DBIA Featured Post: Nielsen’s Watches & Jewellery

Often times when owners of a family owned business look to move on, they look to pass on the business to someone else in the family. If this doesn’t materialize, they come to a cross roads—either dissolving the business altogether which is an unfortunate ending, or find someone else to take it over.

Thankfully for Nielsen’s Watches & Jewellery, the second option took place! Located at 406 George St N, Nielsen’s has been located in downtown Peterborough now for 30 years. Owned and operated by the Nielsen’s for 12 years, the business was sold to Tony Bustos and his wife Marlene, who subsequently kept the name and the business flourishing! They have now operated it for over 18 years in the same location.

As one can easily imagine based on the name of the business, Nielsen’s deals with fine watches and jewellery. They have a large selection of Stirling silver, Canadian Diamonds and Italian Gold jewellery from top name producers, as well as a massive selection of watches from names such as Seiko, Rotary, Wanger, and Cardinal to name just a few. Nielsen’s also offer repairs in the shop of everything they sell from the jewellery and watches all the way to clocks. They offer sizing and soldering as well!

Tony and Marlene are happy to be a part of such a friendly and accessible downtown which they say is always evolving. They love how accessible they are to get to, with lots of parking in the area. And they enjoy seeing the vibrancy that many of the locally owned and operated shops downtown offer. As our downtown has moved to more of an arts and entertainment hub, it is great to see that such a business like Nielsen’s has been able to prosper now 30 years after it opened.

If you’re looking for a great locally owned and operated jewellery and watch shop that has a tremendous selection and smalltown friendliness to it, we suggest you give Nielsen’s Watches & Jewellery a visit.

For more on Neilen's Watches & Jewellery (406 George St. N.), go to:
Phone: 705-742-9881
Facebook: Nielsen's Watches & Jewellery

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Jack's Hot Spot

After being an RC (Remote Control) hobbyist for years, Dwayne Jamieson decided it was time to take his passion to the next level. Although you can find RC at different big box stores around town, he knew that Peterborough was missing a store that fully specialized in it. That’s when Jack’s Hot Spot was born.

Located at 395 Water St across from the Scotia Bank, Jack’s has been bringing top quality RC toys to our downtown since February 2010. Known by Jack to his friends (a nickname he earned by dressing up as Jack Nicholson), Dwayne is a one man show down at the shop. He is there 6 days a week offering his expertise to people of all levels.

Jack’s offers a little bit of everything in a shop that can be considered a “little store with a big store inventory,” as Dwayne puts it. They have RC planes, helicopters, cars, trucks and boats that come in styles ranging from beginner for those looking to try out the hobby, to professional for those who have the experience to take on a vehicle that is basically just a smaller version of the real thing! Relatively new to the RC hobby has been the addition of cameras to helicopters, which he also offers with beginner models.

Though you can find the odd RC car or helicopter at other places around town, there isn’t a store that offers such specialized items as Jack’s. Ninety-five percent of what he sells in the shop is "hobby grade"—meaning you can modify and upgrade it if you so choose. This is where his selection of paints, glue, transmitters, epoxies, and other accessories sets him apart, on top of the quality RC vehicles he offers.

If he doesn’t have a part of accessory onsite, he can bring it in in no time! On top of offering RC, Jack’s can also do repairs and upgrades at the shop which Dwayne says is a large part of his business. As anyone who is in the hobby knows, you are constantly tweaking and repairing. A lot of the time—after business hours—Dwayne takes his work home and makes repairs there!

For those interested in the hobby but to a lesser extent, Jack’s also offers great train sets with a massive array of accessories, model vehicles, and even the odd electric guitar! Jack’s Hot Spot is truly a passion project. Dwayne has brought to the city his enjoyment for RC and it shows in the display of the shop and the work he does inside of it. If you’ve ever been interested in the hobby, we suggest you stop in for a visit and see all that the shop has to offer.

For more on Jack's Hot Spot (395 Water St.), go to:
Website: Jackshotspot.com
Facebook: Jack's Hot Spot
Phone: 705.775.5225

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Shots Lounge

The evolution of Peterborough’s downtown is ever apparent. Some businesses have come and gone, while others have undergone a complete re-branding like Shots Lounge, which was formerly known as Splice.

Opening as Splice in 2006, the lounge was meant to be a semi restaurant-lounge offering a wide array of drinks and dinner options. While the menu was constantly changing to provide its clientele with top quality food, it eventually turned into a full-on nightclub to the delight of its owners.

Eventually however, under the same ownership, Splice was essentially transitioned to the successful ARIA. Later, the idea came to bring back elements of the Splice atmosphere but in a remodelled setting. In March of this year, renovations began at 379 George St N, and since its June opening, Shots Lounge has become a hotspot downtown!

Owned and operated by a group of locals including Lang Freeman, Shawn Stephenson, Andres (Sucho) Salazar and Sammy Shehadeh, Shots Lounge has
brought back a casual nightspot atmosphere that brings with it the same feeling as a pub, but in a different setting. This is what Splice use to have, and with Shots they have been able to recreate the old closeness and community feeling.

The owners like that it has become a spot again where everybody knows your name. Separated into two rooms, Shots is quite a versatile operation. The front room opened in June and is set up as a bar where patrons can order trendy drinks in a cozy lounge setting. The back room, which opened in September, is available for special functions such as birthday parties. Any kind of event is possible in this space and they love working with requests from clients.

Open 7 nights a week from 8 p.m.-on, Shots offers an intimate yet exciting venue with DJs constantly spinning only the best music while offering an absolutely massive drink menu with nightly specials. Their bartenders can create anything you can imagine! The lounge offers a nightly promo between 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. called “5 for 5” where you can order any 5 hand crafted beverages for $5 each.

Partnered with ARIA and Dolce Vita who supplies a full kitchen, Shots has become one of downtown Peterborough’s newest go-to nightlife establishments! They invite you to come down and experience what so many people have been talking about since its June opening. If you’re looking to throw a memorable party of any theme, they’d be happy to help you make it happen in this unique spot.

For more on Shots Lounge (379 George St. N), go to:
Twitter: @shotsonshots
Facebook: Shots Lounge
Phone: 705.749.9315

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Sarge's Army Surplus

When Ian Kyle retired as a soldier in 2008 after 34 years of active service, he still had the military on his mind. That’s why on January 22, 2009 he and his wife, Janet, opened Sarge's Army Surplus at 291 George St N, located directly across the street from Showplace in downtown Peterborough.

As you can imagine, Sarge's forte is in offering military surplus gear from around the world. This includes all sorts from small accessories and all aspects of military clothing to outdoor camping gear ranging from tents and sleeping bags to extreme weather gear graded for arctic and even jungle use! What Ian and Janet also offer at the store—and what has really taken off for them—is paintball and air-soft gear. The hobbies for both are popular now and Sarge's is the top supplier in the area for high end equipment.

When you enter the store, you are immediately met with product from floor to ceiling. People are often enamoured with how much is available and the overall display of things they could never imagine would be available in our city. Ian uses the saying that “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” which you can tell his store operates by! 

Along with his knowledgeable staff including Dave and Ryan, Sarge's offer rentals and are also qualified to do repairs of much of the gear that they offer. One of the most interesting parts of the shop is the collectibles and memorabilia section that is offered. Here you will find items from all around the world ranging from old military medals to badges and even pre-worn uniforms.

Ian and Janet are still very much involved in the local military scene and often attend and set up booths at military themed shows. They are proud to support our local Veterans, celebrate Veterans Awareness Day, and happily offer discounts to armed forces, scouts, and the cadets.

If you’re interested in military history, camping, survival equipment, or hobby sports like paintball, we suggest you check Sarge's Army Surplus out. There truly is no other place like it around, and we’re happy they’re located in the heart of Downtown Peterborough!

For more on Sarge's Army Plus (291 George St N), go to:

Website: Sargesarmysurplus.com
Facebook: SargesArmySurplus
Phone: 705.741.0811

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Laurie Jones and Company Hair Designers

When you work in the service industry and your business has been operating for over a quarter century in the same location, you know that you’ve been doing something right! That is exactly how Laurie Jones of Laurie Jones and Company Hair Designers feels.

Located at 165 Sherbrooke St Unit 2 across from Larry Electric, Laurie established her business in its current location in 1986 and has never looked back. The shop has a staff of four very dedicated women (Marilyn Huggins, Charmaine O’Brien, Laurie "Parker" Roberts and Laurie Jones herself) who are all born and raised Peterborough girls!

They all have many years of experience in the business and enjoy coming to work in downtown Peterborough each and every day that the shop is open. Being a smaller venue, the ladies have built up a large clientele through their connections with family and in our community.

They’ve known all along that with great service and results come word of mouth sales for them, which is why they have excelled at what they do for so long. Laurie Jones and Company is a salon that focuses on people from the neck up! They offer haircuts, colouring jobs, washes, perms and even deal with some facial waxing. They happily cater to both men and women, from seniors to children experiencing their first haircuts.

On site, they use and sell some large name professional products such as Redken, L’Oreal and Schwarzkopf to name a few. As mentioned, all the women love what they do, and they are happy to have stayed in their smaller location downtown. For them and their customers alike, it offers convenience in its placement, and a great atmosphere on the block they’re on and towards the downtown core which is all within walking distance.

With 27 years experience as a shop, the ladies have seen a lot of change around them. They’re happy to be a constant in the community and invite you to book a time for your next hair appointment.

Their hours are as follows:
Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00am-7:00pm
Wednesday and Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-1:00pm

For more on Laurie Jones and Company Hair Designers (165 Sherbrooke St), go to:
Phone: 705.748.5000

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Electric City Bread Company

One of Downtown Peterborough’s newest ventures, located at 165 Sherbrooke St, is the beautifully laid out Electric City Bread Company. Owned and operated by Jordan Podiama, who runs the front of the house, and Jeremy Fletcher who works as a chef/baker, the bakery is aiming to bring back the craft of in-house baking to the downtown core.

The warm and cozy setting they have established is home to some of the finest bakery creations you will ever experience. They make their own bread, tarts, croissants, pie, soups and even butcher meat inside the premises. Jeremy and Jordan both share an appreciation for the farming community and locally produced goods, and thus everything you will taste inside the bakery is fresh and comes right from inside our community.

While their menu rotates, they always use what’s available with the seasons, and they pride themselves on using as many organic products as humanly possible in their creations. In creating baked goods and butchering meat (which they do on the days the bakery is closed on Sundays and Mondays) on site, they also like bringing to the table something that is of educational value to their valued customers.

Jeremy and Jordan, who along with her partner Matt also assists at the bakery, originally worked together in the Muskokas and had been dreaming of opening a shop of their own. It was when Peterborough was suggested as a great spot that they searched out the area and found a spot they felt would best suit what they wanted to create. What helped them choose the Sherbrooke St location was its proximity to water and the airy feeling that they could still sense while being located just on the outskirts of a booming downtown. They found their store to be in great shape, to have lots of space, and to have one of the easiest landlords they had ever dealt with.

Even though they have only been operating for a handful of months, Jordan and Jeremy have managed to forge many great relationships with not only their neighbours, but with a few other local busineses in town who sell some of their creations. Elements, The Pasta Shop, and JoAnne’s Place are a few locally owned and operated businesses where you’ll find Electric City Bread Company products on the shelves.

Jordan and Jeremy are really happy with the community of Peterborough that they have moved to and been accepted by, and really love the vibrancy, personality, nature, and potential that they see every day.

They currently serve both breakfast and lunch with plans of expanding to a dinner menu in the near future. If you’re looking for a new food experience downtown and enjoy food that is handcrafted on site, we suggest you give them a try! You’ll be happy you did.

For more on Electric Bread Company (165 Sherbrooke St), go to:

Twitter: @ElectricBreadCo
Facebook: Electric Bread Company
Phone: (705) 874-8055

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Tribal Voices

In this day and age, it’s not as common as it once was to follow through on your education and actually work in the same field afterwards. Taking a passion for learning and transferring that into a fulfilling business though is exactly what Kris Gulyas, owner of Tribal Voices, did!

Having an interest in travel and studying International Studies in her post-secondary education, Kris wanted to open a store to show what she was interested in.

Located at 179 Charlotte St., and having just celebrated its 20th anniversary in May, the business has undergone many changes over the years. For one, Kris met her husband and now co-owner Johni Doy while dealing with an exporter company overseas in Indonesia many years ago. Also, Tribal Voices originally opened across the street from its current main store on Charlotte St where Cosmic Charlies is currently located.

With the business doing so well and a need for more space, they made the move and were happy to be able to stay in the same vicinity. Since then, they have opened other operations in Kingston, Port Hope and also at Fowlers Corners, and these ventures are family run across the board!

As one could guess, Tribal Voices has a very international flare to it. They offer high end products from jewelry, arts, and crafts all the way to clothes and even furniture from countries such as Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong and Italy. Because they deal with products mainly coming from overseas, Kris and Johni have made sure that they only purchase fair traded products. Nothing you will find in the store comes from any exporter who they feel uncomfortable with. They always make sure to be careful who they deal with and extensively research before purchasing.

Having been in the Peterborough community for such a long time, the owners at Tribal Voices make sure they take part in giving back to the city they live and do business in. They regularly donate to local charities such as the Cancer Society, while also giving away products to worthy cause silent auctions and have even taken part in local fun fairs!

One initiative that Tribal Voices is proud to have taken part in is in sponsoring medical brigades which have gone overseas to help villagers in Johni’s native Indonesia. This has been done three times, taking local medical staff back to bring basic medical assistance to people who normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to receive it. Staff from the store has literally gone over to assist with this great cause.

Being located in downtown on one of Peterborough’s busiest streets has allowed Tribal Voices to experience the best that our downtown has to offer. Kris and Johni love the vibrancy of the area they are in and invite you to come in and experience a taste of tribal culture you won’t find anywhere else!

For more on Tribal Voices (179 Charlotte St.), go to:

Facebook: Tribal Voices 
Phone: 705.876.7714
Website: Coming Soon!

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Glow Maternity

Success in the small business world often depends on originality in the marketplace, or finding a need and filling a specific gap. On September 1, 2009, Shaunacy King did just that when she and her husband opened Glow Maternity, which is now located in The Loft at 188 Hunter St. under the big red awning.
 
Before opening their business, originally on George St, Shaunacy realized that there was a need in Peterborough for a maternity specific boutique and prenatal studio. So they put her idea to work and created what is now the only maternity and baby specific studio/boutique in the city.

While other stores might focus solely on retail and sales for the journey into parenthood, Glow Maternity offers an all-encompassing experience with classes, workshops and programs that take parents from pregnancy through the birthing process and into raising their newborns. The  cornerstone of Glow these past four years has been its motto and like-named prenatal course: BELLY, BIRTH AND BEYOND!
 
What separates Glow from other maternity stores is the studio space where they teach various classes and workshops with friendly, knowledgeable, qualified instructors. With courses and workshops focusing on both pre- and post-natal, the studio space is always busy! The Bellies, Birth and Beyond course is one of the area's most popular for soon-to-be parents, and their pre- and post-natal Yoga courses are also a big hit for the bonding and fitness aspect that it provides!
 
The retail boutique side of Glow Maternity, which now focuses on essentials and locally made items, covers a wide array of product options. Gently used maternity apparel under $20, muslin blankets, custom bedding, cloth diapers, nursing products and locally made carriers are a just a few of the many items available in their studio boutique. While they do sell mainstream brands, Glow has always placed an emphasis on Canadian and locally made goods produced by many people in and around our community. If the situation is right, they are happy to sell for other local entrepreneurs who don’t have the opportunity to sell out of their own stores!
 
An appealing aspect about the owner of this maternity business is that Shaunacy is also a mother of two and a Labour Doula who offers Birth Services to clients outside and within the actual shop! The passion that she has for helping parents during all stages of their parenting journey can be felt from the minute you walk into her visually appealing new space on Hunter St.
 
Being located in the tightknit small business community on Hunter St. has allowed Shaunacy to experience the amazing everyday feel of downtown Peterborough. She loves the sense of pride that the owners around her have for their businesses and appreciates the sense of loyalty they show to each other and to the customers she happily meets. It is because of all this that Glow Maternity takes part in a 3 for 1 Cloth Diaper Program which donates 1 cloth diaper for every 3 sold to families who desire them but can’t essentially afford them.

For more on Glow Maternity, go to:

Web: Glowmaternitystudio.com
Facebook: Glow Maternity
Phone: (705) 874-6673
Twitter: @GlowMatStudio

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Lett Architects

Peterborough is home to many amazing restaurants, clothing shops, and unique boutiques of many varieties—especially in the downtown core. What most people probably don’t consider are the people behind the design of the buildings that house these great businesses!

Peterborough's Lett Architects houses some of this country’s greatest architectural minds, and is responsible for quite a few of the very buildings you see and have stepped foot in in this very city. The company, which is one of the youngest firms in the province with staff ranging from 25 to 42 years of age, provides architectural, planning and interior design services to its many satisfied customers you can find across the province.
 
Lett-Smith Architects was established in 1973 in Toronto, opening a branch in Peterborough in 1995 on Reid St. The business eventually moved to its current location of 171 King St., and in 2004 became simply known as Lett Architects. Bill Lett Sr originally started the business, and in 1998 was joined by his son Bill Jr who took over the business in 2008 and works with seven outstanding staff members on numerous projects in and around the city and throughout Ontario.
 
Working in cultural, institutional, and commercial fields, Lett Architects has a reputation that proceeds itself. Also focusing on health care, Lett has taken part in many local projects that most people will immediately recognize. They have worked on Market Hall (with Trevelyan Architect), Showplace Peterborough, the Peterborough Medical Arts building on Charlotte St which is now under construction, and are currently working with Hospice Peterborough, Peterborough Museum and Archives, and the Brandhealth façade restoration on George St.
 
Being located centrally in the city has allowed Bill and the staff at Lett Architects to be in the center of creativity that our city offers. It has been a great place to attract employees and potential customers, and provides the best amenities around for both professional and personal use. Bill loves the appeal of our great downtown and knows for a fact that it offers better opportunity that many of its larger surrounding cities.
 
Working across the city covering all aspects of the architectural trade has allowed for the staff at Lett Architecture to branch out and become involved with different groups. One staff member is currently a DBIA Board member while the firm is a member of Sustainability Peterborough.
 
To really appreciate the beauty of some of the great buildings both new and old around town, we suggest you take a look into their backgrounds. Chances are that Lett Architects has had a hand in quite a few of them!

Market Hall restoration

For more on Lett Architects (171 King St.), go to:
Website: Lett.ca
Phone: 705-743-3311

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott

DBIA Featured Post: Ariyana

In a downtown such as Peterborough's, which is known for having one of the best varieties of locally owned restaurants around, one might think a newcomer to the industry would shy away from starting from scratch right in the middle of it all. But if risks weren't taken in the restaurant world, we wouldn't have the chance to experience a wonderful restaurant like Ariyana, opened by Mina Monsef and located at 396 George St N.

Ariyana brings with it one of the few cuisines that was truly missing from our amazing downtown, that being Middle Eastern! Upon opening on April 30th of this year, the restaurant serves a wide array of meat, vegetarian, vegan, and even gluten free dishes which actually comprise 90% of the menu.

A few specialties they serve are Vaziri Ghaimeh (a chicken skewar and beef kebab with all the fixings), and Ghormeh Sazbi—which are absolute Middle Eastern delights for those who have never had a chance to experience them. Local menu favourites have turned out to be the Shawarma plate and sandwich which is served in a pita, and the eggplant and falafel dishes which are a vegetarian's dream!

Mina and her staff have absolutely loved and appreciated the reception they have been given from the very day they opened. They love all of the businesses that surround them and wouldn't want to be located anywhere but in the heart of the city (they're close to the corner of Hunter and George St.). They say the support has almost been overwhelming.

Growing up in Peterborough, Mina has known the joy of the community she calls home, and has done her part to get as involved as possible. Ariyana took part in Ribfest this year, and were the first entry ever to serve halal meat at the event. They also been approached by the ReFrame Film Festival to take part by serving many of their delicious dishes to spice up the variety!

Being locally connected to the New Canadians Centre, Red Pashmina Campaign (which is partly run by her sister Maryam) and our local Mosque has given Mina plenty of support in her decision to open Ariyana and the downtown core is thankful she made that choice.

If you haven't had the chance to check it out, we suggest you give Ariyana a try. It will truly open your eyes to another example of cuisine that is truly unique in our dowtown.

For more on Ariyana (396 George St N), go to:
Twitter: @AriyanaFood
Facebook: Ariyana

For more on Downtown Peterborough and the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), click here.

—By Aaron Elliott