Village Squire, 1978-04, Page 48UPDATE
Whether they were supporters of the
new -style downtown for Stratford proposed
several years ago, or a conversion of the
old Gordon Block to a modern use,
residents of Stratford must be relieved that
something is finally to be done about the
downtown redevelopment.
The Festival Square, giving a completely
new use to the old Gordon Block and
Beamish buildings is expected to be open
in June for the main floor and later in the
month for the basement level. December is
the target for opening of the second floor.
As one retailer in the area put it, "I'll be
so glad not to have to answer all those
tourists' questions about what's going on
with the buildings this summer."
The buildings had been bought by the
city to be torn down for a major
redevelopment of the downtown area
which would have included a large hotel.
Some who thought Stratford should keep
its oldtime charm were against the project
but their opposition had less to do with the
eventual restoration of the buildings than a
series of failures to get the major hotel
sought for the development.
The final result was that London hotel
owner and developer Glen Wood offered to
buy the building and gut it and install
shops, restaurants and offices in the new
interior.
In March Wood announced that the first
tenants for the building had already been
signed. Major tenant on the ground floor
will be the Bank of Nova Scotia which will
take 7100 square feet. Stephenson's, the
kitchen boutique now on Ontario Street and
Skippers Submarine, now on Market
Square will move in as will Cultures, a
yogurt and salad bar.
Later The Engine Shed, a room with a
motif based on Stratford's railway heritage
will open in the basement and in December
the second floor restaurant The Green
Room decorated on a festival Theatre
theme and seating 225 persons is expected
to open.
After several years of staring at the
eyesore that the old abandoned buildings
have become, even those who dreamed of a
slick new downtown hotel complex must be
glad to see the Festival Square finally
taking shape.
FARMERS MARKET ALIVE IN CLINTON
The Clinton Farmers Market will
reappear in June for its second season.
Heather Ross, chairman of the Clinton
Businessmen's Association which sponsors
the market said that last year's market was
hampered by poor vendor turnout,
particularly near the end of the season and
numerous complaints" about poor quality
but in general the vendor reaction was
favourable.
Several businessmen were unhappy with
the way the market went last year
complaining about parking problems,
quality of produce sold, lack of crowds they
had expected to flock to the market and
PG. 46. VILLAGE SQUIRE/APRIL 1978.
thereby to their own businesses and
suppliers from out of town who dropped
into the market to sell their goods and take
business away from local people.
Still it was voted to go ahead with the
venture if at least 10 vendors signed up for
the year.
NEW SHOP IN HAYFIELD
The easy going, relaxed pace of life in
Huron County is bringing two natives back
here to open a women's sportswear store in
Bayfield.
Audrey Marriott, a former Goderich
resident, and Margaret McLean, who grew
up in Seaforth, have had extensive
experience in the clothing business since
they graduated from Central Huron
Secondary School and Seaforth District
High School respectively in the early
seventies.
The pair will open The Wardrobe in the
historic Gairdner house on Bayfield's main
street on the Victoria Day weekend in May.
It will feature clothes for active women of
all ages and will stress quality and good
value.
Audrey, a graduate of the University of
Waterloo, was a womenswear wholesale
agent in Toronto who sold to large
companies like Simpsons and Creeds.
Margaret has been manager of Fairweath-
ers Kitchener Market Mall store. She has
travelled in Europe and was merchandising
supervisor for the same company through-
out Eastern Canada. She's a business and
retailing graduate of Sir George Williams
in Montreal.
Fed up with thecity rat race, the two are
already enjoying a change of pace. They're
busy sanding, painting, decorating and
organizing their store in order to get The
Wardrobe ready for its May 20 opening.
THEATRE STAFF IN THE SCHOOLS
School in Perth county could become
more lively for students next year because
of professional theatre people from the
Stratford Festival.
Robin Phillips and John Heney of the
Festival attended the meeting of the Perth
board of education recently to say that
many of the people at the Festival had
expressed an interest in working with
students in the school system. Mr. Phillips
said that many of the actors had been
teachers in their own fields so would have
experience.
Board members were delighted with the
suggestion. Stratford trustee Betty McMil-
lan said "I -think it's a great idea, it should
make the languages and art courses come
alive."
Barbara Herman, board chairman said
"We've often hoped for better liason
between the festival and education system
and now we've been offered it." 0
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