THURSDAY
DECEMBER 21, 2017
HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY Closed Dec. 23 Highway 15 North, Smiths Falls • 613-283-1880
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New year, new business for downtown Kemptville by paulina hrebacka
phrebacka@metroland.com
As we approach the new year and look back on 2017, you may notice that downtown Kemptville has seen quite the revival. The Community Improvement Plan grant program during the summer months funded many facade, landscape and signage improvements of local businesses and residential properties over two intakes of applications, resulting in a total investment of $95,000 into the downtown core. Several existing businesses acquired new owners, such as Brewing Oasis, Bodhi Tree Yoga Centre and the Flower Shop, and some have relocated downtown, including Richardson Hair Design and Dill Flower Studios. Many new businesses chose downtown Kemptville in 2017 – Get Cronk’d, Exit Realty by Design, Setanta Solutions, The Prim Shed, New Energy Kreations, GlowSport and Vape Express. Existing businesses such as Array Hair Studio, Voice2Net and To
Be Continued have expanded their space. According to Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area (BIA) executive director, John Barclay, it's certainly an exciting time to witness this revitalization of Old Town Kemptville. "Over the past 18 months, downtown Kemptville has seen a significant revival,” he said. “I've seen the stock of available commercial space shrinking. Now is the time to get into this prime market.” On Friday, Dec. 1, three businesses on Prescott Street held their grand opening ribbon cuttings, including Posh Plum Gifts and Home Décor, Kemptville Kids Pediatric Therapy Services, and Richardson Hair Design/2bu Artistry; a collaborative hair and makeup studio with two businesses sharing a space. As Kemptville Kids Pediatric Therapy Services owners Kim Bennett and Kimberley Smalridge opened their doors, Old Town Kemptville also celebrated the opening of its first PopUp Shop. The Pop-Up Shop pro-
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Merry Christmas to you and your family www.burnsjewellers.com
66 Foster Street, Perth • 613-267-4466 115 Bridge Street, Carleton Place
Paulina Hrebacka/Metroland
On Friday, Dec. 1, downtown Kemptville celebrated three different grand openings on Prescott Street, including the first Pop-Up Shop, Kemptville Kids Pediatric Therapy Services at 200 Prescott Street. Pictured: Members of the Old Town Kemptville BIA receive $6,500 from Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation (GCFDC) toward their Pop-Up Shop Program. Kemptville Kids Pediatric Therapy Services also held their official ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 1. gram offers businesses up to five months of residency in a commercial space for half its market value, as well as marketing support and mentorship from local entrepreneurs to establish and build their business. “Kim and Kimberley chose
to spend part of their $500 marketing grant from the BIA on their attractive window display sign,” said Barclay. “Many new businesses downtown are choosing to improve the streetscape of the entire area through the use of appealing
and creative signage.” Pop-up shops have been proven to increase foot traffic in commercial areas, as they “pop up” in empty storefronts and generate curiosity and See REVIVAL page K2 *
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