Event space in former Chapters would make ByWard Market a ‘more active district,’ group says

David Sali

January 26, 2024

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A proposed events centre at the former Chapters bookstore on Rideau Street could be a springboard to revitalizing the downtown core and making the neighbourhood a more “active district” for visitors, the head of the new organization that oversees the ByWard Market says. The National Capital Commission, which now owns the building at 47-57 Rideau St., said Thursday it is negotiating with a group in the “hospitality and entertainment industry” that wants to lease the 60,000-square-foot space at the gateway to the Market and convert it into an events venue. While NCC chief executive Tobi Nussbaum offered few specifics about the potential tenant or the proposal because talks are still ongoing, the idea of turning the vacant, two-storey heritage building into some sort of a public gathering space has struck a chord with downtown business advocates. “From our perspective, I think it’s a strong signal that people are interested and do see value in the future of this district,” Zachary Dayler, the executive director of the ByWard Market District Authority, said Friday. Dayler, who was hired last year to lead the new organization that replaced the ByWard Market BIA and Ottawa Markets, said the city’s recently adopted Nightlife Economic Action Plan cited the lack of downtown event spaces as a major gap in Ottawa’s infrastructure. He said such a venue on Rideau Street would “really complement” facilities such as the Shaw Centre and a proposed “destination building” that could eventually replace the multi-level parking garage on Clarence Street under the city’s ByWard Market Public Realm Plan. “I think it’s really setting the table for pushing the area to being a bit more of an active district,” Dayler said. Ottawa Tourism director of public affairs Jerome Miousse agreed a new events space on Rideau Street would give a much-needed economic boost to an area that took a major hit during the pandemic and has yet to fully recover. "While it’s early in the process, Ottawa Tourism welcomes initiatives to improve and revitalize our downtown core to make it more vibrant for visitors and residents alike,” he said in an email to OBJ. “Event venues are an integral part of diversifying the ByWard Market's nighttime offer, which is also in line with this revitalization work and provides economic impact through our nighttime economy. We will be following developments closely through the National Capital Commission, and look forward to promoting this new space once it is available.”

Rekindling visitor interest

Dayler said the push to revamp the Chapters space is an indication that things might finally be turning around for the ByWard Market, which has fallen on tough times in recent years. The number of licensed vendors who sell produce and other goods in the area has declined considerably from its heyday. Meanwhile, many merchants say they are increasingly concerned about safety amid rising crime, including a series of forced-entry robberies that prompted a meeting of business owners, police and City of Ottawa officials late last year. A municipal corporation with eight employees, the BMDA has a mandate to be an advocate for businesses in the ByWard and Parkdale markets. In addition, the organization is responsible for certain other functions such as issuing patio permits to businesses within its jurisdiction. Dayler said the group, which will receive $800,000 from the city to help fund its operations in 2024, is working on several plans to rekindle visitor interest in the ByWard Market this summer, including a new partnership with a Toronto organization he declined to name that will provide “pop-up opportunities” for vendors with innovative products. “I think one of the things that we often overlook about a public market is it’s a great place for the small business community to try out ideas and to explore their concepts,” he said. The BMDA’s board of directors is expected to approve the organization’s strategic plan later this spring. Dayler said the plan will serve as a blueprint for further initiatives to revitalize the area. Meanwhile, he said the group’s seven-member business advisory committee has begun meeting regularly. Chaired by Chateau Lafayette general manager Deek Labelle, the committee, which also includes high-profile business leaders such as Pat Nicastro, owner of La Bottega Nicastro, and Keynote Search CEO James Baker, will serve as a bridge between merchants and the BMDA. “We’re going to try a lot of things,” Dayler said. “Some things might not work, some might. But we’re in the position to hopefully be taking projects, concepts, ideas and start putting them into place. We’ve been talking about it for a long time. It’s now time to start moving it forward.”