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Deadpool

Rumah Dips Toe In Deadpool

Posted by Peter Harris / June 21, 2009

Rumah.Shh...quick, need to fill a condo? Honours for the newest deadpool entry go to yet another shop likely crushed by the massive glut of prices in housing. Despite the Ontario government offering last week a new provincial tax break for homes under $400,000, that's not likely going to affect any business on the cusp of closing nor probably foster any sort of change in the mindset of older business owners pondering closing up and moving on.

Local furniture importer Rumah at 668 Queen Street West is pulling up roots after 30 years in Toronto under owner Judy Stevens.

Among the remains of stock here include huge Indonesian-teak desks to write letters on, lamps to read by and cabinets with shelving five inches thick...take that IKEA! Everything is fifty percent off.

For whatever it's worth, for the last few months or so, the shops here have been totally blocked off by a massive scaffolding intrusion. I always wonder what it must be like to be a tenant when that magical letter arrives noting a landlord's intent to destroy window display space or pedestrian access with imposing renovation projects.

Nothing is mentioned on a 2003 era Rumah-INC.com website.

Doors soon to close on Indonesian teak importer Rumah.

Discussion

7 Comments

Ryan L. / June 21, 2009 at 02:47 pm
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I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that the store is closing is due to housing prices or the scaffolding obscuring the store
gadfly / June 21, 2009 at 06:40 pm
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Well, it certainly can't be a boon to business.
SquareFootage / June 21, 2009 at 06:52 pm
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i think the lettuce eatery became freshii on bloor during the street carving and construction above and around bloor and yonge for the new development of http://www.1bloor.com/ going in there (slow!)...on topic, is Bloor being narrowed to two lanes plus an ocean of sidewalk?

when pedestrian patterns are slowed, manipulated or extruded, there is obviously a secondary affect. how many people feel like going through a maze to window shop and potentially buy?
Ryan L. / June 21, 2009 at 11:09 pm
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True, but restaurants open and close all the time for lots of different reasons. Yes, the construction might have been one factor, but a more significant one might be the current financial situation we find ourselves in. Even if we aren't in any real danger of losing our job, it still has an affect on our spending. We start focusing our buying power on things we need.

Imported Indonesian teak desks are not one of those things.

They wouldn't be the only ones hurting because of this. Luxury and upscale retailers across the map are suffering too. And it might not go away anytime soon. It's even starting to affect pop culture with trends going the more 'minimalist' direction. Even rappers are putting away their bling. It's just not cool to be flashy right now.
SquareFootage / June 22, 2009 at 10:45 am
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Location, location, location? IKEA and WalMart shelving are easier to carry out to the car than the four people needed to carry out heavy furniture...There is a total disconnect between the utilitarian function of scaffolding, often installed by nameless, faceless contractors far removed from a particular commercial space and often without an ounce of communication skills. It's not the cause, but the people who work on renovating spaces are often no a "part" of the retail play that goes on. When we see this happening, do we not just flee instead of window shop?
Elle Driver replying to a comment from SquareFootage / June 22, 2009 at 11:19 am
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The construction on Bloor had nothing to do with the Lettuce/Freshii change. Same company with new re-branding (now with a stupider name.) The Lettuce at Yonge/St. Clair went through the same renos.
choppery / June 22, 2009 at 11:01 pm
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is it just me or could this be a great address for Cafe 668 to open a second location?

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