Where is everyone in downtown Niagara Falls?

I promised at the beginning of the year I would report on my findings once I had spent some time in downtown Niagara Falls to see what has been happening since my last visit some time ago.  I have written frequently about the revitalization plans both in downtown St. Catharines and in Niagara Falls; I have written several times in the past months about St. Catharines, so let's look today at Niagara Falls.

A few years ago, the ambitious plans put forth by a downtown Niagara Falls revitalization group saw lots of money being poured into revitalizing buildings on historic Queen Street, which were then leased out to new clients at very attractive introductory rates with, as I understand it, higher rents charged after that initial year once the business is presumably well established.  In other words, they would allow you the foot in the door to realize your dream and once you are up and running you are charged the full rent.  On paper, it looks like a win-win situation for all concerned:  the downtown gets a number of new, vibrant businesses in newly-renovated premises, thus enticing people to come back downtown, and as a result city hall makes money on taxes collected from a number of successful commercial ventures.

But the reality, as I discovered on a stroll up and down Queen Street, now dubbed "The Q" on some signage in the downtown core, is that many of those same promising young businesses have not been able to make a go of it.  Two years ago I walked this same area with a number of storefronts fully occupied; today, only a handful of those remain.  Let's look at some of the casualties.

An exceptional florist known simply as Fresh, with a spectacular storefront treatment, now gone.  Amore Pizza with a beautiful art-deco facade, now closed.  True, there is a sign indicating a Pizza Nova franchise is looking to locate there, but when?  The Wedding Museum is now empty.  So, too is Midi Bistro.  Ditto for The Cheese Truckle and Druxy's Famous Deli, sharing space side-by-side and operated by Roger Thompson who moved his cheese operation downtown from a busy location on Drummond Road and added the deli franchise to the downtown location.   There are other casualties, but you get the picture.

There is the sad case of the Seneca Theatre, sitting empty after expensive renovations because theatre companies for one reason or another won't or can't use the space.  What a rich history this place has!  Opened about 1940 it was a movie house in the grand tradition, and even hosted the Canadian premiere of Marilyn Monroe's film Niagara, shot in the Falls, on January 28th of 1953.  Now it sits empty, with a marquee displaying the last stage show to play there, oddly enough called Rent.

Now, I'm not suggesting all is gone in downtown Niagara Falls.  There are still some going concerns and promising new businesses we can only hope will survive.  One of the most exceptional restaurants in the entire Niagara Region, Paris Crepes, is almost always busy and with good reason.  The place just oozes character.  Unique Florist is open and the displays look very creative.  Nearby is the John Newby Art Gallery and Tea Room, which although closed, the sign in the window says, until February 21st, is a place I will return to soon after it reopens to experience what promises to be a most elegant little tea parlour.

Oddly, a number of the businesses that have been there all along have survived and still manage to thrive no matter what:  Ragged Glory for CDs and old albums; Moodie's Bakery and of course, My Country Delicatessen.  Oh, and of course, an ever-present dollar store.  How do they do it, one wonders.  I have visited all of those many times over the years and they just seem to fit like a comfortable old pair of jeans you can't discard.

When I talk to people about why downtown Niagara Falls is still not picking up, it appears many just don't think about shopping in downtown Niagara Falls, thinking - erroneously of course - there is nothing down there for them.  Of course there is, but it feeds a vicious circle when they don't come down thinking nothing is there and the businesses there wither and die because of it, and then there really is nothing there. I have no idea how to address this problem other than to perhaps change the advertising campaign to get the word out better than it has been lately.  But other than than, I am at a loss to explain it.

The problem with many downtowns now is no money is invested into them, so not much happens and people lose interest in favour of big box stores and the shopping malls.  But both St. Catharines and Niagara Falls are investing heavily in their downtowns in order to reverse that trend and in Niagara Falls, at least, the people are simply not noticing.  It's a shame, really.  I have gotten to know some of the business owners both past and present down on "The Q" and they are all local business people who want to serve you and make you feel welcome in your own downtown.  What they need now is your patronage on a larger scale than you have shown in the past.

So, here is what I am suggesting.  Just once in the coming months, do as I did this past week, and drive down to Queen Street, park the car and take a stroll around.  Have lunch or dinner at one of the great restaurants or even just visit a coffee shop to see what's in store.  It won't hurt and you might be surprised by what you find.  There is a reason to go downtown in Niagara Falls, and I would like more people to just take this advice and see for themselves what is there.  And more importantly, what could be.  Is that too much to ask?

Happy shopping!

February 4th, 2012.