City
Will new Loblaws on College kill Kensington Market?
If a viral video can win you a one-on-one with Galen Weston, perhaps a series of protests can convince him to abandon plans to open a store by Kensington Market? Anyone? No? OK.
A group of concerned Kensington Market advocates however, is a little more optimistic. "We've gone against big corporations before," says Venetia Butler, chair of the Kensington Market Action Committee. "And we've successfully demonstrated our ability to make change."
That group is hoping to change plans for a new 20,000 square foot Loblaws that is slated to open on the second floor of a new condo at College and Spadina. The worry among the anti-Loblaws crowd is that the new grocery store will drain business from the smaller independent food shops already operating in Kensington Market.
"We're not against all types of retail there," Venetia says of the condo development. "We're just saying that it's entirely impractical to put a big grocery store chain there when the area is underserviced in other ways. We'd be delighted to have a liquor store; a Staples would be fantastic."
The group already held a protest in Kensington Market this past weekend to voice its displeasure with the plans, and is planning to go against Councillor Adam Vaughan to seek to halt the Loblaws arrival.
"Kensington has had successful outcomes rallying against corporate entities, before" Venetia says, citing a battle with McDonald's back in the early 1990's and a more recent Starbucks threat. "Our primary objection is that by having a Loblaws so close by Kensington, some of the Kensington grocery dollar will be spent there."
Venetia admits that the group is still early in its efforts, but it has already launched an online petition and plans to hold an open community meeting someone soon.
Photo by sevres-babylone in the blogTO Flickr pool
Discussion
131 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
No it will not "Kill Kensington Market".
"having a Loblaws so close by Kensington, some of the Kensington grocery dollar will be spent there"
Again, no. Get your heads out of your asses.
The people who are currently buying K Market lousy fruits and decent vegetables will continue to do so.
The people who buy awesome fish and awesome meat in K Market will continue to do so.
Same crybabying happened when Freshmart came in and that shithole had zero effect whatsoever on other vendors in the market.
If anything, it will increase traffic to the market. New people will say hey let's do most of our shopping at the Loblaws and then visit the market to try out the butchers/fish vendors/etc.
And the net result will be: less people will shop at the shitty Metro at Bloor and Spadina. That's all.
You have one... Across the street on Spadina...
This is a total non-issue
Most people that go to Kensington market go there to go to Kensington market. I am sure many visitors that shop and buy groceries there pass by at least 4 to 5 giant grocery stores on the way there. But THEY choose to shop at Kensington Market.
I highly doubt that someone on their way to Kensington market will see the
loblaws and decide to go shop there instead.
People shop in Kensington for its charm, for the experience for the sights and smells. NOT because it has a loblaws
As long as the nearby residential population is large (and it only continues to grow), this will all work out fine.
Protesting every single company that wants to set up shop will get old very fast and support will dwindle!
Then BAM! Walmart swoops in and builds a HUGE SUPERCENTER that will then indeed take over 95% of Kensington Market!
Choose your battles carefully NIMBY's!
This is downtown Toronto, not some sleepy little village whose heritage needs protecting. People want more choices and there are some things you just can't get in Kensington Market. Just like there are some things you can't get in a big-box grocery store.
Besides, there's a big old Metro across the street from the St. Lawrence Market, and the last time I was there, it didn't look like business was suffering at all. So much ado about nothing.
Keep living the dream.
(From the comments it seems like people in the area go to Spadina rather than Yonge and I'm curious as to why.)
Both Metros close to the Loblaws at MLG are still dumpy, don't expect any improvement there.
...AMEN!
This Loblaws would be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood - I should know, since I've lived in it for 23 years. That Metro at Spadina and Bloor just doesn't cut it (read: it's awful).
Kensington will not be "killed." Quit being such hippy alarmists. This is TORONTO.
Apathetically allowing our city to be overrun by big box stores further fuels monotonous, dry lifeless streets, suburban sprawl, cars, and an overwhelming lack of novel spaces. When you think of some of the "greatest" cities, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo etc. your thoughts immediately go to densely populated neighbourhoods of interesting new sidewalk visuals.
I would highly recomened watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdnNwQ1j3rI
Personally, I would prefer to be involved with the planning and development of the area I live in and will continue to do so.
That is what participating in your community is all about. Have your say, accept the outcome, or find another community.
Some people. Yeesh.
You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.
http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2009/01/27/vermin_infestation_closes_dupont_loblaws.html
I'm no fan of box malls either, but infilling the downtown core things like grocery stores makes for a more livable city.
I get the feeling that if it were Whole Foods that were opening we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place.
They own a great heritage/art deco building at Lakeshore & Bathurst. That building would be an incredible grocery store if they decided to gut it and renovate it. But the Weston family (that owns Loblaws) wants to rip it down to build condos, even though the City wants it to remain due to its heritage.
The Weston family has intentionally have left the building decaying by the means of not fixing the broken windows so that mold develops. Once the mold develops they tell the city 'it has asbestos' ... and then it gets torn down.
Now the Weston family wants to ruin Kensington.
This City is going to shit.
You don't have the slightest clue what asbestos is, do you.
That's okay.
In any event, the building was a crumbling structural nightmare long long before the Westons showed up. It will never get torn down - Weston is waiting for the opportunity to be the hero again (saved Maple Leaf Gardens). He doesn't need the political win right now, so the building will sit until it needs saving to get him great PR.
"Now the Weston family wants to ruin Kensington."
Dramatic much?
I don't side with the hairy protesters in this debate, but i can tell you honestly that the biggest rat I have ever seen was ambling down an aisle at the Queens Quay Loblaws in the middle of the afternoon.
People who like shopping in Kensington will do so, and people who like shopping grocery stores will no longer have to go either to the Metro or the Loblaws on Portland, neither of which are very convenient if you live at college/spadina and your primary mode of transport is foot.
'
From College and Spadina there's also a Metro a short walk north to Bloor St.
Communist Kensington.
Watch out Kensington...you're about to have a coked-up, sex-crazed, butt nekkid liar in your midst. :)
Be competitive/ offer something unique and you have nothing to worry about.
Until we meet again.
I find grocery shopping in Kensington can actually be as expensive or even more so than Supermarkets. I appreciate all that is offered in Kens' and support the idea of small thriving businesses but it feels like the average person that would buy their groceries there does it for the "experience" rather than the actual quality. The type of person that frequents smaller shops in Kensington Market is not going to shit their pants and run to Loblaws for toilet paper. Everything will be fine.
The fact that this buffoon is suggesting ANOTHER LCBO in the area is disgusting. Yes, Kensington Market needs more drunk homeless natives for people to look at as they enter the market to buy stupid shit. Maybe we should thrown in a pawnshop into the area as well, fuck it.
Somebody call Bellwoods Brewery, I think we have a smashing new ironic name for their next growler.
@FlipMyFlop & Stephen: Your comments only show how racist and stupid the two of you are, and I don't think that you should be paid attention to.
If people need to shop at Loblaws, there's already a Loblaws at College and Church, and the one on Queen Street, in addition to the various Metros and No Frills around; there's no need to have another one in Kensington Market.
The businesses can't afford to stay around... Just goin through the motions its not profitable they can just get by, which is not a real viable business.
Don'ta shoppa ata loblaws or No frills. Come-a to mya store. I have a lots of nice tings to buy!!!!
First of all, they're not talking about opening up IN Kensington Market.
Secondly, take a look at any old photos of Toronto from the 50s onward, Loblaws has always been part of the streetscape.
The sky ain't falling.
Most of the people who shop in the market come on foot. When Loblaws opened at Queen and Portland 2 KM away sales in the market dropped overnight by 20 %. The people who lived along Queen St. now have no reason to make the trip here any more. The new proposed store falls within the boundaries of Kensington Market.
The proposed new store is probably larger than all the food providers in Kensington combined. Their goal will be to canabilize the clientle by undercutting the exsisting businesses at a loss just to gain a market share. Just ask your self why European Meats left, who will be next?
The Market needs support of it's community ,not an endorsement for a large corporation with deep pockets with the goal monopolize the customer base of the area. We need to protect the small family businesses of Kensington Market.
If all the food vendors disappear, the next wave a business to come to the Market will be bars and night clubs.
Kensington Market may very well become the next Entertainment district,which may already be happenning. With it comes drunken disorderly conduct and crime. I am sure that is not what we all want to see the market evolve into.
For instance, I will not buy meat at Loblaws but am devoted to Sanagan's. Loblaw's has no kind of wellness section compared to Essence of Life, and the bulk section cannot compare to anything in the market. At the same time, I am a new mom and the diapers/wipes I buy are usually PC. There are brands I like that I would buy at Loblaws that I can't get in the market.
I agree also with the other poster who cites the Metro directly across the street from St Lawrence Market having virtually no effect on the Market's business.
I'd be more concerned about the second one, because we have content that proves the possibility. Remember last year about the public story, the outcry from Galen Weston saying that one day farmer's markets may kill someone? Rubbish, hypocrisy and ignorance. Talk about showing your true colours!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVsSnzQScFE
(search newspapers and blogs as well, it went as far as Ottawa and Vancouver)
Then last year there was also the frozen yogurt issue, the story is very accessible on the internet. Overall, I don't trust the Westons, as they are not about balance and are one of those businesses that have insecurities because they want it all at he expense of others. Wake up people, it's all greed out there, that you can no longer brush off any ideas or theories, but you have to look into them or just think yourself. Some have even thought of the idea that the Westons are probably buying or will buy property at Kensington which would automatically make a non-battle if it happens.
But the main point is that it is up to the people, because where you shop determines the outcome. One thing Canadians (minus Quebecois, who do so) are weak in is making a statement together and boycotting. Too many are not supporting our own national or local businesses, even when there are options and prices are close or better! So many Canadians are lined up at Starbucks, etc when we have our many local options that could've used or could use our dollars. This is a way to hurt the broken system. It really is up to the people, and please be mindful of possibilities of schemes from greedy parties.
You made the following statement that I disagree with "At the same time, I am a new mom and the diapers/wipes I buy are usually PC. There are brands I like that I would buy at Loblaws that I can't get in the market."
The nice thing about the merchants in Kensington Market is if you ask them they will do their best to bring in whatever you want. You can't get that service in a large corporate supermarket. All you have to do is ask.
As to the "poster who cites the Metro directly across the street from St Lawrence Market having virtually no effect on the Market's business." That may be true but all one has to do is look at the thousands of high rise condo units around ST.Lawrence Market. Kensington Market does not have the same demographics.or density.
I moved into the South Annex a few years ago, and compared to every other neigbhourhood I've lived in, the one shortcoming it has the complete lack of a clean and fresh grocery store within walking distance. The existing options are all frankly all pretty grimy. A Loblaws in this spot would be fantastic. That stretch of College Street is pretty ragged, and more than ready for a bit of clean up.
Asking a local merchant to stock something is nice, but it's going to cost you more and it's going to inconvenience them if you don't end up buying it. I think the survival of smaller merchants is dependent upon low overhead and keeping a clean, friendly store, not a wider range of products. That's why there's a Loblaws planned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO2AEtYRmIQ
Because the locals won't support the weston family. Neither should you.
So drunken disorderly conduct = bad. Shady drug deals that happen in Kensington all the time = ok?
Or is it ok to pay $6 for a stinking coffee at Starbucks.
of the website is also really good.