Retail

As Nordstrom prepares to close at the end of the month, the opening of high-performance apparel and equipment brand Arc’teryx in the CF Rideau Centre is the sort of retailer the mall needs, says one market watcher.

The departure of Nordstrom from the Rideau Centre this month could open the door to new types of tenants as malls shift from traditional mainstays to more “experiential” businesses like spas and entertainment venues, real estate experts say.

After bottoming out during the pandemic, Ottawa’s retail sector is “coming back with a vengeance” in neighbourhoods like the Glebe while still struggling in the pandemic-battered downtown core, a new report says.

In the time since a methadone clinic opened across the street, this shop owner has seen an increase in drug use and homelessness on her block to an extent that has “traumatized” and “saddened” her.

Independent booksellers in Ottawa are thriving, despite competition from big box stores, online retailers and e-books.

When florist Elizabeth Young heard that well-known floral shop Tivoli was for sale, she immediately saw the advantages of merging it with her own nearby shop and continuing the legacy of Tivoli’s owner.

Schad Boutique, a women’s luxury clothing store on Sussex Drive, has been in business for about 25 years and, after coming through the pandemic, owner Chantal Biro says she’s excited for what’s ahead.

With union members still out on picket lines in full force, Bar Robo owner Scott May says he’s currently enjoying “far and away” the busiest week at his downtown coffee, cocktail and live music venue since the pandemic began more than three years ago.

While Paris may have banned shared e-scooters from its streets over safety and clutter concerns, one neighbourhood is fast becoming an e-scooter hotspot.

With warmer weather on the horizon, an Ottawa company is making a splash, both in the sportswear market and the world of sustainable business.