Almost seven months after closing down, a former grocery store on Elgin Street continues to remain vacant, upsetting seniors who complain they must walk longer distances to buy food.
Many seniors are upset that the former Goldstein Food Market has still not been replaced with a new grocery store.
Only a couple blocks away from city hall, Goldstein Food Market closed last July after the owner retired.
Today, the windows of the store are covered and renovations have started inside. It’s expected that a new business will open soon.
But one 63-year-old senior, who wished to remain anonymous, says things are moving too slowly.
“Elgin Street has about everything, but that’s the one thing that we counted on: Goldstein’s grocery,” he says. “It (the closure) has become such a nuisance for everybody.”
Most people must now shop at Hartman’s on Bank at Somerset streets, he says. This is about four blocks away from the former Goldstein store.
The senior, who is legally blind, says there are some convenience stores in the area, but the biggest problem is buying fresh fruits and vegetables.
“I have to wait until somebody’s around that can take me or ask them if they can pick up such and such for me,” he says.
Things are especially hard for people in their 70s and 80s, who must carry bags full of groceries from Hartman’s, he says.
The vacant space is also hurting Elgin Street’s overall image, says the senior. He says he does not understand why it has been taking so long for a new store to open.
“Stores constantly are changing in this area,” he says. “The fact that this has been sitting there empty for nearly seven months is strange.”
The former grocery store, located in the same building as the Mayflower restaurant, was a family-owned business run by Ernest Goldstein.
Today, a sign indicates the property has been leased by Steve Lerner through Primecorp Commercial Realty.
Goldstein, who owns the entire building, confirmed Loblaws Companies rented the property, but could not say when the new store will open.
A spokesman for Loblaws said the company is still working out the details. but that it's a long process.
Lerner’s assistant at Primecorp declined to provide further details.
Pat Murphy, assistant manager of a card and gift shop that is in the same building as the empty grocery store, says her business has been hurt by last summer’s closure.
“Sales have cut down quite a bit and traffic is much slower,” Murphy says. “It would help if the store was open. It helps to bring people down this way.”
She says Goldstein told her the new grocery store was supposed to open months ago.
“They said it would open up in October, now they keep telling us next month, next month,” Murphy says. “We were expecting it for sure in January, but they’re still not open.”
Her thoughts are echoed by Charlene Blaszczyk, co-owner of Mags&Fags magazine store, across the street from the former grocery store.
“Esthetically, it’s not the nicest thing to look at,” Blaszczyk says. “When something will come in, I think it will definitely have a positive impact on our sales because there will be a lot more walking traffic.”
Many seniors that come into her store complain about the lack of a grocery store nearby, Blaszczyk also says. “It was very convenient for them, and the sooner it will open, the better.”