At the last Windsor-Essex Blogger Meeting, there was an idea to make a post today about your neighbourhood, and its amenities or lack there of.
You could post about something your neighbourhood has, that you like, or something that you wish you had that you don’t.
Instead of picking on the negatives, today I’m going to be a glass half full kind of guy. And say that I’m thankful for the abundance of markets within walking distance. While not up to the point where I can abandon the chain stores (although La Stella on Erie St. certainly makes it close), I can go pick up a few odd items to tide me over until I go out shopping without any problems. One of my favourites is the Family Fruit Market that opened on Mercer, just south of Wyandotte. It’s two blocks west, one block north, and you couldn’t ask for anything closer or more convenient. Fresh produce only steps away. They also have a butcher on site too. A rarity these days.
As gas gets more expensive, the neighbourhood markets once again become important.
Only a few short years ago, this building was closed up, and served as the warehouse to Veteran’s Plumbing on Wyandotte St.
Looking closely at the facade, you can make out the words “HUDSON SERVICE”, on this former Car Dealership.
So how about you? What amenities does your neighbourhood have that you like, or what do you wish you had?
Great idea Andrew. I’m looking forward to checking that place out. I’ve just moved to Windsor (Victorial and Tecumseh area) after a 13 year absence . I’ve been pleasantly surprised about how walkable my neighbourhood is. You can hike up to Dorwin Plaza fairly easily, or East to Elias and the (admittedly big box) plaza with the Price Chopper and Rogers. Would-like-to-haves? Independent video store; local neighbourhood pub; bakery, etc., but all in all the situation’s much better than my neighbourhood in Edmonton was. If anyone can recommend any hidden gems around my neighbourhood, I’d be happy to know. Thanks!
DOH! The Blog Burst! Arrrrgh!
Triston, there are a couple neighbourhood pubs around the Price Chopper area. There’s Canusa on the next block and that pub across from the stadium behind Kennedy on McDougall. I forget what it’s called. The Jockey Club or something. Next to the Games Exchage beside Tim’s, there’s an asian convienence store with a room full of thousands of $1 videos for rent as I recall. Two bakeries about 10 blocks from there, pretty far, but not gonna have a third with those nearby. The Jackson Park area also has two bowling alleys within walking distance. It has everything, pretty much. You really can’t ask for more.
I live right in the core and have so for 19 year, after being away for ten years. When I originally left Windsor there was Douglas Hardware, Chatham Street Hardware and a Canadian Tire downtown. Now I can’t even buy paint or a paint tray without having to take a bus for thirty minutes! If there was a good hardware store in the core, I would be set!
Oh! The Kildare House (a local pub) is for sale, the sign went up yesterday!
Thanks David, I really appreciate it. I can’t wait to stop by the Bowlero. By bakeries do you mean those on Erie Street?
I live downtown and one of the great things about living downtown is multitude of different ethnic restaurants (except the shawarma places, they are just ethnic fast food outlets). I have a great waterfront park that I utilize almost everyday and my neighbours are exceptional! We also have very litttle little crime we I live so that too is a very big bonus.
For those who don’t have transportation we have the “funky” bus terminal with the tunnel bus which makes it easier to go to Detroit for sporting events.
What I wish we had downtown:
Clothing retail
Hardware store (by the way Urbanrat, I am not sure if you know but there is a Home Hardware store on Tec. Rd West at Crawford, you can take either the 1C or 1A and get off at Tec. & Ouellette and walk a few blocks west).
electronic store
Decent Market with fresh produce or a decent grocery store.
Bakery
My above list is all wihtin reach of an 8 minute car ride. But I don’t want to have to take my car out. That was the point of living downtown.
Forgot to add.
There is a Downtown Residents Association Meeting today starting at 5:00 (registration and social) with the meeting starting at 6:00PM @ St. Clair Center for the Arts (formerly The Cleary). It is upstairs.
Hopefully people will come out so that we can brainstorm to get a collecgive voice to show what is really needed downtown. This is not going to be a bitch session from what I hear but an approach to city hall where as a large group we can move the city towards what it is the residents of downtown want and not what people think we want.
This is for anyone who lives in Windsor but mainly from Riverside Dr to Tecumseh Rd (including you Tristan) from Caron Ave east to approx. Marentette. So bring a friend and let’s finally get together to make our neighbourhoods proud!
I’ll be there. Looking forward to meeting you folks.
I’m not referring to the bakery on Erie St. There’s one on Tecumseh Road. It`s called “Sunrise Bakery“. They have some really good specials there. The other is on Howard Rd. I think it`s at Stanley or something. They always have a sign up that says Fresh Baked, Gluten Free and Fat Free Bread. I forget what it`s called now. I`ve been to both.
I now remember what that pub on McDougall St. across from Kennedy Stadium is called. It`s called “Cry Moto“.
Tristan, my old friend, while at the Canusa Tavern try the fried calamari and a bottle of 50.
Thanks David, will check those out, especially Cry Moto, for the name alone. And Chet, will do the 50, but will have to contemplate the calamari.
Tristan: bike ride to Wyandotte and Victoria for a bunch of little ethnic grocery stores that have great deals. The Asian Market has fresh indian food made daily (usually veggie samosa and pakora). You’re also very close to Galati Cheese on Tec just after the wonky bend; they make their own cheese and have a deli counter inside with different meats and cheeses.
Kildare is for sale! OH NO! I hope they don’t close this place. Despite the bathrooms, I love it there!
Thanks for the market info, Andrew. I will definitely have to check this one out! I’m glad someoene remembered about the local amenities. 😀
Tristan, I grew up in that area and most of all your like-to-have things are sadly gone. The neighbourhood pub on Pelissier & Tecumseh burned down when I was a child (and I don’t even know if it was still open at that time). There was an independent video store on McDougall & Tecumseh in the ’80s called Omni Video as well as an indy in Dorwin Plaza (plus two walkable Radio Shacks!). All gone. As Dave mentioned, there is the Canusa which by the way is a peer to Tunnel BBQ in terms of longetivity. It’s a short walk from Victora st. I have walked by Cry Moto many times and never knew what it was, but never would have guessed a pub. Has anyone been in there? I never see any action around it. I thought it might be a private club of some sort. Second David on Sunrise Bakery; it’s one of the biggest and best bakeries in the city if you don’t mind walking up to Hall. At one time you could bring your electronics to Rose City TV repair just east of present day Tim Hortons on Dougall & Tecumseh (which was Donut Joy), and across from that was a convenience store which is now some kind of financial services place. We used to love Kam Way for chinese food but it changed ownership a few years ago and we were too disappointed to keep going. The convenience store on Bruce was a decent cycle shop for a few years. Some people swear by Sarduccis but pizza is a matter of taste – try it once anyway. They’ve been in business since the early ’80s. Of course you have the 1C bus stop on Ouellette and Tecumseh if you want a ride downtown, although if you go back far enough there was a bus route that went up Pelissier st. then west on Jackson. Maybe it will come back when they shake up all the routes again? 😉
the kildare house is for sale?!?!?!?!?!? i think i’m gonna cry 🙁 should we place bets on when the death fences go up? does anyone know why? it’s always seemed to have steady buisness.
i live right in your area tristan, but everyone already covered the neighbourhood! actually hepled me out a bit lol
as for sarducci’s…..they’ve got great panzeratties, but that’s as far as i go. the cry moto has always made me think something not right was going on in there. the canusa has always been alright.
….man, i’m really not happy about this kildare house thing. 🙁
The CHYRMOTO Club, I believe was a club(cheaper booze) started by some guys at Chyrsler Engine Plant(long gone) Chyrsler+Motor= Chrymoto. The club also sponsored stuff like basball teams etc, but the focus was the cheap booze..
well that totally makes sense!! thanks bob!!
Thanks very much for taking the time to help me out guys. I’ve written it all down. Should be some nice exploring.