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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-12-28, Page 1414 News Record • Wednesday, December 28, 2016 12 new Goderich BIA businesses in 2016 continues positive trend following 2011 tornado Darryl Coote Postmedia Network Nine new businesses have opened in Goderich's down- town core this year with another three looking to do the same before 2017 rolls in, and while this expansion is "pretty astounding" it's also nothing new, said the local Business Investment Area (BIA)'s manager. "We've had a really good run since 2012. That number is not unusual," said Susan carradine-Armstrong of the Goderich Downtown BIA referring to the 12 new businesses. Four other businesses have closed in the area, but she said that it wasn't because of the economic climate and that the business owners were either retiring or wanting to spend more time with their families. She said with some trepida- tion that this positive trend started following the 2011 tor- nado, which greatly affected the downtown core. The tornado inflicted over $100 million in damages to the town with many of the buildings in the BIA needing reconstruction. However, the recovery effort brought a change to the town, both physically and psychologically. "So, before the tornado the zeitgeist was we were doing the same thing we'd always done," she said describing the business environment before the tornado. "It's boring. noth- ing's really working." She said prior to that August there were a lot of vacant stores and second floors because it was too costly to bring them up to code. "The economy wasn't that great. It just got stuck in a rut. And along comes this horrible wind and just blows the beje- sus out of everybody," she said. And along with the town, its business sector rose like a Phoenix from the ashes with the relief effort because most of the owners in the square were local people and were invested in Goderich and its success, she said. "It sort of woke everybody up, I think," she said. "And they realized this is their busi- ness, they are not a major chain, they are not a national franchise and when they reo- pened, it sort of reenergized the downtown core' With the recovery efforts came rebuilding, and with rebuilding came new useable spaces from those previously uninhabitable, she said. And while the rebuilding offered new possibilities through new spaces, entre- preneurs found the then newly created BIA Farmer's and Flea Markets as a proving ground for their ideas, she said. "It's like an incubator for small businesses," she said. Three of the newly opened shops — Cait's Cafe, Goderich Makers Mercantile and The Hamilton Street Cafe — got their start on the Goodrich square as a booth during the market, which runs from May through October. She said it allows entrepre- neurs to wade into industry without putting in much risk. They open a booth for $20 and see if there is a market. If there is, she said, local businesspeo- ple tend to see a customer base grow. "It gives you the opportu- nity to do it in a reasonable way," she said. This market idea was part of a four-year strategic plan to improve the BIA that ended this year. Carradine -Arm- strong said that plan sought to bring business to the area that local residents felt the area was lacking, such as a spe- cialty coffee shop, a sushi res- taurant (one of which is plan- ning to open this month) and a children's store. 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It's big because, sure we have our projects set out and our budgets set out, but as far as a strategic plan they're going to start working on it in January," she said. And she is "excited" to see what new, fresh ideas the board can come up with to aid the economic development of Goderich's downtown core. "I think it is an opportunity to look at what we are doing and just really go out on a limb and just do some new ideas," she said. The 12 new businesses are: Fanshawe College, Goderich Computers, East Street Mar- ket, Goderich Makers Mer- cantile, Cait's Cafe, The Ham- ilton Street Cafe, The Yoga Den, Huron Small Business Enterprise Centre, Holly Dal- ton Photography, West Sushi, Goderich Insurance and Willy's Head Hunters. Business Statistics for the Goderich BIA 2011 • 9 new businesses opened in the BIA • 1 relocated within Goderich • 3 relocated outside of Goderich • 3 temporarily closed • 7 closed following tornado • 143 reopened at original local • 9 reopened in new location Municipality of uewater MUNICIPALITY OF BLUEWATER Christmas Tree Recycling Sponsored by Bluewater Recycling Association Residents may drop off their Christmas trees at the following locations for chipping: Hensel! Richmond St. West (green waste site) Zurich Parking lot at the rear of the Community Centre Bayfield Howard St. East in front of yard fence Trees shall be free of all decorations. The final drop off day is January 10, 2017. 1 1 1nT 2012 • 14 new businesses opened in the BIA 2013 • 12 new businesses opened in the BIA 2014 • 2 new businesses opened in the BIA • 7 closed • 1 relocated 2015 • 8 new businesses opened in the BIA • 1 closed • 6 relocated 2016 • 12 new businesses opened in the BIA • Fanshawe College -- March • Goderich Computers -- March • East Street Market -- May • Goderich Makers Mercan- tile -- June • Cait's Cafe -- June • The Hamilton Street Cafe -- Oct. 2016 • The Yoga Den -- Oct. 2016 • Huron Small Business Enterprise Centre -- Nov • Holly Dalton Photography -- Nov • West Sushi -- Opening soon • Goderich Insurance -- Opening soon • Willy's Head Hunters -- Opening soon • 3 expanded • ContinUlT Corp • Hair Haven • Wuerth's Shoes • 1 relocated • 360 Bikes N Boards • 4 closed • Curves • Denomme Flower Shoppe • Louise's Cottage & Home • Miga's Balloons + More