enough at the Hospitals, through taxes ect…ect…which is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS, I mean why should we have to “PAY” to see a dying loved one at a hospital is beyond me….but I make no rules, I just follow them!! But that is what we do at the hospitals, and doctors offices. Sad…sad…sad…in my opinion at least!!
It’s the parking…for sure…!!
Free parking = it is much harder to park. Even with time limits,people linger longer in spots. So you would have an even harder time.
Well, Shawn, let them linger longer in the new free spots. When that happens, it means business is booming. It means there’s more people spending time shopping along Ottawa Street instead of going to the malls and Big Box Stores, which means it’s good news for Ottawa Street businesses. Much better than the alternative of seeing businesses go bankrupt along Ottawa because of lack of free parking.
That’s a myth, David, but I’m likely not going to convince you that one car parked for a long time taking up that massively subsidized space vs. a few using that spot over the same amount of time is “less booming.”
Free parking was attempted a few Christmas seasons ago if you recall. What you think should have happened didn’t happen. People camped out in the spots all day – like employees – rather than an ongoing cycle of customers coming and going. It was a dismal failure. Customers actually had nowhere to park! What seemed like an easy simple solution wasn’t.
There is no such thing as free parking, any more than there’s such a thing as a free hotel room, or a free lunch, or a free ride.
The lot next to HDH came up, well…. who do you think pays for the million dollars worth of real estate downtown in order to make a surface for people to park their cars? That has to come from somewhere, and in HDH’s case it comes from its users. Sure they charge too much, but I am pretty sure that is also a revenue booster for the hospital. Anyone who doesn’t like it can find parking on the residential streets and hoof it in…. or take the bus. No one owes anyone a free parking space in their lot.
Always amazes me, no one has any trouble dropping $30,000+ on a new vehicle. Nor do people have a problem with feeding their gas guzzling big trucks $100 a week in gasoline. But ask them to drop two bits into a parking meter and the world comes crashing down around them. What a strange city….
I don’t think it’s a myth. LIke what would all those extra cars be doing there then? I always see empty pay meter spots along Ottawa Street that could be occupied by customers if they were free. The city pay lot behind the Liquidation World building is virtually empty every day. Secondly, the Ottawa Street businesses are subsidizing those spaces with some of the highest commercial property tax rates in Ontario, so the city charging for it is a slap in the face to any merchant on Ottawa Street. Why do the mall merchants and big box stores subsidize their free parking lots? Because they know it’s good for business and that’s why everyone’s down there.
God…I can smell the Woolworths now….I remember going there every other Thursday with my mom I was allowed to buy a GI Joe or dinkycar…and we’d grab a bit at the lunch counter….what everhappen to the days of the true department stores…..
God…I can smell the Woolworths now….I remember going there every other Thursday with my mom I was allowed to buy a GI Joe or dinkycar…and we’d grab a bit at the lunch counter….what everhappen to the days of the true department stores…..
JT: it was also good ol’ Bargain ?HArolds before Bargain Shop…..not sure if someone mentioned that alread, if they did sorry LOL!
John, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. It wasn’t the employees that hoarded the spaces; it was all the new customers that would have shopped elsewhere. It was a huge success!! Then, the city became greedy and wrecked it like it does everything else.
Long gone Sammy. When I was a child my father would buy me a hot chocolate at the Kresge’s counter. Funny how one remembers silly little things like that. While growing up on Pelissier we had a place called Sentry’s a few blocks away on Dougall and it had a cafeteria too. You could pretty well get whatever you needed at Sentrys too. I think Woolworths on Ouellette was the last holdout of that era. The business that is in the old Woolworths on Ottawa street is supposedly somehow descended from Woolworths by way of the Bargain Shop that was there before? Only complaint is it’s messy in there. Someone needs to straighten up the shelves more often.
David it was well documented at the time that the “free parking” experiment was a failure for the reasons mentioned. As Shawn said, and I will too…… you’ll never admit it. So I’ll leave it that.
Let me ask you something. What do you think would happen if Devonshire Mall set up parking tolls and charged everyone $2 every time they entered the parking lot? Do you think the parking lot would stlll be filled with cars and the mall filled with people? Maybe everyone would take the bus to the mall… Or maybe they’d just take their cars to another shopping district with free parking.
Oh, and as for documentation. It’s biased by political views. Say I’m a politician and want to justify putting parking meters back up and there’s a few consulting companies in town. I tell the consulting company I’ll hire you over someone else if you show why we shouldn’t have free parking and justify our parking tax. Guess what they come up with? Enough said.
David, you’re not seriously claiming the downtown free parking experiment a sucess are you? It was the most colossal failure in recent memory.
When it comes to paying for parking on Ottawa street, you have to ask yourself what you time is worth. For the 50 cents I have to drop in a meter on Ottawa St. to go to Canada Salvage, it’s a great deal. I never have to park farther away than I would at the mall or any other of the sprawl plazas. I can usually see my car while I shop it’s that close.
I can drive to Ottawa St. park, run inside and make my purchase at Canada Salvage, get back in my car and go home much quicker than I can drive out to Home Deport and park for free. I personally don’t mind paying 25 or 50 cents to do so. My time to me is better served by making my purchase and getting back to my repair project. I can save 15-20 minutes off my trip by paying 50 cents at a meter. Sounds like a good trade to me.
Last year I needed a few new tires for my car. I drove over to the Firestone at Ouellette and Gilles. In less than an hour from arrival I was in my car driving home with the job done, without an appointment.
Maybe I could have saved $15 or $20 by going to Canadian Tire or Sprawl-Mart or Costco, but by the time I was drving home, I guarantee my car wouldn’t have even been on a hoist at one of the other places. The fact is at the end of the day customer service and convienece is better at the independant shops, but most people would rather drive 20 minutes more to park for free to save a dollar.
Show me the article and I’ll pick it apart. Was this stated by the Ottawa Street Business Association? All I could find in an Internet search are old council minutes that said the Ottawa Street Business Association paid $1,200 for free parking for their sidewalk sale on June 24, 25, 26, 2004. http://www.citywindsor.ca/DisplayAttach.asp?AttachID=834
Ah, Ottawa street. My parents used to go to a bar (Kojak’s?) there and then head over to the Chinese (Lee’s Villa) restaurant next door at closing time. I used to get awesome egg rolls for lunch on Saturdays. I think my first ever suit was from Brotherhood. I remember buying Wildcat shoes from Diane’s I think it was called. Then there was that sports card store and the owner was such a prick. I went to Freed’s for my Assumption uniforms. Canada Salvage had lots of neat gadgets. Crescent Lanes was small and cozy, but now gone. Mr. Shishkabob was awesome until they won the best Gyro award and tripled their prices. Lanspeary park was cheap ice in the winter. I see they have a roof now! The last time I remember going down to Ottawa street was when Pillsworth’s was there. No wait, my first date with my wife was at Toni Macaroni’s and that was the last time I was down there. I haven’t even stepped foot in the new Windsor Market yet. Wow, I forget a lot of the old business’ that were down there before. Good memories.
Phan, great memories… The sports card store guy was a prick… I remember he moved to Techumseh Rd. and his new sotre had a fire… I believe that he was charged with arson in an insurace scam…
His brother had a sports card store on Wyandotte St. and was much nicer…
Head back down to Ottawa Street and check it out, take your wife out for dinner, there’s no end to good places down there to eat to suit all tastes and budgets.
Lee’s is now closed however…
WOW, what a debate…Bottom line is….it’s all about customer service -vs -convenience. At the end of the day..….if you want convenience and free parking, you go to Wal-Mart and such, if you want customer service and don’t mind spending a few dollars on parking, then you head down to Ottawa street. Personally, I just don’t find Ottawa street convenient. I honestly cannot remember when if ever, I actually stopped at a store on Ottawa and shopped. Wait I lied..…LOL…does the Avenue Pawn Brokers count?? Andrew is right, I have stood in the isles at the Home Depots, and Wal-Marts waiting, and waiting for someone to help me, or direct me to something I am looking for, VS as Andrew points out, you go to a smaller, locally, or family run store, your not waiting for hours on end, and your in and out. I guess it boils down to what is more important to the individual shopping right?
John – whether I drive neon, or a truck, I’d still refuse to put anymore money back into the pockets of the city, when they don’t do anything with it that I am in favor of. I had a Buick before my truck, and still wouldn’t pay for parking….it has nothing at all to do with what people choose to drive…. They (city/government) take enough from us every time we turn around, so if I can park somewhere for free, by golly that’s where you’ll find me. I refuse to give them anything more than I have to bottom line.
I understand, Ross. But by burning up a fortune in gasoline and wasting more time crawling thru traffic on Howard so you can park ‘free’ you’re not really my idea of ‘giving it to the man’. If you’ll go through all that trouble to save, 25-50 cents then I guess it’s your prerogative though.
What’s more, like I said, nothing is free. You aren’t “giving” anything to anyone when you pay for parking, you are only paying for a slab of real estate you are using temporarily. The program also helps prevent abuse of parking, which was demonstrated during the “free parking” program failure discussed elsewhere in this thread.
As far as convenience goes, you couldn’t be any more wrong on your bottom line, unless of course you already happen to live very close to your favorite sprawlmall. Those who are trying to promote a rebirth of core shopping districts are reaching out to the huge population base that exists around it already. We know those who have long since moved out to the burbs aren’t going to change. I don’t know if that is you but for those who live in the core, going to a shopping district will still be faster and more convenient than a drive to the outskirts. (Never mind the other rewards to the local economy when you support local businesses.) What caught my eye though….you struggled to remember the only time you’ve shopped on Ottawa street which was Avenue Pawnbrokers, so it goes to prove what I’ve believed all along, that these sweeping statements about so-called parking problems on Ottawa street and other core shopping districts are just going by perception, not experience For my part, I can say I still occasionally end up at The Mall or Big Box Heaven and from experience I can tell you it is not only less convenient but a giant nuisance compared to getting to/from a store on Ottawa, Tecumseh, etc. especially during peak shopping periods.
John, -Statistically speaking, any vehicle in the city, burns more fuel driving up a city street, so I don’t see how that is relevant to the discussion, I mean miles per gallon are always less in city driving verses highway driving, because of all the stop and go. That said, I could see your point if I was driving to Essex to do my shopping, and burning up a massive amount of fuel, but I’m not, and because Wal-Mart is close to home, convenient, with the added bonus of free parking, I shop there, furthermore, Ottawa is out of my way, I am east, and I’d actually burn more fuel going to shop on Ottawa street, so again, that point seems irrelevant. You’re absolutely correct when you say I’m going with perception, rather than experience, because like I said, it’s been years since I have actually taken the time to stop along Ottawa street to shop, and browse. To me, as stated, it’s about convenience, and yeah I like to save a buck where I can and park for free. I am still against having to give this city any more money than I have to, and if I stop from doing that, by not paying for parking, then that is what I will do. It’s not about me saving a lousy .50, and wasting fuel driving out to the burbs, it’s about me not wanting to contribute to a greedy city more than what I have to I do live less than 5 minutes away from Wal-Mart, and it’s convenient to shop there, and grab everything I need in one stop, rather than stopping at 5 different places, and burning fuel at each destination along the way. Time is valuable to me, and I don’t like running here, and there, and everywhere to grab what I am looking for, when I know from experience that the item I want is at Wal-Mart…ect. I do however understand the importance in supporting our local business owners, and that is something I am going to have to work on admittedly.
Well if you go to any typical city you’ll find these parking meters in core shopping districts, they aren’t unique to Windsor, nor are they a product of greed. There is no entitlement to free parking.
And like I said, if you are a resident of the burbs then maybe Ottawa street isn’t for you but from the beginning the discussion has been about core residents supporting their neighbourhood businesses.
I’ve even caught myself being caught in the car-centric nature of this discussion when it shouldn’t even be about that primarily in the first place. Funny how we always get back to how easy it is for us to get to and from somewhere in our car, like it’s life or death.
I totally agree!!…accept with your comment about greed, I think parking meters are just another way for the city to snatch up everyone’s hard earned money. I hate them, and won’t use them unless I absoultely have to. If a store wants me to come shop, provide me with a place that at least to most of us “looks” free. Bottom line for me.
Ross, if you park for free on a city street, you are snatching up someone else’s “hard earned money.” Nothing is for free.
When you deposit 25-50 cents into a parking meter, you aren’t even paying for the full value of the real estate your vehicle is occupying thanks to subsidization of that space. If you want to talk about greed, I would call greed the expectation that a municipality’s ratepayers should pay the full cost by making that spot “free”. The two bits you drop in a meter is more than just a matter of you paying your fair share though; it’s about responsible use of that space. If that space was “free”, it wouldn’t be there for you to use anyway thanks to human nature, so your chief complaint then would be “I drive up and down the street but I see the same cars parked in all the spots all day so I can’t in/out of these stores anyway.” I am reminded a section in my neighbourhood where there are metered spots that see cars coming and going all day, except for one space that is not metered and designated as 1 hour commercial parking. Guess what? The same cube van has been parked there for over 2 months. It hasn’t budged an inch. Someone has found that “free” spot and is using it for vehicle storage. Who wooda thunk?
Liquidation World. Yuck. I would not shop at this store. This company did not make it in the USA and it’s stock is declining everyday on the markets. I bought items, got them home and they ended up in the garbage. What a waste of money. This is a beautiful old building and too much history behind it. I hope to see this store gone. Once I have looked into this company and how they operate, it makes me sick. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a business there that would bring back old times.
oh WOW !!! in alllllll the years of romping around ottawa, i have never ever noticed anything beyond the aluminum. the top of this building is amazing! love that doorway too!
i remember going in there with my mom and my brother sammy hain. we’d always get a milkshake at the counter. it’s funny cause if you go in there you can still see woolworths asiles clearly marked out in blue lines lol