Pretty quite in the neighbourhood although walking the streets one can find shops disappearing or moving. Like the Comic Shop many shops are finding more cost effective locations as the retail rent in Kits continues to climb and some redevelopment is creeping in once again.
I was out the other night and besides Reitmans being an empty shell at 4th and Balsam, we now have Combat Athletics that went vacant around October 20th, Not surprisingly there are more businesses leaving the neighbourhood but where it hurts is who they are.
Shockingly we can now add to the above a couple of West 4th cornerstones disappearing from the hill over the next couple of months. Chairlines who after 25 years on 4th (currently at 2031 West 4th) has a notice up they are moving to 60 East 4th.
Next up and sad for me as it’s one of my favourite shops is Hana (currently at 2039 West 4th). This is another cornerstone of 4th who has been on the hill for at least a 1/4 century although with several owners. Current owner Shigeko Nerome says the current location is going to be redeveloped in the new year and rather than wait or move she is going to close the doors.
Another change along West 4th is Canvas Salon moving to the East side of their split space. Their sign has been moved to the East as well. The West side windows have brown paper up so it looks like a new tenant maybe on the way already.
With Christmas on the horizon, the coming business it brings might be a needed boost and comfort level for some of the hill’s businesses who are looking at where their rent is headed in the future.
