The Timmins Downtown Business Improvement Association has introduced a program to help fill some of the remaining empty store fronts in downtown Timmins.
“We will also work with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation to find potential businesses who want to open or relocate in Timmins,” said Noella Rinaldo, executive director of the DBIA and also one of the four city councillors for the downtown area.
Tuesday the DBIA unveiled posters bearing the words: “This is a great space for a:
- Restaurant
- Professional Office
- Clothing Store
- A Business of Your Own
The “This is a Great Space” poster will be placed in the empty storefront window and have a check next to the most appropriate use for the building.
It will also contain contact information for reaching the DBIA for information.
A web site will be launched beginning on Monday October 24 that will describe the buildings and possible uses.
“On occasion I will also travel out of town to promote business relocation or opening in Timmins at suitable conferences and events across Ontario,” Rinaldo added.
Though many new businesses have opened up in Timmins over the last four years there are still many empty spaces to be filled along Third Avenue, Second Avenue, Pine St. S. and Cedar St. S.
Along Third Avenue for example across the street from Collin Barrows Financial Services outlet are three empty storefronts in a row on the northeast side of the street – one on the northeast corner of Third and Balsam St. S., followed by the empty storefront that was formerly Claude Gagnon Photo Studio and the next storefront which used to be an antique store before it closed in 2011.
A little further east is the former Pizza Pizza outlet on the corner of Third Ave and Cedar St. S. Around the corner the former Gino’s Panino shop is unused.
On Second Ave the most noticeable empty space is that once occupied by the Taj Tandori Restaurant and across the street the former site of Total Martial Arts is for rent after the former tenants moved their operation to Spruce St. S.
On Pine St. S. the old service station in front of the Timmins Police Services Building is boarded up.
On Tuesday evening Noella Rinaldo and the Downtown Business Improvement Association held a celebration of the recent success that has led to new businesses opening in the downtown area as well as renovations being made to long standing. The celebration was held in the most prominent empty building in the downtown area the historic Tweed and Hickory department store which started off as Bucovetsky's a store that is a part of Timmin's heritage.
Some of the new businesses that were celebrated included: Coffee Warehouse and Vicky D’Amour Bakery, Bella Baby Boutique, Full Beard Brewery, The Hardrock Animal Hospital, Working Class Pub, Collin Barrow Financial Services.
Other businesses like Alfie’s Variety store, Timmins Florist, Christopher’s Coffee House and Arctic Furniture have undertaken renovations or additions.
Even the staid, grey Government Services Building on the corner of Second Avenue and Cedar St. S. is getting a makeover as is the Ontera building a little further south on Cedar.
The celebration turned the closed Tweed and Hickory department store into a thriving pub featuring food provided by the downtown eateries.
Refreshments were provided by Full Beard Brewery which opened this year on Wilson Ave. in the building that was housed a company that sold mobility equipment for seniors, injured or disabled people.
Full Beard Brewery becomes the first brewing company in Timmins since Doran’s Brewery which was located on Algonquin Blvd. East, east of Spruce St. S. in the empty space to the west of the Bon Aire Motel.
La Formagerie Kapuskasing featured samples of its locally made cheeses.
Local eateries such as Vicky D’Amour Bakery, Golden Dragon Restaurant, and The Sushi Shop and Don’s Pizzeria provided a sampling of food served in the downtown area.
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