New business openings and renovations to existing stores are revitalizing downtown

Downtown Timmins is undergoing a revival that the city has not seen in a long time with new business opening like the new Hardrock Animal Hospital, the Titan Convenience Store, Bella Baby Boutique, Collins Barrow Financial Services, Cheapsters and Revillo Shwarma.

Existing businesses are also taking the time to renovate and redo their exterior and interior to provide better service to their customers.

“Obviously, the Community Investment Program, which gives business the opportunity to apply for funds for renovations, has helped, but there have been businesses that have paid entirely with their own money for renovations,” said Steve Black, Timmins Mayor. “It’s great to see them investing in their business in the downtown area and bringing them up to a new modern life.”

“And as they make improvements others business see that perhaps it is time for them to also make improvements,” Mayor Black noted.

On Tuesday evening, Noella Rinaldo and the Downtown BIA celebrated the success of downtown Timmins businesses and hosted an event at the historic Tweed and Hickory department store, perhaps the largest of the downtown unoccupied storefronts on Third Ave. just west of Pine St. S. The store which is the former Bucovetsky’s has long been a part of life in Timmins, but since Christmas, 2014 it has remained empty since Tweed and Hickory decided to close the store.

“One great thing about the downtown that people thinking of opening a business in Timmins is that it has all the financial institutions it needs right in the downtown area,” said Michael Doody one of the four city Councillor representing Ward 5 which includes the downtown area.

“Noella and the DBIA have done a super job revitalizing the downtown,” Doody said. “There are so many good features to be proud of - the new business, the flowers."

“They have done a great job making the downtown a welcoming place," Doody added. “The events they host like Urban Park also helps draw people to the downtown.”

Among the new business are the Coffee Warehouse and Vicky D’Amours Bakery grew out of the old Tweed and Hickory Shoe store on the north side of Third Avenue. 

Christopher’s Coffee House around the corner on Pine Street S. also has built a patio which is completed and ready for the spring and summer of 2017.

In addition you have Jories Clothing Store on the corner of Pine S. and Third Avenue. A few doors to the north the Black Spruce Gallery opened a little over a year ago and display original works of art in addition to providing framing services.

Speakeasy Emporium on the corner of Third and Spruce St. S opened in 2014 and has two new businesses, D-Chef and Rachel’s Baking.

On Second Avenue, Working Class pub opened a little over a year ago has had great success and featured a comedy festival and the street also hosted a Bacon Fest in the summer of 2016.

Several long standing businesses have also spruced up their appearances and modernized. Among the stores to receive a facelift are Alfie’s Variety Story, Timmins Florist and Altered Reality (formerly the Book Bin).

On Second Avenue even the federal Government Services Building on the corner of Cedar St. S. is getting a makeover with scaffolding set up a couple of weeks ago.

As Councillor Rinaldo has herself explained there are certain advantages to being located downtown.

“There are 3,000 people who work in the downtown area and that provides a lot of through traffic to support the unique shops” said Rinaldo talking about the clothing boutiques and specialty shops that chose to locate downtown instead of Timmins Square.

Despite the recent successes several buildings still lie empty and Timmins still has challenges as most Northern Ontario do with empty store fronts. Rinaldo introduced a program on Tuesday night that will help link potential new businesses to the right property and hope that leads to the occupancy of unoccupied storefronts.

According to Timmins Mayor Steve Black, the Timmins economy is doing quite well with several new investments helping to add to the economic prosperity of the city.

“We have been working hard with Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) to bring investments to Timmins like the Calabrian Sulphur dioxide plant in Whitney Township,” said Mayor Black. “We also hope to have a Chinese company open basalt mining operation, though there is still a lot of work ahead on that one.” ,

“We also have some of our local business like the Bucket shop a mining supply company that is building a new multi-million dollar facility,” Mayor Black added. “Although always have concerns about the future of our mining sector, the economic climate in Timmins is strong.” he said.