04-23-2020, 12:31 AM
(04-22-2020, 08:33 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(04-22-2020, 06:45 PM)ac3r Wrote: You speak as if the streets are segregated. Downtown Kitchener is tiny...it's like downtown Stratford in size. People who work on King Street know there are restaurants on Duke Street. Anyone downtown knows there is a selection of hole-in-the-wall takeout places on Duke Street. There is an LRT stop a block and a half away, which should theoretically increase customers to these restaurants. Covid-19 aside, if they're struggling, it's sure as hell not due to the LRT or being a literal city block away from the "main" street. Maybe, a burger store and chain Mexican restaurant just aren't interesting?
I think you underestimate how much walking traffic contributes to mindshare. I live downtown, before COVID I walked king daily, I remember every restaurant because I pass them all the time. I rarely even remember the duke food block exists.
I remember restaurants on Charles, but I live on Ontario, I doubt I would if I didn’t walk by.
It’s not a matter of them being too far away, it’s a matter of out of sight out of mind.
Even true in malls. You want the spot everyone walks by.