The OSCAR l October 2019 Page 1 THE OSCAR www.BankDentistry.com 613.241.1010 The Ottawa South Community Association Review l The Community Voice Year 47, No. 9 October 2019 Food, friends and fun At the Brighton Beach Clambake Friends, neighbours and alumni from Brighton Avenue gathered for the 41st Annual Brighton Beach Clambake on September 14th. See page 4 for the story. PHOTO BY PETER MCPARTLAND COMMUNITY CALENDAR Wednesday, October 2, 12:00 Doors Open for Music - The Bow Street Runners, Southminster United Thursday, October 3, 18:30 Marketing workshop, Sunnyside Library Thursday, October 3, 7:15-8:45 Christianity Explored Course Starts, Featuring live Sunnyside Wesleyan Church SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 October 5-13 Butterfly Show, Carleton University - music by B� Mus�� Fo�d Con��t� Nesbitt Building Gentlemen of Gam�� an� MO�! Saturday, October 5, 9:00-14:00 Trinity Anglican Church Dog Wash ! Fundraiser the Woods 11:00AM-2:00P Sunday, October 6, 11:00-14:00 OSCA Fall Fest, Windsor Park Win��r Par� Wednesday, October 9, 12:00 Doors Open for Music - Foreign 1 Win��r Ave. Inspirations, Southminster United Fre� ad��so� Thursday, October 10, 19:30 - Master Piano Recital Series - Ben 21:30 Rosenblum Trio, Southminster United Wednesday, October 16, 12:00 Doors Open for Music - Inner Dialogues, www.oldottawasouth.ca Southminster United Saturday, October 19, 14:00 National Capital Opera Society Brian Law Opera Competition, Southminster United OSCA Presents Saturday, October 19, 14:00- Trinity Anglican Church’s 140th year Terrifying 16:00 Anniversary Celebration Monday, October 21, 19:00 Garden Club - Climate Change with Diane Trivia Night McClymont Peace, Firehall Tuesday, October, 22, 18:30- Community Meeting about 26 Aylmer Wednesday, October 23 20:30 Avenue, Sunnyside Library THIS EVENT IS 19+ ID REQUIRED Wednesday, October 23, 12:00 Doors Open for Music - Romantic Piano Masterworks, Southminster United DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 TRIVIA BEGINS AT 7:00PM Wednesday, October 23, 18:30- OSCA Terrifying Trivia Night, Firehall 21:00 RUNS TO 9:00PM Saturday, October 26, 14:00- Little Witch Press 10 Year Anniversary $25/TEAM (UP TO 6 PEOPLE) 16:00 Halloween Party, Firehall REGISTER YOUR TEAM Wednesday, October 30, 12:00 Doors Open for Music - The Sounds of USING THE BARCODE: TRIVIA Jazz at Dusk, Southminster United The Firehall (260 Sunnyside) To see the latest listings, go to the online calendar at www.oldottawasouth.ca oldottawasouth.ca Federal Election see pages 13-15, 37 Page 2 The OSCAR l October 2019 BUSINESS BEAT Moves, an addition, and a closure Lansdowne Animal Hospital are lots of reasons to visit this block moving and one of the empty spaces has now In a previous BB I mentioned that also found a new tenant. In early Anna Belanger was moving all the September, Bank Barbershop opened way up Bank Street, far into the their doors. From the brief glimpse Glebe. And while it is true that the I caught inside, there are at least 4 space they were occupying until a barber chairs and the space looks few weeks ago was getting too small to be set up like a fairly traditional and impractical and that a move to barber. And while I know we are a new, more modern location was more than flush with hair places warranted, it turns out that the move on Bank Street, I somehow think wasn’t entirely voluntary. they still might provide somewhat As Anna Belnager had mentioned of a niche for residents looking for in their newsletter, the building they a traditional barber service with a and the Garden of Light were in was modern flair. sold to a new owner who wanted to make changes. I have since learned Rite-Way Driving School closed that Lansdowne Animal Hospital As I already lamented above, it is the one that bought the building feels like we have been in a bit of a and they gave notice to both tenants. stretch where for every business that While Anna Belanger was given until opens, we have at least one or two the end of July to move out, it looks closing around the same time. And A new addition, the Bank Barbershop at 1204 Bank St. PHOTO BY B. MCCOY like Garden of Light has a bit longer although the barber shop just opened, By Erik van der Torre other local businesses. And to be to move (see below). block-mate Rite-Way Driving School honest, it is not surprising that OOS Once both businesses have (1212 Bank Street) closed its doors Thoughts on turnover lacks a tenant like this. There are relocated, I imagine there will be back in August. Given that this was It feels like things have been not that many large retail spaces some substantial renovations that more of a service than retail, perhaps relatively quiet on Bank Street the available along Bank and the clear will need to be done to turn the there will be an opportunity to re- last little while. Which is clearly not lack of parking would deter any retail space into an Animal hospital. energize this particular block of a good thing, seeing as for the past large, crowd-drawing tenant from Until then I am sure Lansdowne Bank Street even further if a more few months, OOS seems to be losing considering moving into the hood. Animal Hospital will continue to traditional retailer will end up taking businesses – Starbucks, the Yoga/ I am also not so sure a large anchor see patients at their current location over the space. Meditation Studio, Subway, etc. – tenant would actually work in our (281 Sunnyside Ave). And it’ll be faster than we are attracting them. neighbourhood for these same interesting to see what will happen to Starbucks space As I mentioned in the September reasons. Unless someone is willing that space once vacated! I had the hardest time figuring out Business Beat, I found it interesting to redevelop an existing, large retail what business signed the lease for that 10 years ago, residents were lot (Westcoast Video…?) and include Garden of Light moving the former Starbucks space before concerned enough about business underground parking, a large retail Although I have known for some the submission deadline, despite my in our neighbourhood that a) some tenant simply won’t work. What time that the building Garden of own and my typically all-knowing created a committee to look at this means though, is that we have Light is currently located in was and reliable sources’ efforts. And attracting a specific type of retail (a to accept a relatively high level of sold, I was surprised to not see any I had resigned myself to the fact grocery store), and b) OSWatch held turnover on Bank Street. And as signs of them closing or moving, that I wouldn’t be able to find out a special meeting to look into the much as people like to complain especially seeing as the tenant next before the deadline. Until Brendan state of retail along Bank Street to about “yet another furniture store,” door had sent out a newsletter to all Lelieveld-Amiro posed the question see what could be done to retain and I think stores like Alteriors and the their clients in the spring notifying that’s been on many people’s mind attract local businesses. various antique stores are actually them that the building had been sold to the OOS Facebook Group. And One of the issues that OSWatch some of the few retailers that are able and that they were moving. Well, hidden among the 65+ comments identified back in 2009 with retail to draw in customers from outside the at the beginning of September the were a few by Clothes Secrets’ owner on Bank is that unlike other similar neighbourhood. Oh, and Stella Luna other shoe dropped, and a sign went Valerie MacIntosh, who is well neighbourhoods in Ottawa, OOS of course. Anyway, all this to say that up on the former Arkadia building informed on the comings and goings lacks an “anchor tenant”. Unlike unless the community and retailers announcing that the Garden of Light on Bank Street, and she mentioned neighbourhoods like Westboro together decide that this is an issue will be moving there soon. that Happy Goat will be moving (MEC, the Real Canadian Super worth addressing – BIA anyone? – This really does feel like an all’s- from their Sunnyside location to the Store) and the Glebe (Metro, we have to accept that OOS retail well-that-ends well kind of story. former Starbucks location. Definitely Lansdowne), OOS lacks the kind will continue to see turnover and Although it must be tough – and a very interesting and somewhat of business that draws in customers won’t always be able to sustain the I bet expensive – to have to move unexpected move, which will of who then stick around and shop at types of businesses we would all like your business, it does feel like this course beg the question what is going to see. is the kind of retail musical chairs to happen with the Happy Goat that worked out because there are as space... many chairs as there are participants. And I bet the Garden of Light will be able to make great use of the slightly Business Beat is a monthly feature larger amount of retail space that that highlights new and existing they will now occupy, especially for businesses in Old Ottawa South. running their meditation and signing Opinions are my own. If you know bowl workshops. of any new businesses opening up or want to share your thoughts about Bank Barbershop existing businesses, send a note to: I had to use Google to remember [email protected].