By Jen Ross
At the first general meeting for the new Sparks Street Mall merchants’ management board, merchants complained about old problems, but most hailed the new board as a refreshing change in leadership.
“The thing I’ve noticed about this meeting is that there is a lot of flexibility,” commented Jack Cook, owner of Canada’s Four Corners. “Over the years, I’ve attended many mall meetings and the opinions (of the board) have always been very fixed. But this board is encouraging me that something good will happen.”
New board chairman Stan Ages said he was glad the merchants showed so much interest. While the turnout for the meeting — about 50 merchants —was average, Ages said people seemed more enthusiastic and ready to participate than in previous years.
But merchants said some past problems still need addressing.
Merchant Tony Konzo, owner of Jewellery Plus, suggested the mall hold a one-day sale common among department stores. He also asked the board to stop kiosks from selling wares that compete with mall merchandise.
Merchant Salah Alsaadi, owner of La Mode hair studio, said his biggest concern is attracting winter business.
“I see people smiling for six months, then as soon as the winter hits, that’s it, they cry for six months,” said Alsaadi.
But the lack of parking was by far the most popular beef. Merchants said they’re frustrated with obtrusive by-laws and hefty parking lot rates.
And the perennial issue of allowing traffic back onto the pedestrian strip came up once again.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t sit here and get involved in superfluous activities like painting posts when what we really need is traffic,” said Stanley Cohen, owner of Judy Jay shoes. His call for bringing cars back onto the street, which has been a pedestrian walkway since 1965, drew angry murmurs from the crowd.
Apart from these divisive issues, merchants seemed generally pleased with the new board’s energy and ideas.
But one thing they’re still frustrated about is all the red tape they have to wade through to make even minor changes to the mall.
The board’s four-member executive committee, made up of Stan Ages, Albert Gabbay, William Cornet, and Sherry Walsh, is now in the process of interviewing candidates for the position of mall manager.
It is also looking for a new advertising agency to help market the mall.
Other issues the board will be dealing with in upcoming months include how to attract customers despite major construction on Wellington and around the War Memorial.
They’re also waiting to see whether the proposed site plan for a new corporate office complex on the old Woolworth’s site will go ahead.
The Woolworth’s site’s heritage status was repealed by the city Jan. 27.