Concession Street’s business boom
‘Businesses are really digging in’ on the Mountain street
Mouhamadou Taffa pauses after making a fresh drink.
“I think this is a great location,” said the Nigerian immigrant, who, along with his wife Michelle Myrie, opened The Juice Kitchen on Concession Street in May. “I think Concession Street is coming up big and is going to be a great place in Hamilton in the future.”
It also has lots of foot traffic, on which his business relies.
Across the street, Stephanie Scheid is busy at Ideal Vapes, a vaping shop that she opened with her son Kaelan Doel in July.
“We moved up here from Locke Street,” she said. “There was no other vape store in the BIA so we figured it was time for our business to be here.”
The two businesses are among 10 new operators that have opened their doors in the Concession Street Business Improvement Area since January.
“There’s definitely been a lot of interest and growth in the community,” said BIA executive director Cristina Geissler. “We’re definitely getting a mix of diversified businesses moving into the area.”
The new businesses feature a mix of food and beverage, retail, health and beauty, and service providers.
Geissler noted two more new businesses, both salons, are planning to open their doors in the coming weeks and a local pizza establishment will be expanding in September.
In addition, three businesses moved to new locations on the street earlier this year.
“It’s great, because it shows that businesses are really digging in and they are looking to be here for the long-term,” said Geissler, who noted only three or four storefront locations remain available on Concession Street.
She said affordability and the fact that the street underwent a major reconstruction two summers ago are also selling points for the Mountain’s oldest shopping district.