Kitchener Market

[UrbanWaterloo]

Reserved for Recapping

[UrbanWaterloo]

February 5, 2010






Click for the PDF verson

[Spokes]

Market vendors face eviction
Refusal to sign city permit could see several Kitchener Market businesses close

February 04, 2010
By Melinda Dalton, Record staff

KITCHENER — Several vendors at the Kitchener Market are facing eviction for refusing to sign a permit lease they say could hurt their ability to do business.

“I believe in the market. That’s why I brought my business here,” said Jennifer Knight, who opened Yarn Indulgences on the upper level two years ago. “I need a document that allows me to make business decisions reasonably.”

The upper market vendors have been without a lease since mid-2009. That’s when their original lease offer, which many signed with a realtor when the market opened, expired.

The city says it has worked with the vendors to come up with a new agreement that would meet their needs. But vendors who won’t sign for the new permit say the process has been frustrating and confusing and many of their questions and concerns have gone unanswered.

Part of the problem, vendors say, is that the city is asking them to sign a permit, not a lease agreement, which they feel would afford the business owners more rights and protection.

“I sent them so far five or six registered letters. I never got any answers,” said Milorad Gutovic, the owner of Bolero Pizza and Pasta House, who received a termination of tenancy letter earlier this week. “They ignore us. We never refused to pay rent. We never refused to sign a lease, but I never got one.”

The city sent out a 68-page lease to the vendors last summer for review. Several vendors sent it to their lawyers, who sent it back to the city with requests for changes and modifications.

That document caused some confusion and angst and the city decided to simplify the agreement by bringing forward a new, three-year “market permit” for all vendors, said assistant city solicitor Sian Williams. That went out in December.

“We decided, for their benefit, to standardize that arrangement of simply paying rent for space that they use to correspond with what the lower level vendors have,” she said. “Because the vendors were unhappy with the length of that (lease) document and the legal language in it . . . we wanted to reduce it down to the simplest version possible.”

Vendors who haven’t signed said they’re primarily concerned about two clauses in the permit — one detailing the hours of operation and another that allows the city to adjust the size of their space or relocate them at any time to anywhere in the building.

Gutovic said he invested $80,000 when the market first opened to buy all new equipment and to set up his business to ensure it met all fire and health codes. Having to relocate elsewhere would be difficult and costly, he said.

“We put a huge amount of money into this,” he said. “You can’t go and say, ‘Now we’re going to change it. We’re going to go away from that to different things.’ Where is my money? Where is my business? Where is my reputation? Where is everything?”

Others, like Eco Coffee owner Ed Denyer, say they’re concerned about the hours of operation in the lease permit, which the city can change, according to the document, “in its sole and absolute discretion.”

“It’s a comedy of errors,” he said. “We’re a coffee store. We should be here first thing in the morning, but they won’t unlock the doors until 9 a.m. I used to be able to open at 7 a.m., then they forced me to open at 8 a.m. I lost 10 per cent of my daily sales. Then they forced me to open at 9 a.m. and I lost another 10 per cent. People going to work used to come here. They don’t come anymore.”

The vendors say they want to negotiate those terms so they’ll work for their businesses and guarantee them some security and stability.

Rod Regier, Kitchener’s executive director of economic development, said the city is taking a firm stance and there won’t be any changes made to the permit lease for individual vendors. He said the city has no intention of moving people to different parts of the market, but the city needs to be able to make modifications or move things around for building repairs.

“Sometimes when landlords need to be able to respond to issues, they get resistance from the tenants, but we can’t deal with that,” he said.

The introduction of the permit lease is part of a directive from council to run the market more like a business and bring some standard practice into play, he said.

Another part of that has been to increase rent to make it closer to fair market value and reduce the market’s subsidy from the city. When it struggled to retain vendors shortly after opening, the city waived all rental fees for part of 2005 and all of the next two years. In 2009, council approved a three year rate increase that brought up rents to $9 a square foot for 2009, $13 for 2010 and $17 for 2011.

Denyer said that cost isn’t a large concern for vendors, given that operating elsewhere in the downtown would be equal or greater. But if the city is not open to negotiating the clauses in the permit lease, he and others will be forced to leave by the end of the month.

The city says the upper market has been increasingly successful and new improvements, such as the new Market Place kitchen and cooking classes, will bring in more traffic.

“The fortunate part for the market is we have inquiries every day, so I don’t think the spaces will be vacant for very long,” said Diane Garrington, the market’s manager. “I certainly hope it doesn’t come down to that, but we do get inquires every day.”

The city initially sent out seven termination letters, but three vendors have since indicated they’ll sign the permits. Gutovic of Bolero said some signed simply because they didn’t want to cause trouble or were afraid of the consequences of not signing.

However, not all vendors see the permit lease as an issue. Edith Borquez of Casa Salsa, said the process has been fair and market and city staff have been open to addressing the businesses’ concerns. She said the city has been flexible and its efforts to ease the burden on market vendors has allowed her to keep her restaurant running.

“I’ve been here for six years and I want to be honest with you, the city helped me a lot and helped everybody,” she said. “You pay $200 or whatever a month for rent and you don’t pay the utilities. If you were in another place, especially in this area, you would go bankrupt in six months. I’m here because I’ve got a good deal with the city.”

mdalton@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/666859

[Spokes]

Nice to see the new signage installed

Is the Upper Market THAT profitable for these people? If it is, I'm glad.

One thing that was touched on in this article was the hours. That's a HUGE factor. Their hours are: Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 7am - 2pm, Closed Sundays and Mondays. That's terrible. It makes it that much more like a lot of downtown, dead at night. And as the one retailer said, the morning hours are tough.

I feel like the set up isn't ideal either. Does anyone else just see it kind of like a food court? I'd really like to see hours increased into the night.

I can't imagine they'd ever go as far as to do something like have one big restaurant in there as the only tenant.

[mpd618]

One thing that was touched on in this article was the hours. That's a HUGE factor. Their hours are: Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 7am - 2pm, Closed Sundays and Mondays. That's terrible. It makes it that much more like a lot of downtown, dead at night. And as the one retailer said, the morning hours are tough.

It used to be that the upper floor was open until 4pm on Saturdays, but Just a couple of months ago, management apparently decided to make it simpler and just have the entire market run only until 2. Upper floor vendors were up in arms, particularly as market shoppers would often come upstairs for something to eat after the lower floor vendors closed.

[Spokes]

It used to be that the upper floor was open until 4pm on Saturdays, but Just a couple of months ago, management apparently decided to make it simpler and just have the entire market run only until 2. Upper floor vendors were up in arms, particularly as market shoppers would often come upstairs for something to eat after the lower floor vendors closed.

I wonder if it wouldn't be worth while to close the upper level off from the lower level. That way people can go between the two through doors, but then when the lower market is closed, the upper can remain open.

[mpd618]

I wonder if it wouldn't be worth while to close the upper level off from the lower level. That way people can go between the two through doors, but then when the lower market is closed, the upper can remain open.

Considering that the market operated with different hours for quite a while without too much visible trouble, I doubt operational difficulties spurred this decision.

[Spokes]

Considering that the market operated with different hours for quite a while without too much visible trouble, I doubt operational difficulties spurred this decision.

Ya that's true. Either way I'd like to see better hours.

It's problematic though when having so many different businesses, and if they have to all maintain the same business hours. A coffee shop would want to be open early, somewhere serving lunch would not want to be open as early.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Kitchener Market's new Market place holds grand opening
Tuesday March 9, 2010 - http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=18381

KITCHENER -- Celebrity chefs, cooking classes, connecting children with the food they eat. These are just some of the featured programming at the new Market place at the Kitchener Market.
The grand opening of the new Market place will be held this Saturday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Kitchener Market, 300 King Street East. There will be cooking demonstrations and an opportunity to see the new facility firsthand.

• Cooking demonstrations at 8:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• Official ceremony at 10 a.m.
• Entertainment from 10 a.m. to noon
• Free cake (while quantities last)

The Market place, a 2,500-square-foot multi-use facility on the upper level, includes a fully functional professional kitchen, complete with a demonstration area. Its launch is part of the new look and direction of the market, which has already undergone redecorating, updated furnishings, new branding and new signage has been added.
As well, the new space is available for corporate and private bookings, for birthday parties, staff parties and teambuilding opportunities.
For more information and full program listings, please see www.kitchenermarket.ca

[UrbanWaterloo]

More photos later, but I'm off to play poker...

March 13, 2010

[UrbanWaterloo]

March 13, 2010





Temporary space for KPL while it's being expanded.

[Urbanomicon]

New multi-use area intended to boost weekday traffic at Kitchener Market

March 14, 2010
By Liz Monteiro, Record staff
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/683928

KITCHENER – City officials hope to breathe new life into the downtown Kitchener Market – especially on weekdays – with the opening of the new multi-use area on the second floor.

The 2,500-square-foot space has a fully-equipped kitchen for cooking demonstrations, and space with tables and chairs available for birthday parties or corporate lunches, said market manager Diane Garrington.

“It’s another public space,’’ said Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the market on Saturday morning.

“We want to bring more people here. This will utilize the space with a positive purpose,’’ he said. “It’s another evolution of the Kitchener market.’’

The market, which is bustling on Saturdays, suffers from a lack of people during the week.

The eight full-time food vendors on the second floor are open from Tuesday to Saturday, but the lunch crowd throughout the week is low, except for nearby high school students. The market opened in 2004 at a cost of more than $20 million.

Renovating the space cost the city about $100,000. Appliances were donated by Goemans Appliances and KitchenAid and the sinks and taps were donated by Watermarks.

Garrington said the space can accommodate 150 people and is ideal for corporate functions. It is also fully licensed.

“We want this to be an extension of the market as a community gathering place and build traffic through the week,’’ she said.

Ryan Kennedy comes to the market weekly and he, too, wants to see more people enjoying the market.

“This space is really innovative. This is a public building and it should be used more,’’ said Kennedy, who lives on Cedar Street.

Kennedy, a PhD student in health psychology at the University of Waterloo, said the downtown needs stability and the market is part of the solution.

“We are optimistic this will work and give people more reason to come downtown. It’s an opportunity for people to get together,’’ he said.

Pauline Schmidt, who lives near the Waterloo market, came to the Kitchener Market because of the opening of the new space.

“I think it’s a good idea,’’ said Schmidt, as she watched the chef from the Artbar restaurant make crostini with chorizo and sautéed red peppers and onions.

“The cooking classes are great,’’ she said. “The cooking will draw me here.’’

Jacqueline Schmid, who also lives near the Waterloo market, said she grew up in downtown Kitchener and has fond memories of coming to the market on Saturdays.

“I like it here because it’s brighter and smaller. I came to the old market as a kid and I know the vendors,’’ said the mother of two boys.

Esseleyne Bell of Caribbean Kitchen is hopeful of increased lunchtime traffic.

“I think it’s a good idea and I’m hoping cooking classes will bring awareness of the market and more people here,’’ said Bell, who’s been an upstairs vendor since the market opened nearly six years ago.

For more information on cooking classes at the Market Place and registering for them, go online to http://eclass.kitchener.ca

lmonteiro@therecord.com

[UrbanWaterloo]

Website Relaunch



www.kitchenermarket.ca

[mpd618]

That site is horrible for vertically-challenged screens, such as my 600-pixel-tall netbook. The meat of the site gets scrunched into the center of the page, and there's not enough space to browse, e.g. the vendor list.

[Spokes]

Ya hopefully they didn't spend TOO much money on this, but Im guessing they did along with the rebranding.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Fitz ''The Whip" Vanderpool set to cook up a storm at the Kitchener Market
Monday, April 12, 2010 - http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=18814

KITCHENER - What happens when you team up a local celebrity with a local chef? Sign up for an exciting class, scheduled to take place April 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the new Market place, located inside the Kitchener Market, and find out!

Local chef Winston Lewis, well known as the former executive chef at Rebel Creek golf course and chef at Westmount golf club, and international boxing great Fitz ''The Whip" Vanderpool will whip up these scrumptious dishes during this innovative, high-energy class:

• Island peppa prawn with mango and pineapple relish and smoked paprika aioli
• Blue Mountain coffee and ancho chile crusted filet of beef with blueberry and sweet wine reduction
• Island Queen crepe with cane rum and mango ice cream

The cost to participate in this class is $35 per person.

Registrants will receive a delicious meal consisting of this appetizer, entrée and dessert, as well as a reusable Kitchener Market bag, a Market Place apron and recipes of the prepared dishes.

Register either in person at the Kitchener Market; by calling 519-741-2997; by e-mailing Kirstan.howells@kitchener.ca; or online at http://eclass.kitchener.ca

The Market place, a 2,500-square-foot multi-use facility on the upper level, includes a fully functional professional kitchen, complete with a demonstration area. Its launch is part of the new look and direction of the market, which has already undergone redecorating, updated furnishings, new branding and new signage.

As well, the new space is available for corporate and private bookings, for birthday parties, staff parties and teambuilding opportunities

For more information on exciting programming at the Market place, please visit www.kitchenermarket.ca.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Grant Agreement with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs re Ontario Market Investment Fund (OMIF)
Chair B. Vrbanovic and Members of the Finance & Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF REPORT: April 7, 2010 | DATE OF MEETING: April 26, 2010
SUBMITTED BY: Diane Garrington, Manager, Kitchener Market
REPORT NO.: CAO -10-018

RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a grant agreement with Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc., and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, for the provision of a $45,000 grant from the Ministry to the Kitchener Market, such grant agreement to be subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.

BACKGROUND:
On November 28, 2009 Kitchener Market Management submitted an application for a $45,000.00 grant, in partnership with local Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc., to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs under the Ontario Market Investment Fund (OMIF).
The Kitchener Market and Foodlink application for the grant monies of $45,000.00 was approved by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs on January 14, 2010.

REPORT:
The request for grant monies was submitted in order to provide funding for the Kitchener Market Management project entitled “Reinventing the Kitchener Market”. This project was created by Kitchener Market Management to achieve the following objectives:

1. To market and promote the newly constructed Marketplace (demonstration Kitchen);
2. To develop and support economic viability of current vendors;
3. To promote local foods and organizations, including Foodlink, which is a grassroots promoter of healthy local food systems;
4. To educate consumers on healthy living and the importance of eating and buying locally;
5. To create programs that support interactive partnerships which link farmers, retailers, restaurants, culinary events and consumers;
6. To build upon the Ministry of Tourism’s “Savour Ontario” campaign regarding culinary tourism offerings;
7. To increase awareness and exposure of the Kitchener Market by introducing new target audiences to the facility;
8. To create new revenue and awareness opportunities for existing farm vendors.

Final confirmation of the award of the grant monies in the amount of $45,000.00 was received by Kitchener Market Management on January 14, 2010.
All of the $45,000 in grant monies received from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs will go directly to the Corporation of the City of Kitchener for the benefit of the Kitchener Market. Although Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc. will not receive any grant monies, it will receive cross-promotional opportunities from its partnership with Kitchener Market, as outlined below.
Partnership between Kitchener Market and Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc.:
The Kitchener Market (www.kitchenermarket.ca) and Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc. (www.foodlinks.com) will cross-promote each other by linking and hosting all Kitchener Market place and Farmers’ Market events through each others websites and through all collateral marketing materials (i.e. recipe cards, calendar, event schedule brochures) that are designed and distributed through the Kitchener Market. In addition, Foodlink Waterloo Region Inc. will run monthly editorial features on their website on local Kitchener producers that correspond with Kitchener Marketplace events as they develop for a one (1) year period.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Local mayors put on their aprons for cooking demo
Thursday May 6, 2010 | http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=18988

KITCHENER - Get cooking with Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran and Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, as they don aprons to prepare a meal with a local chef at the Kitchener Market's Market place.
Mayor Halloran will help prepare a meal at the Market place with Chef Sam Russo on Wednesday, May 12 and Mayor Zehr cooks with Chef Ryan Murphy of Artbar Creative Dining on Tuesday, June 1. Together, they will demonstrate the preparation of different meals.
Both classes take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Russo is an acclaimed international chef, trainer and restaurateur who has worked in the restaurant industry in the Waterloo Region for more than 20 years, owning The Italian Restaurant and Too Russo's. He travels throughout North and Central America training young chefs, consulting for hotels and restaurants and integrating local customs and cultures into his repertoire.
Participants get to watch and learn how to prepare a meal, then sit down to eat the meal with both chef and celebrity. Also, participants will receive a Kitchener Market gift bag and take home a special recipe card.
Cost is $35 per class. To register, go to http://eclass.kitchener.ca OR contact info@kitchenermarket.ca.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Mayor Zehr joins local chef in the Market place kitchen
Thursday, May 27, 2010 | http://www.kitchener.ca/news/MediaDetail.asp?tid=19139

How does Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr look in an apron? Find out on Tuesday, June 1 when he prepares a meal with Chef Ryan Murphy, a local chef, at the Kitchener Market's Market place.
Together, Mayor Zehr and Chef Ryan will demonstrate the preparation of chilled leek and potato soup with dill, pan-seared salmon over wild rice, grilled asparagus and sauce vierge. The meal is completed with a rhubarb and strawberry parfait.
The class runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Participants get to watch and learn how to prepare a meal, then sit down to eat the meal with both chef and celebrity. Also, participants will receive a Kitchener Market gift bag and take home a special recipe card.
Cost is $35 per class. To register, go to http://eclass.kitchener.ca OR contact info@kitchenermarket.ca.