Liquidation World

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• 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!)