Finally Central Hamilton is getting large enough to support many of the same types of establishments. Choice!
 
I'm hoping for downtown to largely continue to skip big chains and franchises. Kinton is probably one of the larger franchises to come to downtown in a while, majority of the downtown spots are local, semi-local, or boutique restaurant groups. I wouldn't want Hamilton to lose local spot to mediocre chains with big advertising budgets and the comfort of sameness but mediocrity.

While I expect the larger new developments to go after larger tenants, I hope they continue to be mostly smaller groups like this. Keeps the city unique rather than just like everywhere else.
 
Chris R. said:
I'm hoping for downtown to largely continue to skip big chains and franchises. Kinton is probably one of the larger franchises to come to downtown in a while, majority of the downtown spots are local, semi-local, or boutique restaurant groups. I wouldn't want Hamilton to lose local spot to mediocre chains with big advertising budgets and the comfort of sameness but mediocrity.

While I expect the larger new developments to go after larger tenants, I hope they continue to be mostly smaller groups like this. Keeps the city unique rather than just like everywhere else.
Click to expand...
There should be room for all. People still do like the chains. And their presence also lends some credibility. For example, it is nutso and a bad sign that downtown Hamilton does not have a single McDonald's.
 
Downtown Hamilton has basically 0 chains of any kind beyond Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza, and one Starbucks. Like, almost literally none. The few that were operating out of Jackson Square have left in the last few years.
 
Surprisingly, there are actually three Starbucks (the old Royal Connaught, the Sheraton, and at York and Bay) and a couple of Subways and a few other smattered chains. There should be more.
 
BCTed said:
There should be room for all. People still do like the chains. And their presence also lends some credibility. For example, it is nutso and a bad sign that downtown Hamilton does not have a single McDonald's.
Click to expand...
I mean, I've been all around the world, and McDonald's has never been an indicator species for successful urban area to me, if anything it was the opposite. They're often in areas locals and tourists alike lament as "touristy". I wouldn't mind the occasional franchise, though I rarely eat at them since moving out of the suburbs, but when they offer cheaper prices, bigger marketing budgets, and more revenue, they often push commercial rents up, push out local businesses and offer a lower quality product and they're rarely involved in the community.

The Barton Street BIA has struggled with McDonald's and Tim Hortons on Barton who want zero to do with the BIA of the longer term improvement to the street. Westdale has had similar issues with Second Cup. These chains don't care about you, the community they're in, nor the product they produce. They're income generators through and through, a way to extract as much money from a space as possible with no heart. Like buying a dog from a puppy mill rather than a rescue for clout.

I'm not suggesting they ban them, or make them illegal, or that people shouldn't go to them, but I'm going to hope for and continue supporting local businesses who provide better working environments for staff, often pay a living wage, and don't abuse Canada's immigrant worker program.
 
Presence of a McDonald's is not an indicator of success, but absence of one is an indicator of failure.

They retreated from downtown Hamilton years ago and have not come back. They left a downtown-ish Ottawa location a couple of years ago for bad reasons as well, but Ottawa still has McDonald's downtown.

I doubt that any other top ten city in Canada in terms of population does not have a McDonald's. People like McDonald's.
 
Did Hamilton ever have a downtown McDonalds? In my experience, they actually have a high bar for entry, particularly for a proper urban format. Better retailers can reflect the cores’ health, but it’s not all about big chains. None of Waterloo’s downtowns have a McD’s either, and it’s fine!

It’s not apples to apples, but besides Union, Toronto only has 2 near the core, and none in the FinDistrict. I only ran into 1 McDonalds in Athens and none in Rome. I know they’re around, but they clearly struggle competing with everything else.

Parm & Piccolo also is just opening now- exactly the kind of high-quality, independent tenant we all desire!
 
There's a time and place for everything. I was once a student who relied on McDonald's coffee and breakfast sandwiches. I would not go to McDonald's today unless it is a last resort option, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be one readily available as an option.
 
I'm a firm believer that we need a good mix of both local/independent and franchise. People should have as many options as possible (eg. not everyone can afford to always eat at the locally owned places). Cities should offer it all and let people decided where they want to eat. Both options can definitely survive (they do in every other downtown), especially considering the population boom downtown is about to see (/is seeing).
 
Sunnyside said:
Did Hamilton ever have a downtown McDonalds? In my experience, they actually have a high bar for entry, particularly for a proper urban format. Better retailers can reflect the cores’ health, but it’s not all about big chains. None of Waterloo’s downtowns have a McD’s either, and it’s fine!

It’s not apples to apples, but besides Union, Toronto only has 2 near the core, and none in the FinDistrict. I only ran into 1 McDonalds in Athens and none in Rome. I know they’re around, but they clearly struggle competing with everything else.

Parm & Piccolo also is just opening now- exactly the kind of high-quality, independent tenant we all desire!
Click to expand...
There was one in Jackson Square for decades until about 8 or 9 years ago. (Before that one, I believe there was one near King and John, but that’s well before my time.) It was across from where the LCBO is currently located, and had street access from where the Yuk Yuk’s was. It was a dump, and a very odd layout with three different floor levels through the restaurant. A few years before they closed, they made the mall side entrance a bit nicer looking but did no renovations to the vast majority of the restaurant. It really was probably the saddest location in the province.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top