Market Square

[UrbanWaterloo]

Market Square
25 Frederick Street, Kitchener
(519) 578-8300
Website (http://realex.org/properties.html)

Market Square sits on the site of the old Kitchener City Hall.
When the city hall was demolished in 1973 this downtown mall was built in it's place.
The City Offices moved across Frederick street to what is now the Sun Life building.

December 1981
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3272817625_6f3428946e.jpg

October 2010
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20October%2024,%202010%20Resized.JPG

[panamaniac]

There was the old Dutch Boy and also the Zehrs in Market Square. In the case of Dutch Boy, it wasn't just downtown workers who kept it busy - there were lots of people who took the bus downtown to do all their shopping, including for groceries (you just called a cab or arranged for delivery to get the stuff back home).

[KevinL]

There was the old Dutch Boy and also the Zehrs in Market Square.

The Zehrs left before the Dutch Boy, though, if I'm recalling right.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Where did the Zehrs use to be at Market Square? I'd be interested in looking at old photos if anyone has some laying around.


Perhaps UrbanWaterloo and his friends and/or family will rent me one of their units.:RpS_thumbsup:

I can't say that for sure, but what I do know is we'll have a party up there in a few years and give everyone a tour of the building. :RpS_cool:

[BusyBerliner]

Where did the Zehrs use to be at Market Square? I'd be interested in looking at old photos if anyone has some laying around.:

Don't have a copy, but take a look at the historic photos next time you're in Matter of Taste on King.. the big photo with the parade in front of the old city hall -pretty sure the grocery store is visible in the background.

[Shawn]

There also used to be a Canada Trust in Market Square, making the count of 3 branches on King Street = Market Square + King & Ontario + King & Water (Oops, sorry. I really didn't mean to take this City Centre thread further off topic)

[KevinL]

In particular, I'd love to see pictures of its 'old' look - when it was all the rust-coloured brick, no glass atrium or elevated walkways. I have very faint memories of the old one, and it would be great so see what I recall correctly or not.

[panamaniac]

If you can find it, earlier this year UrbanWaterloo posted a number of pics of Downtown in the 1980s, including some of the pre-reno Market Square, in the "Old Photos of Waterloo Region" thread.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Here's the old market square photos:


Awesome photo set of Downtown Kitchener! Market Square looks a lot different without the glass enclosure....

Kitchener 1981
Photographs of downtown Kitchener Ontario Canada taken in December 1981
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21132634@N06/sets/72157613680412500/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3272816647_1e1815a97b.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3272816141_8da2047de3.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3272821021_3739478696.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3273640696_32cd7c2eb3.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3272820507_806d731b4e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3273639866_603e289f61.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3273639734_d339a42920.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3273640860_242130253c.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3272817625_6f3428946e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3272817013_054f1a1002.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3273636786_8dab0a5a62.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3272816303_fbcfb700f1.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3273635614_08a378ff52.jpg

[KevinL]

I somehow don't remember all the trees on the elevated terrace, but the rest is generally as I remember it.

And it's amazing how little has changed in the general views of King Street since.

[Razzie]

I came across an episode of "Trivia Company" this morning on Youtube, taken right in front of Market Square before the atrium was put in


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnwBrEp7ePo

[Shawn]

OMG!! This show is hilarious!! I love the commercials too!

[panamaniac]

Wow! I had forgotten that it wasn't just me - EVERYBODY had more hair in the '80s! Liked the commercial for Kabel's - that was a King St institution. It is striking to see the number of people Downtown, and this after the decline had already begun. Great find Razzie. :RpS_thumbup:

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

The trees and patio on the roof of Market Square (as KevinL) stated, reminds me a lot of the huge rooftop patio at Jackson Square in Hamilton.

Check out this article on Jackson Square's rooftop (http://www.raisethehammer.org/article/310) on Raise the Hammer.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Canada Post @ Market Square

Opens January 17, 2011

December 1, 2010

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Canada%20Post%20At%20Market%20Square%20-%20December%201,%202010%20-%201%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Canada%20Post%20At%20Market%20Square%20-%20December%201,%202010%20-%203%20Resized.jpg

Location Map
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20Canada%20Post.jpg

[KevinL]

Canada Post @ Market Square

Opens January 17, 2011

December 1, 2010

Location Map

Ah, so they have back-door access to Frederick Street, then. That makes it workable, I think.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Canada Post @ Market Square - December 16, 2010

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Canada%20Post%20At%20Market%20Square%20-%20December%2016,%202010%20-%201%20Resized.JPG

[RangersFan]

I am not sure if has been mentioned or not but I noticed a sign for a future Canada Post within the Market Square
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac273/leaffan431/small%20developments/MarketsquareCanadaPostJan92011.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

Canada Post @ Market Square - February 11, 2011

Signage at the Front of the Mall
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20February%2011,%202011%20-%201%20Resized.jpg

Canada Post Outlet
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20February%2011,%202011%20-%202a%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20February%2011,%202011%20-%202b%20Resized.jpg

Neighbouring Unit
Was Cluttered In The Fall
Now Empty With A For Lease Sign
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square%20-%20February%2011,%202011%20-%203a%20Resized.jpg

[KevinL]

A couple positive signs - two units currently have hoarding up and are being renovated. One is on the main floor at the base of the escalators (the former diner); the other is on the second floor, behind the food court and towards the parking lot (it sits above the Stantec entrance).

[UrbanWaterloo]

I don't see any permits for the main floor unit, but here's the info on Stantec's 2nd floor expansion:

PERMIT IS TO EXPAND EXISTING FLOOR SPACE FOR STANTEC CONSULTING INC.
Permit No 12172957
Site Address 49 FREDERICK ST
Status Issued
Permit Category Non-Residential Alteration
Permit Type Commercial
Application Date March 14, 2012
Issued By ANGELAD
Issue Date April 19, 2012
Work Proposed Interior Finish
Construction Value $200,000
Contractor MELLOUL BLAMEY CONSTRUCTION
Contractor Contact Info 700 RUPERT ST WATERLOO ON N2V 2B5 phone 519-886-8850


June 30, 2012

Stantec
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%202nd%20Floor%20-%20June%2030,%202012%20-%204%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%202nd%20Floor%20-%20June%2030,%202012%20-%203%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%202nd%20Floor%20-%20June%2030,%202012%20-%202%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%202nd%20Floor%20-%20June%2030,%202012%20-%201b%20R.jpg

1st Floor
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%201st%20Floor%20-%20June%2030,%202012%20R.jpg

[benton]

market square would have been a perfect spot for empire or galaxy, downtown still needs one. it's too bad both malls in the downtown are now gone for good. imagine if they were still open with tons of shopping and places to eat. :RpS_crying:

[bcwessel]

market square would have been a perfect spot for empire or galaxy, downtown still needs one. it's too bad both malls in the downtown are now gone for good. imagine if they were still open with tons of shopping and places to eat. :RpS_crying:

The current incarnations of the King Centre and Market Square are far more active than either ever were as shopping malls. If I'm choosing between malls or office space downtown, I'm picking office space every single time. If you want shopping and restaurants, head down King St; there are plenty of both contributing to a really good urban experience already.

I'm mostly just impressed that both malls were successfully repurposed into useful pieces of downtown, instead of being torn down and converted into surface parking.

[HillDweller]

We'll never go back to the 60s and 70s, but the future for downtown Kitchener is brighter than ever.

[plam]

market square would have been a perfect spot for empire or galaxy, downtown still needs one. it's too bad both malls in the downtown are now gone for good. imagine if they were still open with tons of shopping and places to eat. :RpS_crying:

I'm hoping that malls are becoming obsolete. They sort of are. Unfortunately, sometimes they're replaced by power centres, which is even worse. But other times, enclosed malls are getting replaced by open pedestrian streets. For instance, the St.-Roch district in Quebec City used to be a downtown-like area, had St.-Joseph St get covered to become "the longest covered street in the world", and in the past 10 years got restored to a pedestrian street.

Presentation (in French, but it has pictures):
http://www.apdeq.qc.ca/doc_uploads/ressources/presentation_revitalisation-du-quartier-saint-roch.pdf

[panamaniac]

I wonder how many people now work in the Market Square complex? Between the Record, Stantec, Goodlife and the private college, it must be a considerable number. I believe I have seen references to 1,200 people working Downtown at Manulife, the former King Centre.

[clasher]

I don't think cinemas are particularly profitable businesses... I miss the one that is now shopper's but there's still Frederick Street cinema and given the how big of a space modern movie houses use and how much time they're empty I think it'd be almost impossible to make any money given the price of space downtown now. It'd be nice to see something like more along the lines of the princess cinema downtown, or even one of those 19+ type cinemas (lol not porn) where one can have a few beers and a nice dinner with the film.

[panamaniac]

I dearly wish that Downtown had a serious repertory cinema along the lines of the Bytown in Ottawa. When I think how many night Chrsalyids seems to be dark, I wonder whether there wouldn't be merit in it being used more often for films? Obviously, the owner has his own business model, but it's something I would support as a customer. In the meantime, the Princess Cinemas do a pretty good job.

I suspect there are a number of underused basement spaces downtown that could be converted into a cinema, although I suppose that the up-front investment could be daunting.

[Scribbler]

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/912833--downtown-kitchener-postal-outlet-targeted-for-closure

Canada Post could be on its way out.

[DHLawrence]

Makes you wonder why they bothered at all.

[clasher]

There's a post office a few blocks north at the Shopper's beside city hall, it seems ridiculous to have two outlets so close together and even more ridiculous to keep moving it around downtown for so little reason.

[DHLawrence]

I think it's a prestige thing. Anyone can have a postal outlet in the back of a drug store, but a standalone post office means you've arrived--or at least returned to where you were before they tore the thing down!

[UrbanWaterloo]

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%20Canada%20Post%20Proposal%20To%20Close%20R.jpg

[markster]

Well if that map doesn't just say it all.

Without a longer term plan to wind down the outlet in the Shoppers, (or a huge, sudden, population growth in southeast downtown) the location was always fairly redundant.

[DHLawrence]

If it's anything like the shutdown of the post office in the Sandwich neighbourhood of Windsor they've already decided. The customer survey is just a formality. The Shoppers location is more accessible from the street anyway.

[UrbanWaterloo]

New Hours Effective Today...


http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Retail/Downtown%20Kitchener/Market%20Square/Market%20Square%20-%20New%20Hours%20Effective%20April%2022,%202013.jp g

[EdM]

UrbanWaterloo, do you know what the previous operating hours were? The notice makes it sound to me like the new 7AM M-F morning opening time is later than before, but I can't imagine needing to be open earlier than that.