Alley Kat
Active Member
Will push come to shove in Kensington?
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/280699
Modern marketing may draw new customers yet Kensington Market's gritty origins are its soul
Nov 29, 2007 04:30 AM
Matthew katz
special to the star
Kensington Market has been a big part of my life since I was a kid. Though I grew up in Thornhill, my parents frequently took me down to the Market. My dad still remembers when it was the "Jewish Market," where some of my relatives first lived upon coming to Canada.
Now, at age 20, I've lived in Kensington for three years and just adore the immigrant-built feel of it.
But the Market's been changing over the past few years. Call it whatever you want – the word "gentrification" has been tossed around – there's construction on every street, old mainstays like the Augusta Egg Market are closing and newly renovated buildings seem to be popping up every week. Among these is the Blue Banana Market, a large, three-storey artist's market that opened up just over a week ago.
The brainchild of Michael Horwitz, 40, a self-employed businessman with an interest in art, Blue Banana offers retail space to artists and independent businesses to have retail space. There's a smattering of kitschy gifts, like fudge and hand cream. More artistic offerings, like paintings, sculptures, and ceramics are also available, all of which customers pay for at a central register.
"It's a combination of a retail concept and an art gallery," says Horwitz, who lives in the neighbourhood. "The goal is to offer artists and small businesses an opportunity to showcase their works in a community-based environment."
In exchange, a percentage from sales goes to the vendors at Blue Banana. There's also a dedicated sales team, meaning merchants don't have to worry about the labour-intensive job of advertising and selling their wares.
But is a large, clean sales floor really in the spirit of Kensington Market? I'd like to think of myself as a grimy-Market loyalist, but I find myself torn. I like the Market's rough feel, but I also like clean buildings. I love poking around vintage clothing shops, but as I get older, some of the boutiques that have been popping up on Augusta Ave. call to me. You can't dress in used scarves and berets forever.
Kensington has always existed in a state of flux. Could the much-feared "upscaling" of the neighbourhood be another wave of change, brought on by people who want to bring in middle-class outsiders by making the Market less grimy, scary and strange?
"This place is the heart of Toronto," says Stephen Saines, a Kensington regular. "Queen West is synthetic hip. Kensington is real hip. That's not going to change."
But while a hip, gritty atmosphere might be great for artists, activists, and students like me, what about the hardworking store owners?
"The Market is changing. It's becoming younger and less ethnic," says Danny Zimmerman, who runs the Kensington discount store his family has owned for over 55 years.
"It's a more difficult business routine now," he says, sighing. "There are good days and bad days, but there's also a lot more outside competition."
Upscaling may take away some of the hipster vibe, but bringing monied customers to Kensington may help these local shop owners.
Hector Lopez, a Mexican immigrant whose family has owned a dry goods shop on Baldwin St. for more than 40 years, echoes Zimmerman's sentiments.
"A lot of people look for quality and healthy food these days, so these sorts of upscale stores can bring people in."
With most of the GTA population in the suburbs, in the land of supermarkets and free parking, it's harder to draw folks to the Market, says Lopez.
Yvonne Bambrick, an organizer of Kensington's Pedestrian Sundays and a director of the Kensington Market Action Committee, (KMAC) is skeptical of Blue Banana and other large retail spaces in Kensington. She fears they could lead to an invasion of big-box stores.
"Kensington is the last free-spirited part of downtown." she says. "Most places here are small, mom-and-pop stores, but there's been greater development lately."
KMAC is working with the community and city hall to create a "handbook" for developers, as well as trying to get Kensington designated a Heritage Conservation District, to help the neighbourhood keep its character while evolving to meet commercial realities.
Blue Banana has the potential to be a symbol of the Kensington-fusion that's emerging – organic, artistically driven and down-to-earth, but cleaner and friendlier.
- Mathew Katz is a student and writer who refuses get his red snapper anywhere but Kensington Market.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/280699
Modern marketing may draw new customers yet Kensington Market's gritty origins are its soul
Nov 29, 2007 04:30 AM
Matthew katz
special to the star
Kensington Market has been a big part of my life since I was a kid. Though I grew up in Thornhill, my parents frequently took me down to the Market. My dad still remembers when it was the "Jewish Market," where some of my relatives first lived upon coming to Canada.
Now, at age 20, I've lived in Kensington for three years and just adore the immigrant-built feel of it.
But the Market's been changing over the past few years. Call it whatever you want – the word "gentrification" has been tossed around – there's construction on every street, old mainstays like the Augusta Egg Market are closing and newly renovated buildings seem to be popping up every week. Among these is the Blue Banana Market, a large, three-storey artist's market that opened up just over a week ago.
The brainchild of Michael Horwitz, 40, a self-employed businessman with an interest in art, Blue Banana offers retail space to artists and independent businesses to have retail space. There's a smattering of kitschy gifts, like fudge and hand cream. More artistic offerings, like paintings, sculptures, and ceramics are also available, all of which customers pay for at a central register.
"It's a combination of a retail concept and an art gallery," says Horwitz, who lives in the neighbourhood. "The goal is to offer artists and small businesses an opportunity to showcase their works in a community-based environment."
In exchange, a percentage from sales goes to the vendors at Blue Banana. There's also a dedicated sales team, meaning merchants don't have to worry about the labour-intensive job of advertising and selling their wares.
But is a large, clean sales floor really in the spirit of Kensington Market? I'd like to think of myself as a grimy-Market loyalist, but I find myself torn. I like the Market's rough feel, but I also like clean buildings. I love poking around vintage clothing shops, but as I get older, some of the boutiques that have been popping up on Augusta Ave. call to me. You can't dress in used scarves and berets forever.
Kensington has always existed in a state of flux. Could the much-feared "upscaling" of the neighbourhood be another wave of change, brought on by people who want to bring in middle-class outsiders by making the Market less grimy, scary and strange?
"This place is the heart of Toronto," says Stephen Saines, a Kensington regular. "Queen West is synthetic hip. Kensington is real hip. That's not going to change."
But while a hip, gritty atmosphere might be great for artists, activists, and students like me, what about the hardworking store owners?
"The Market is changing. It's becoming younger and less ethnic," says Danny Zimmerman, who runs the Kensington discount store his family has owned for over 55 years.
"It's a more difficult business routine now," he says, sighing. "There are good days and bad days, but there's also a lot more outside competition."
Upscaling may take away some of the hipster vibe, but bringing monied customers to Kensington may help these local shop owners.
Hector Lopez, a Mexican immigrant whose family has owned a dry goods shop on Baldwin St. for more than 40 years, echoes Zimmerman's sentiments.
"A lot of people look for quality and healthy food these days, so these sorts of upscale stores can bring people in."
With most of the GTA population in the suburbs, in the land of supermarkets and free parking, it's harder to draw folks to the Market, says Lopez.
Yvonne Bambrick, an organizer of Kensington's Pedestrian Sundays and a director of the Kensington Market Action Committee, (KMAC) is skeptical of Blue Banana and other large retail spaces in Kensington. She fears they could lead to an invasion of big-box stores.
"Kensington is the last free-spirited part of downtown." she says. "Most places here are small, mom-and-pop stores, but there's been greater development lately."
KMAC is working with the community and city hall to create a "handbook" for developers, as well as trying to get Kensington designated a Heritage Conservation District, to help the neighbourhood keep its character while evolving to meet commercial realities.
Blue Banana has the potential to be a symbol of the Kensington-fusion that's emerging – organic, artistically driven and down-to-earth, but cleaner and friendlier.
- Mathew Katz is a student and writer who refuses get his red snapper anywhere but Kensington Market.
