Image Source: Brock University Students' Union 2014
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
The significant revitalization over the last decade in downtown St. Catharines means the core is now home to two significant large-scale sports and entertainment facilities: the Meridian Centre (arena hosting 5,300 spectators) and the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre (comprised of 4 performance venues hosting over 600 events annually). The city’s downtown core has always been the hub of business in Niagara, but it’s now becoming a well-rounded place to work, live, dine, shop and be entertained.
Commerce – Investing in Growth
With a larger focus on the growth of business within the downtown core, InvestinSTC was recently launched to further promote and encourage interest in investing in St. Catharines. The website points to over $1.6 billion in recent private and public investments across the municipality.
Investors can use the website to learn information about current business opportunities in the community as well as contact information for the city’s key leaders in economic development and tourism services.
Local Hot Spots
There are several unique downtown St. Catharines businesses that contribute to the culture and community of the downtown core. Beechwood Donuts (5 James Street) opened in the new year and provides the tastiest variety of vegan donuts. MindBomb Records (27 James Street) has become a staple for music lovers and is now a TicketMaster retail outlet. Mahtay Café (241 St. Paul Street) is a community oriented licensed café boasting a vast array of beverages and food items (including vegan and gluten free options). Mahtay also hosts events in its’ adjacent community room on a daily basis. Detour Music Hall (88 St. Paul Street) is a dedicated live music venue that works in partnership with IndoorShoes Music, a local concert promotions company and record label and provides the downtown core with events featuring both local and international talent.
Movers and Shakers
According to the St. Catharines Downtown Association, several businesses are up and coming to the downtown core this month; businesses such as Tax Geeks Niagara (12 King Street), Cole Engineering Group Ltd. (#205-195 King Street), Crawford, Smith and Swallow (#400-43 Church Street), Indelible Creative Services (#701-1 St. Paul Street) and King Street Laundromat (12 King Street).
Two new food ventures are welcomed downtown: Marble Slab Creamery (201 St. Paul Street) and So Jollof, a local and organic grill (200 St. Paul Street). Also, Bella Noella’s Pizza is moving to 159 St. Paul Street at toward the end of July.
If you are looking to invest in Niagara and become part of the development of the downtown resurgence, connect with a Niagara real estate appraiser to arrange an appraisal.
