Today’s post is a few photos from the spring of 2003, when the Shoppers at the corner of Wyandotte St. W. & Campbell was still under construction. The Shoppers took out an old commercial block which was home to one of my favourite local watering holes, Buzz’s Bar & Grill.
While the commercial buildings were replaced with a commercial building, these four-plexes gave way to the shiny parking lot beside it.
The buildings weren’t gems, but they did add a certain feel to the street. There are also a few four-plexes on the north side of Wyandotte St that are still standing.
While the buildings had seen better days, they did feature stone elements inlaid in the brick.
This balcony looked dangerous, and building beside it, long ago had its balcony removed, but I liked these buildings and were sad to see them go. They added a nice urban look and feel to Wyandotte St. W. at Campbell. Too many times the city allows the de-urbanizing of our established neighbourhoods, without any thought to the big picture.
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As a side note, thanks to everyone who’s entered suggestions into the new form. They’re coming though, and there have been some good suggestions, and many of you will probably see your suggestions up early in the new year. Thanks again, and keep ’em coming.
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i keep seeing the shoppers going up all over the city.. i cant believe that in existing urban areas there isnt a bylaw stating that they need to face the street. i notice there is a door on the corner.. but its not an entrance, and the faux pictures with giant faces in them don't do anything for me..
While I bemoan the tearing apart of the old urban fabric, and detest the suburban feel of the new Shoppers building, at least they built right up to the sidewalk and kept the parking in the rear. Those 4-plexes are beautiful, and of the type that we're going to need more of in the coming years of re-urbanization. We're going to regret allowing demolitions such as these to happen.
When we build urban infill, we can't get too focused on the type of business that's going in, but we must focus as much attention on the type of BUILDING being erected. Businesses come and go (the end of cheap oil will necessitate that big-box stores won't be around for long), but the building will/should be with us for a very long time. As long as the building is appropriate (and this one really isn't) and adds to the fabric of the community, we'll be OK in the long run.
These Shopper's buildings are an absolute nightmare. If and when these franchises go tits-up, will the building be adaptable for a new business to move into? I predict we will see some serious debacles of stucco work happening. It is not going to be pretty.
Chris. I totally agree with what your saying but even though the stores are built against the sidewalk, they don't add to the area.. I have no problem with shoppers drug mart, the problem i see is that their store doesn't face the street. there are no windows even facing the street. the faux windows with giant people in them is too literal an interpretation of having 'eyes on the street'...
Ken.. ya the stucco will be disgusting in a few years
I agree with Chris Holt's sentiments. Shoppers is here to stay for many years and are bringing needed job to the city.
Buzz's. We were there when the 1996 Olympic Bombing went off. Watching it on a TV with no sound while the music played.
And yes, Chris, it doesn't matter that it's a Shoppers, people like them, I like them, it's the sign of a healthy neighbourhood. They are, like the LCBO, terrible urban citizens. Up to the sidewalk sure, but a blank, dead wall.
There does seem to be an awful lot of Shoppers here in Windsor. I don't think the stucco will be a problem down the road though.
Construction of the bigfoot Shoppers Drug at Campbell and Wyandotte W. did more than take out the nearby walkup apartments. It also contributed to the hollowing out of Olde Sandwich Towne retail when the Shoppers there closed with its sister opening. Shoppers outlets are like small department stores, and the impact on Sandwich residents was the same as closing a block of small stores. A small Rexall pharmacy eventually came into the void but is doesn’t carry the retail items that the Shoppers provided and which attracted customer traffic to the community.
RWS i see that all the time now with shoppers.. now on wyandotte near pilette.. the moved just down the street.. now there is a vacant store i wonder how much affect it will have on the business in that area.