Bridgeburg area finding new life and light

Rejuvenation of Fort Erie’s downtown core attributed to local BIA’s efforts

Jarvis Street doesn’t shut its lights off when the banks in the Fort Erie neighbourhood close for the day anymore.

Less than 10 years ago, there were minimal retail options in the historic downtown.

A couple of restaurants, the French fry truck and a few other small businesses seemed to have their attention stolen by boarded up, derelict storefronts.

This has all changed drastically and new life has entered the Bridgeburg area with the addition of a sub shop, coffee shop and bakery, a renovated salon and spa, a yoga studio, a taekwondo facility, and much more.

Katie Miller, co-chair of the Bridgeburg Business Improvement Area, said the ongoing rejuvenation in the downtown is most obvious in the evening when most of the parking spaces along Jarvis Street are full and nearby businesses are open and buzzing with activity.

“It’s really nice at night – you see all the lights on down the street – it’s amazing,” said Miller, who owns multiple properties on the street, including her Sun Life Insurance office.

The Bell Tower Community Centre, located in the former Central Avenue United Church, has also brought a lot of activity to the area through its regular events – many of them with a charity component.

“They’re doing amazing things for the community – a lot of volunteer work and donations,” said Miller.

Tash Tsagouris is an instructor with Niagara Taekwondo, a martial arts facility that recently relocated from Garrison Road.

He has seen all the trials and tribulations the Bridgeburg neighbourhood has endured – going back to the ’80s when his parents owned Fort Erie Burger, a restaurant on the corner of Jarvis Street and Central Avenue that has changed ownership a few times and reopened last year as The Cookhouse Diner.

“I’ve seen it at its prime, but I’ve also seen it when it started to lose its face,” he said.

The new life that has been infused into the downtown core is a breath of fresh air, said the longtime Fort Erie resident.

“It’s a great opportunity for businesses to come back to this end of the town and try something new,” said Tsagouris in a recent interview alongside Niagara Taekwondo owner Master Jung.

“I really hope it keeps growing,” he said.

Bianca Koslowski from On the Mat yoga studio said the businesses in the area feed off one another.

“There’s a lot more volume down here now,” said Koslowski, who has been at her location for about a year but in the downtown area for almost five years.

“It’s a really good vibe,” said Koslowski, who runs the studio with her business partner Amanda Bouchard.

Ward 1 Coun. George McDermott said the resurgence of Jarvis Street has a lot to do with young business-minded people sitting on the local BIA.

“They all have a grasp on things – without them, this wouldn’t have happened,” said McDermott.

The first-term councillor would like to see this growth continue and aspires to be a part of it with the current BIA.

“I hope they’re on-board for another four years – no matter who the councillor is,” said McDermott, who has already publicly announced he will be seeking re-election later this year.

Part of the Town of Fort Erie’s waterfront strategy, the municipality is in the process of considering a redevelopment of the coal docks property at the south end of Jarvis Street, a project local officials and the business community have had on their radar for close to 10 years.

The next big event hosted by the Bridgeburg BIA is its annual Easter Bunny Hop, taking place on March 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Regional Limousine.

The Taste of Fort Erie will also return in September, hosted by the BIA.