Belmont Village

[garthdanlor]

I seem to recall that there is something opening up in the old Licence Office...I'll have to double check tomorrow. I do hope something moves into Vicenzos before the summer is out...I think a pub would do well in that location.

[mpd618]

I seem to recall that there is something opening up in the old Licence Office...I'll have to double check tomorrow. I do hope something moves into Vicenzos before the summer is out...I think a pub would do well in that location.

I think it might be the travel agency that is moving from King Street in midtown.

Agreed about that being a good place for a pub. Also, this might be kind of random, but I think it would make a great place for a neighbourhood bike shop. (Anyone want to start Belmont Cyclery?)

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Just as long as its not one of those franchise/chain Irish pubs. That would ruin everything. Maybe the Brick should open up their own pub here? It's just down the street from their brewery, and their brewery "tours" are quite popular.

[garthdanlor]

Just as long as its not one of those franchise/chain Irish pubs.

Amen to that!

[IEFBR14]

I think a pub would do well in that location.

I'll drink to that! Close enough for us to stagger home to after a night out but far enough away not to disturb us from noise and drunkards when we stay home

But do you think a pub would be a big enough draw? Belmont Village needs an "anchor" store to make the street a shopping destination. Vincenzo's did that. (I would think that a MEC would do that too.) An anchor would probably also need to acquire the empty lot on the corner in order to build a large enough store with parking.

[Spokes]

Agreed about that being a good place for a pub. Also, this might be kind of random, but I think it would make a great place for a neighbourhood bike shop. (Anyone want to start Belmont Cyclery?)

I'd love to start one!

A few years ago the owner of the old Cyclepath on King st started up a shop there and it never really did well, partially because of location, and maybe more so becuase of other reasons. I think it could work, but it'd have to be right in the village, he was just south of it. (again, not blaming the locatoin on the failure, but he seemed to think it was part of it)

[Spokes]

Just as long as its not one of those franchise/chain Irish pubs. That would ruin everything. Maybe the Brick should open up their own pub here? It's just down the street from their brewery, and their brewery "tours" are quite popular.

I think this would be HUGE for them. Not only financially through the pub, but it indirectly does a ton of marketing for them.

If not them, I think a microbrewery would fit in there.

[jay]

A shoe place opened in the old Not Just For The Garden location and according to my girlfriend it's a pretty good store.

And I second the Brick idea.

I thought the license place was just renovating, not closing.

[IEFBR14]

I thought the license place was just renovating, not closing.

It's gone for good. The owner of the "franchise" apparently decided not to renew or couldn't come to terms with the province. Anyway, the place was closed and all the staff were let go at the end of January. Now AFAIK the only other DL issuing offices are at opposite ends of Waterloo and Kitchener. We need something more central.

P.S. The only place in K-W where you can get a photo OHIP card renewed is out by Weber E and Fairway. That's very inconvenient, especially for seniors and others who don't have a car. The province announced a while back that they'd start to offer both DL and OHIP services at the same locations. After all the ID cards use the same technology. There should be a combined office in the downtown cores of both cities. I'm not holding my nose waiting for them, though.

[WatDot]

It's gone for good. The owner of the "franchise" apparently decided not to renew or couldn't come to terms with the province. Anyway, the place was closed and all the staff were let go at the end of January. Now AFAIK the only other DL issuing offices are at opposite ends of Waterloo and Kitchener. We need something more central.

P.S. The only place in K-W where you can get a photo OHIP card renewed is out by Weber E and Fairway. That's very inconvenient, especially for seniors and others who don't have a car. The province announced a while back that they'd start to offer both DL and OHIP services at the same locations. After all the ID cards use the same technology. There should be a combined office in the downtown cores of both cities. I'm not holding my nose waiting for them, though.

No kidding! Combined government services with central transit access only makes sense. Where the OHIP office is, is just silly.

[UrbanWaterloo]

It's gone for good. The owner of the "franchise" apparently decided not to renew or couldn't come to terms with the province. Anyway, the place was closed and all the staff were let go at the end of January. Now AFAIK the only other DL issuing offices are at opposite ends of Waterloo and Kitchener. We need something more central.
P.S. The only place in K-W where you can get a photo OHIP card renewed is out by Weber E and Fairway. That's very inconvenient, especially for seniors and others who don't have a car. The province announced a while back that they'd start to offer both DL and OHIP services at the same locations. After all the ID cards use the same technology. There should be a combined office in the downtown cores of both cities. I'm not holding my nose waiting for them, though.

There's a relatively new location at the RBC Tower downtown: 2nd Floor, 30 Duke Street West. Agreed, it will be nice if/when they start offering OHIP services.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

If the Brick does open their own pub in Belmont Village such as at the former Vincenzo's site, I picture it to be something very similar to Barley Works at the Huether Hotel (serving beer from the in-house Lion Brewery). Except it would be much larger and more popular, due to Brick beer being sold throughout Ontario. Maybe something like Steam Whistle's location in the roundhouse in Toronto?

[Spokes]

If the Brick does open their own pub in Belmont Village such as at the former Vincenzo's site, I picture it to be something very similar to Barley Works at the Huether Hotel (serving beer from the in-house Lion Brewery). Except it would be much larger and more popular, due to Brick beer being sold throughout Ontario. Maybe something like Steam Whistle's location in the roundhouse in Toronto?

I wonder if it's something they've ever considered. Id be shocked if they hadn't before.

[WatDot]

If the Brick does open their own pub in Belmont Village such as at the former Vincenzo's site, I picture it to be something very similar to Barley Works at the Huether Hotel (serving beer from the in-house Lion Brewery). Except it would be much larger and more popular, due to Brick beer being sold throughout Ontario. Maybe something like Steam Whistle's location in the roundhouse in Toronto?

Actually I have spoke with friends about this. I am very shocked the Brick doesn't have a pub similar to Mill Street Brewery in Toronto. They are really missing the boat I think. If they could expand their King Street building, which has the historical feel and visibility that is needed, I think they will have a successful pub business. Which will also add to their "micro-brewery" image. All-in-all a must IMO.

[Spokes]

Actually I have spoke with friends about this. I am very shocked the Brick doesn't have a pub similar to Mill Street Brewery in Toronto. They are really missing the boat I think. If they could expand their King Street building, which has the historical feel and visibility that is needed, I think they will have a successful pub business. Which will also add to their "micro-brewery" image. All-in-all a must IMO.

Yup definitely, and having the pub connected to the brewery keeps transport costs down. Not that they'd be high but if you had a locatoin in Belmont Village, you'd have to either open up a micro brewery there, or transport the beer from King street over to the pub.

[Osiris]

While I think this would be a great idea, the procession of Adult Rec Centre -> Pub -> Funeral Home -> Retirement Residence doesn't really seem to fit. I would love to see them take up the old Vincenzo's space, however.

[WatDot]

Would definitely be a huge asset and perfect fit for Belmont Village, no doubt. Would be my secondary option though.
I was thinking that little house that is on the Brick property. Not sure what it is used for, but it looks as a possible thing they could redevelop.

The spot:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&sourc...15.94,,0,-3.04

[IEFBR14]

I was thinking that little house that is on the Brick property. Not sure what it is used for, but it looks as a possible thing they could redevelop.

IIRC it was the original brewmaster's residence back in the 19th century days of Kuntz. It seems too small for a pub and probably can't be enlarged because it's a heritage building. In any case there's the Red Baron lounge at the brewery itself, although it too is too small.

If Brick opens a pub at Vincenzo's they could have a horse-drawn delivery cart going along the Iron Horse Trail. That would be a big hit with the tourists during Oktoberfest. And of course the old Vincenzo's would make another decent sized venue for that festival.

[mpd618]

If Brick opens a pub at Vincenzo's they could have a horse-drawn delivery cart going along the Iron Horse Trail. That would be a big hit with the tourists during Oktoberfest.

(Neat idea, but I don't think there's enough room on the Iron Horse Trail for both a delivery cart and anyone going the other way.)